In Part 1 of this two-part blog post, we are excited to introduce you to Mykal Hall, a talented photographer who we became quick fans of after seeing his images online. Mykal is an amazing landscape/seascape photographer from Sydney, Australia. Most often you will find him shooting beaches around Sydney and avoiding those sneaker waves. His stunning seascapes capture the beauty of the ocean. When we got a chance to speak with Mykal, he had great stories to share and the techniques he uses to fuel his passion. Today, we’re excited to share those stories and techniques with you.
Bio:
At the age of 34, my life changed from aimlessly wandering through life without a purpose to finding the “WHY” to my life in the form of my wife/soulmate/best friend Dianne and her 3 children. My home life is now perfect and I could not imagine a better family to spend the rest of my days with. There was, however, another yearning that wasn’t fulfilled. My work life. Having no real passions to pursue at an early age, I fell into various work situations from Storeman, Forklift Operator, Service Technician, to finally a Truck Driver. After 43 years, my interest for “Geekdom” from my Service Technician days, was reignited once again. I discovered “Podcasts.” The ability to learn about any subject at my own leisure was too tempting to resist. So what subjects did I choose to fill this quest for knowledge? Psychology and the latest technology trends. It was the former that I thought I would be pursuing as a career until I stumbled upon the podcast “This Week In Photo” (TWIP). It sounded very geeky (with all the cool gadgets) and creative (which would make up for a past failed interest in drawing). That’s when I purchased my first camera, a Nikon D90. Having never held a DSLR, or for that matter any SLR camera, I thought I should learn to use it in Manual mode first. When I say manual mode, I even mean manual focus. Everything I learned came from two sources: podcasts and a book called “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson.
Posted onMay 11, 2014|Comments Off on Artist Profile: Mara Hoffman
photo courtesy Mara Hoffman’s bio page
Mara Hoffman is a New York based fashion designer. She is known for her bold bright colors with prints inspired from nature, world travel and fantasy. Mara’s loyal following includes; Katy Perry, Halle Berry, Megan Fox, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore, Lauren Conrad and Eva Longoria Parker
Mara graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York City and studied at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London. She launched her first ready-to-wear collection in 2000, she got her first big break when Sex and the City stylist Patricia Field stopped her on the street to complement her outfit. Field was so taken by her work she decided to sell them in her shop, House of Field.
If you love Bohemian Fashion, you will fall in love with designs by Mara Hoffman.
Posted onJanuary 17, 2014|Comments Off on MLK Day Celebration: Sweet Honey and the Rock
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK will join the Reston Community Center for three days of activities in celebration of the 29th Annual Birthday Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.
To see the full schedule of events visit RCC’s website
This group first formed as a quartet in 1973 by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon at the D.C. Black Repertory Theater Company in Washington. Since that time, Dr. Reagon retired and 23 vocalists have passed through the group. The original members drew their name from the first song they learned, ‘Sweet Honey in the Rock,’ based on Psalm; “Sweet honey speaks of a land that is so rich, when you break the rocks, honey flows.
Despite the changes in members of the group, the voices have always maintain a spectacular sound and the actions and attitude of the group remained constant throughout. Their voices and a few African hand percussion are the only instruments on stage… and each and every time Sweet Honey in the Rock are a powerful presence that take my breath away.
2014 Reston Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Birthday Celebration
Hosted by, Sarah Browning & Katy Richey
$5 online or at the door
Gregg Shapiro is the author of the chapbook GREGG SHAPIRO: 77 (Souvenir Spoon Press, 2012) and the poetry collection Protection (Gival Press, 2008). Shapiro is also an entertainment journalist whose interviews and reviews run in a variety of regional LGBT and mainstream publications and websites.
The DC Youth Slam Team uses spoken word poetry to teach and empower teens to speak up about issues of social justice. With free weekly writing workshops, monthly open mics, poetry slams, and annual travel to regional and national competitions, the team provides training and a platform for District youth to develop their poetry and public speaking skills with guidance from mentors and peers.
Check them out on Sunday August 18, 2013 -5-7 pm- Busboys & Poets- 2021 14th St. N.W. Washington, D.C.
Co-Sponsored by Busboys and Poets & Split This Rock
Posted onApril 25, 2013|Comments Off on Children’s Prize-$1 Million Humanitarian Challenge
The Caplow Children’s Prize is a novel humanitarian contest to save children’s lives under age 5. It was created by Ted Caplow, who feels that the death of a child is a special tragedy, considering the potential years of life lost, the innocence of the victims, and the impact on families. A $1 million prize will be awarded to the best plan for preserving the lives of children who would otherwise die before the age of five. All prize finalists will be showcased on their website.
The project is structured as an open web-based contest, with eligibility extending to everyone, both individuals and organizations, across the world. Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the number of potential lives saved, the probability of success, and the ease of verification. The winner will receive funding to directly execute the life-saving interventions outlined in their submitted proposal.
Is the Children’s Prize a reward or a grant?
