I've written about our friend, Emily, before—I designed and currently maintain the website for her foundation, Let's Rock CF.  She happens to have cystic fibrosis and has devoted her life to raising money and awareness for a cure. She sets up benefit concerts, runs half-marathons, and for the past three years has ridden her bicycle from Detroit to Chicago to raise money.  Just the fact that she can do these things while having CF is amazing.  She's a pretty inspiring person.

Well, her newest challenge is a cross-country ride from Chicago to Los Angeles where she hopes to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis with Ellen's large national audience.  (She started this past Tuesday and I believe she's in Denver now.)  She originally was planning to bicycle there, but due to an injury is bicycling part-time and riding a vespa the rest of the time.  Her trek is being logged via video postings on SPIN Earth, and you can view photos and/or donate on her site page at letsrockcf.org/e2e4cf.html.  We wish her the best of luck on the road, and seriously hope she makes it on the Ellen show!

Labels: friends, inspiration

I stumbled across this today, and it is truly an amazing view of the night sky, as captured by Frenchman Serge Brunier for the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) GIGAGALAXY ZOOM project.  Brunier captured the 1200+ images that make up the composite between August 2008 and February 2009.  The end result is an 800-million-pixel panorama of the entire Milky Way!

This panorama was shot with a digital SLR and hobby telescope at two of the ESO's observatory sites in Chile, La Silla and Paranal; plus La Palma, one of the Canary Islands.
To really appreciate it, you have to go to their site and view the high-res interactive version.  Using Zoomify, you can zoom in on different segments to full-resolution.  Check it out here: www.gigagalaxyzoom.org/  They will also be releasing another image September 21st.

I seriously love this stuff.

Labels: foto news, inspiration, links

Anyone that knows my personal work, knows that I've long worked with collage, photomontage, etc. I stumbled across the work of 30 year old Canadian, David Trautrimas, a while ago and instantly loved it. It's part steampunk, part Jetsons, and has a post-apocolyptic feel with the barren landscapes and muted palette. Trautrimas photographs various appliances in disassembled form and then assembles them digitally, with beautiful craftsmanship. The photo above is titled "The Sprinkler House." To view more of the series, check out his website at trautrimas.ca.

Labels: inspiration

Labels: inspiration, music, random

Wow.

Last night was so moving. I really can't imagine how you could not be inspired by the speech that Obama gave, let alone the historical significance of it all. We were watching on NBC when they announced that he won with the billboard and fireworks, etc. It was shocking, amazing and overwhelming all at the same time. Even though he had a large lead most of the time, it was, "Is this real? Has it really happened?" (Luckily we clicked to MSNBC just as Carmen Harlan decided to cut in! Like I want to hear her talk!)

I was quite frankly surprised at how moved I was, especially as they showed all the African-American people across the country reacting. I can only imagine how they feel, but I do empathize. It feels so good to break that barrier and–as a country–do something so positive and significant for so many people. I've also got to give MSNBC props for letting the scene play out without having to talk over it, just so we could take it all in. It was very surreal.

I think that no matter who you voted for, the message of unity and hope is something that our country really needs right now. It's so symbolic. I'm so excited to have a president that is younger, closer to my generation...fresh blood. (I kept thinking that this must have been how people felt when JFK was elected.) And in a very positive change, I'm ecstatic to have a president that is eloquent and inspiring to hear speak! Isn't that how president's should be?! It's just been so long since I've had such hope for our country!

I think the last section of his speech really drove the point home, talking about the 106 year old woman and all the history she has seen during her lifetime. My great grandmother lived to be just shy of 105 years old, and I have often thought of how much she experienced in her lifetime. My generation didn't grow up with the same stigmas of race that used to be (at least for me) and it's nice to see my country reflect that shift. It's really stunning to think that anything is possible here, and it makes me really proud to be an American.



On the other side of things, I do feel sad for John McCain as I honestly believe he is a great man and have always liked him. I can only imagine how different our lives might be if he were elected in 2000 instead of Bush. However, I think the social and cultural significance of Obama's win is bigger than anything McCain's win could have meant. And, due to the present circumstances, this election was likely close to impossible for him to win.

McCain's speech was also very poignant, though, and appeared genuinely sincere. He literally embodied his "Country First" campaign slogan with his words, displaying such class. I really wish we could have seen more of this McCain during his campaign. The good news is, he doesn't seem to be going anywhere and it's easy to believe that he really will work together to help our country. God knows we need the help!!!




Finally, what the hell was up with the holograms and virtual studios this year?! So bizarre! I guess it really is the future...

Labels: inspiration

I've been meaning to get some new photography up here, but the past two weeks have been a whirlwind. I just got back from visiting my sister in Toronto, I've wrapped up a few projects, started some new ones; started a new semester of teaching etc. It's just that time of year I guess. Summer's over.

I should have the Bastone series posted soon under the Projects section. In the meantime, I've added a few of the barley, hops and beer photos to the main page slideshow.

I also wanted to mention that my friend, Emily Schaller, is featured in this month's edition of Forbes magazine. They wrote an article on Cystic Fibrosis featuring her, though seeming to neglect to mention all the work she's done to raise money and awareness for CF. (See the City to City Ride 08 and the annual Just Let Me Breathe Benefit Concert.) She was rumored to be getting the cover, but was bumped off by Condie Rice. Anyway, check out the article here. If you ever need a little inspiration, consider that aside from running about 25 miles a week, Emily has run a half marathon and bicycled 280 mile trips – and all with CF!

Incidentally, I've also been working hard on getting her some new photography and a new site. (The photo above was taken at the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival.) I'll post it when it's live.

Labels: friends, inspiration, random

Viewing good photography can do wonders for a stale mind. Some links I've been enjoying:

http://www.fstopmagazine.com/
http://www.blueeyesmagazine.com/
http://www.pdnonline.com/
http://www.flakphoto.com/
http://www.notifbutwhen.com/NIBW/
http://www.lensculture.com/
http://www.iheartphotograph.blogspot.com/

Labels: inspiration, links