The Prize is not a reward recognizing past work or achievements. Instead, it is a grant for future work to directly implement the life-saving intervention that is outlined in the submitted proposal.
Who can apply?
The Children’s Prize is available to anyone. Proposals will be accepted from non-profits (charities), for profits (companies), government programs, academic institutions, and individuals aged 18 years or older. However, the prize funds may only be used for charitable purposes, as specified in the contest goals.
Why should I apply?
You may win! Even if you don’t win, the five finalists will be showcased, drawing attention and other funders to your project.
Are there restrictions on who applies?
Generally speaking, no. However, the prize funds may only be used for charitable purposes, subject to expenditure responsibility.
Are joint proposals and partnerships acceptable?
Yes, provided that it’s clear where the funds would go and who would administer them. Also, submitting a proposal as a partnership does not necessarily improve the quality of an application.
Is the Prize open worldwide?
Yes, you can be from anywhere in the world and enter the Children’s Prize.
When does the contest start?
The Prize opens to the public on January 14, 2013.
When can I apply?
Anytime between January 14, 2013 and May 31, 2013.
How does entering the Prize work?
It is basically a two-step process. The first step is to submit an ENTRY FORM detailing your project. This is reviewed and if your entry is selected for the next round, then an email invitation will be sent to you to complete a full PRIZE PLAN submission.
Where do we Apply?
Go to the website http://childrensprize.org and click ‘APPLY NOW’ to start the process.
What are the criteria for picking the winner of the prize?
Proposals will be judged according to how many lives they propose to save, how credible the plan and the proposer are, how directly the funds can be applied, the probability of success and the ease of verification.
Who will judge the Prize?
The prize will be judged by the Children’s Prize administrators and their partners, including the Whole New World Foundation, Foundation Source, and possibly an independent judging committee. All decisions of the Prize administrators are final and their authority over the Prize is absolute.
Is this a business plan contest?
No, the Children’s Prize is not a business plan contest. The winning proposal will include a sound plan to directly execute life-saving interventions with a high likelihood of success based on the experience and track record of the applicant. Most (but not all) business plans involve elements of risk and potential delay that do not align with the Prize mission.
How much money will be awarded?
The winner will receive $1 million US dollars to spend on saving children’s lives.
Will there be runner up prizes?
Probably not, but it’s possible.
Are there requirements on how the money is spent?
Yes. The prize money must be spent to save children’s lives as described in the winning plan.
Why does the Prize focus on children 0 to 5 years old?
There is abundant data and research that is centered around children under five, so it is convenient to select this bracket. For example, the United Nations Millenium Development Goal 4 seeks to reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.
Which children’s lives is the prize intended to save?
As many children as possible between the ages of 0 and 5 years old, anywhere in the world.
What does it mean to save a child’s life?
For the purposes of the Prize, a saved child is a child who will live to the age of 5 years old and would have died before that age without the intervention of the prize funds.
How long can it take to save the children’s lives?
The Prize does not require a specific timeline, but the intention is to directly spend the money to save children’s lives as immediately as possible. A year or two seems reasonable to achieve this goal in most cases.
Must the exact children who will be saved be identified by name?
Yes and no. The children need not be named during the contest itself, but it is strongly suggested that the proposed plan include a method to specifically identify by name the children affected by the applicant’s proposed plan, and remit this list to the Children’s Prize after the prize has been awarded and the winning plan is put into motion. For example, if your plan involved a vaccine, you could not identify the exact children saved, but you could identify the children vaccinated, and present that information together with a credible estimate as to what fraction of these children would have died without the vaccine.
When will the prize be awarded?
After the December 2013 Award Ceremony.
Will the winner be asked to sign an agreement laying out the terms, schedule, and reporting requirements for spending the prize funds?
Yes.
Will the prize be awarded all at once?
There is no pre-determined schedule for awarding the prize. Applicants who are invited to the second round of the Prize are strongly encouraged to include a detailed budget and timeline.
Does the Prize operate in English only?
Yes. Please make sure that all material you include is in English.
Is this prize targeted at developing countries?
Not necessarily. Keep in mind that the critical consideration is that these funds must be used to preserve the lives of children who would otherwise die before the age of five.
Why is this in a prize format?
The contest format allows the maximum exposure for all the participants involved, while increasing the probability of finding the best ideas for saving children with the prize funds available. The Prize format empowers the donor to specify, and hopefully achieve, the exact goals of the donation.
Why is it Internet based?
The Prize promotes connections between donors and recipients, encouraging modern networking technology while trying to add a new technique to the landscape of global philanthropy.
Are there additional Eligibility Criteria?
An applicant’s eligibility is established by a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire prior to starting the Entry Form.
Are there are tips for applicants?
Sure. Here are several tips we’d strongly recommend to applicants:
We encourage all applicants to take the time to learn about our project’s priorities as discussed here before submitting an ENTRY FORM.
It is in the best interest and benefit of the applicant to be as thorough and convincing as possible regarding the information provided to the Prize.
The Prize is purposely vague to allow entrants to creatively and convincingly express their unique vision to save the greatest number of children’s lives possible.
Applicants are encouraged to use or set up online accounts that may be very helpful to us in the judging of Prize entries. Some of these accounts could include (but are not limited to) YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, Twitter, FaceBook, G+, Blogs, Instagram, Pinterest, Slideshare, Tumblr, etc.
What materials must be included with the full Prize Plan?
The applicant should include a resume, a budget, references or support letters, photographs, videos, news articles, etc., as detailed in the application forms at each round of the Prize.
How do applicants demonstrate reliability?
There is no pre-determined criteria for demonstrating reliability. This requirement is one of the more experimental areas of the Prize, as networking technology is rapidly expanding the means by which we tell our stories online and through digital media across great distances.
How should the use of prize funds be verified?
There is no pre-determined criteria for verifying the use of funds, but at the second round of the Prize, proposals must include a section detailing how the donor may verify the use of funds.
What happens to the Intellectual Property rights of the projects submitted?
The Caplow Children’s Prize is only interested in what can be achieved with the $1 million dollar prize. The Prize will not take ownership of your Intellectual Property rights; however, you are granting us a license to publicly share most of the material in your Prize entry when you apply. Please see the Guidelines and Privacy Policy for more details.
Sam and I have been friends since high school. She is amazing, and has not changed a bit over the years. She has a great career, is married to a wonderful man and has a beautiful and smart daughter in college.
During the week she works in a very conservative corporate environment; however in the evenings and on weekends she becomes that funny, unpredictable girl I became friends with in high school. I love the fact that she decided she wanted to learn and play drums only a few years ago. . . Who says you have to do everything when you’re young! We need to all be more like Sam (Sabrina) and try whatever we have a passion to do; no matter our age.
Sandra Backlund is a designer of Swedish origin, she studied fashion at Beckmans College in Stockholm and also history of art, textiles and handicrafts. Her clothes are very special made entirely by hand and strictly monochromatic. The starting point of her creations is the human body, she improvises on a tailor’s dummy or on herself to discover new forms and silhouettes, she doesn’t draw her knitwear, but invents while is realizing them. The method of work is based on a three-dimensional collage knitting. Fabulous!
One of this year’s up-and-coming creative trends is ‘experiential’ design. It’s an umbrella term for innovative projects that encompass not just visuals, but also sound, touch and even smell – all driven by real-time feedback generated by the actions of viewers and the world around them. Michael Burns explores how you get start creating your own experiences. Continue reading →
Comments Off on Push the Boundaries of Digital Design
It’s one thing to stand in font of a projector to create shadow puppets, but it’s an entirely different experience to block a text-based floor projection and see your typographic silhouette on an adjacent wall. Istanbul-based multidisciplinary creative studio NOTA BENE Visual has designed a mind-boggling audiovisual installation using an intricately executed video-mapping technique that uses the latest technology to create an artistically intriguing environment for spectators to engage in.
The interactive typographic installation titled In Order to Control features a constant loop of selected text about “the threshold [of] ethics and morality” projected on the ground. (You can read the full transcript of the projection here.) The most interesting thing about the project is the interactivity and its reliance on audience participation. As spectators step into the installation to read the projected content, their blackened silhouette covers the words on the floor and transfers them to the proximate wall.
One could marvel at this technological magic trick for a very long time, especially since there’s still scrolling text to be read. In order to actually read the text, one could technically run back and forth across the screen but it seems far more convenient to form an assembly of people, standing in tandem, eliminating spaces in which words can get lost. This interactive element also alludes to the idea of interconnectivity and how we can all help each other, sharing information.
Be sure to watch the short video, below, to see this installation in action.
Credits: Project Management: Burak Gölge Art Director: Ayşegül Kantarcı Installation Design: Tevfik R. Gözlükçü Concept: Murat Can Oğuz Synopsis: Murat Can Oğuz, Ayşegül Kantarcı Translation: Begüm Avar Edited Video Sound: Amon Tobin
In Part 1 of this two-part blog post, we are excited to introduce you to Mykal Hall, a talented photographer who we became quick fans of after seeing his images online. Mykal is an amazing landscape/seascape photographer from Sydney, Australia. Most often you will find him shooting beaches around Sydney and avoiding those sneaker waves. His stunning seascapes capture the beauty of the ocean. When we got a chance to speak with Mykal, he had great stories to share and the techniques he uses to fuel his passion. Today, we’re excited to share those stories and techniques with you.
During the week she works in a very conservative corporate environment; however in the evenings and on weekends she becomes that funny, unpredictable girl I became friends with in high school. I love the fact that she decided she wanted to learn and play drums only a few years ago. . . Who says you have to do everything when you’re young! We need to all be more like Sam (Sabrina) and try whatever we have a passion to do; no matter our age. 
The Bohemian Home Journal 