Tag Archives: Terry Berenson
Ismet Arikanturkr: PWP Grand Prize Winner from Turkey
Reminiscence ©Ismet Arikanturkr
One of Professional Women Photographers’ greatest accomplishments of the last 5 years has been the introduction of two semi-annual international photography calls for entry. These global competitions have opened PWP up to women photographers from as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
Photography calls for entry have been around for decades, but the majority of them tended to attract and award experienced professional photographers with major magazine credits. With the growth of online calls, however, smaller arts organizations are widening the field, which has enabled photographers at every skill and experience level to expose their work to internationally recognized jurors.
Fantasy ©Ismet Arikanturkr
PWP is proud to be one of the only international photography competitions that is only for women photographers. While the gender gap in the photographic community has shrunk, we are still a long way from gender equality in the grand scheme of things. All you have to do is look at the boards of the major photography associations like PPA (3 of 12), ASMP (5 of 15), NPPA (4 of 15) to see that women are still in the minority.
Since our first open call in 2010, PWP has worked with such prestigious jurors as Mary Ellen Mark, Julie Saul, Stephen Perloff, Ruth Fremson, Elinor Carucci and Debra KlompChing. We have received almost 7,500 images from over 1,000 photographers in 29 countries and 37 states. For many of these women photographers, being selected for recognition by one of these jurors can be a career-changing event.
Ismet Arikanturkr
Ismet Arikanturk, who lives in Izmir, Turkey, was awarded the Grand Prize in PWP’s recent Spring 2013 call. Ismet has been a photographer since her high school years, and began working on photo collage in 2005. As she explains, “Winning the Grand Prize was a turning point in my life because I gained more self-confidence and became more enthusiastic about my work. The award has rewarded me in others ways as well, especially being able to meet and stay in contact with other women photographers through PWP.”
PWP is currently launching the 38th Anniversary International Women’s Photography Call for Entry, with a deadline of September 30, 2013. Juror Christiona Owens, Director of the Stephen Kasher Gallery of vintage and contemporary photography, will award $5,000 in cash prizes, the cover of IMPRINTS Magazine, a one-year online gallery exhibition, an exhibition catalog, and valuable prizes from Datacolor, a global leader in color calibration technology. Awards will be given in four categories: Fine Art, Portraits, Culture and Daily Life, and iPhonography. A complete description and instructions for submitting to the call will be posted on www.pwponline.org very soon.
Ismet Arikanturk on winning the Grand Prize in the PWP Spring 2013 International Open Call:
Dollhouse 3 ©Ismet Arikanturkr
“I’ve been working on photography since my high school years. I started working on photo collage in 2005. Some of my work was accepted in photography contests held in different countries. Spring 2013 Call for Entry organized by PWP is the first contest which I received the Grand Prize.
The Grand Prize image was one of a series about dolls which I started working on this year. It was the one I liked the most. Besides the joy of the rewards I received, winning the Grand Prize was a turning point in my life because it was a great incentive for me. I gained more self-confidence and became more enthusiastic in what I am doing. The reward is valuable for me in other way also, that it is given by an organization of women photographers. It was rewarding to meet and be in touch with PWP.”
By Terry Berenson, Development Director, PWP
All images ©Ismet Arikanturkr
Ann George: PWP “Contrasts” Open Call Winner
Indifference © Ann George
Ann George lives in a small town in Louisiana with her husband and four sons. She created three images specifically for the CONTRASTS call for entry because she saw the competition as an opportunity to concentrate on one theme, decide what she wanted to say about it and how she wanted to say it. Her focus and determination in life, as well as photography, are truly inspirational.
This spring Terry Berenson, Senior Editor of Imprints, spoke with her about her work.
TB: Tell me about your Best in Show image, “Indifference.€
AG: Contrasts is such a great theme because it can be taken in so many different directions. I decided I would create three different genres, one serious and thought-provoking, one more light hearted and tongue-in-cheek, and one with no “message€, that just speaks to tonality and density.
Indifference is a composite I created to express a memory from a trip my family took to Africa several years ago. We were in the back seat of a big Range Rover, driving through a Masai area, when these young boys ran after us. I was struck by the contrast in our lives. These children lived in huts made of mud and dung and have absolutely nothing material, yet they were happy. I thought about God’s world, those boys and my sons for a long time after the trip. But I wanted the image to convey how so many people drive by others living in poverty and completely ignore them.
TB: Looking at the images you submitted to CONTRASTS, and then visiting your website, I can’t believe you have only worked in photography full-time for the last two years. What did you do before?
AG: My degree is in nursing and I was an ICU RN for many years, after which I built a hospital business that treated long-term critically ill people. I was very lucky to be successful while fulfilling my passion for helping others.
© Ann George
TB: That doesn’t sound like the typical path for a photographer. When did your love of photography blossom?
AG: I became ill myself and had let go of my business. It was a very painful time in my life, physically and emotionally. My faith and my family got me through it, and I’ve loved photography since childhood, so I turned to it again. I didn’t take it seriously at first, just took some workshops and enjoyed the camaraderie of other people and making friends with others who liked doing the same things I did.
As a little girl, I went around with my Kodak instamatic, taking pictures of everything from animals and plants to my parents’ back porch barbeques and fish fries. I can still hear the cicada and smell the hot Louisiana nights from those days, and I always hope my photographs evoke qualities of my southern roots.
Some years ago, I walked into a gallery in New Orleans and I saw a photograph by Josephine Sacabo and I was moved beyond words. She tells deep, brooding, intellectural stories with her images, and they pieced my soul. I decided this was the type of work I wanted to do, but I had no idea how to do it. I followed her work over the years and kept learning and trying new things.
© Ann George
TB: Looking at your work, I assumed you had a fine art background. How did you get so good so fast?
AG: My four sons are older now and I am blessed to be in a position that gives me freedom to devote time to the art of photography and not to have to make a living at it.
My work is very textured and hued. I’m learning all the time through trial and error, and studying the work of other photographers I admire, including Jack Spencer, Edward Curtis and Rocky Schenck. And of course, all the wonderful jaw dropping work of the pectoris’ of the past. However, the real turning point for me happened last year, when I took a workshop with Josephine Sacabo and she took me under her wing. That’s when I began pulling my first story-telling project together, The Three Chapters of Illumination: God Calling. Josephine has encouraged me to put myself out there and last year I was a finalist in the New Orleans Photo Alliance’ Clarence John Laughlin Awards. I was shocked – but it gave me confidence and a permission of sorts to keep submitting work as I go on learning and improving my technique.
I am humbled, honored and excited to have created an image that was chosen by Ruth Fremson as Best In Show for PWP. Indifference is a departure from my typical photographic character, yet I felt compelled to create it. When I asked myself, “When in my life did I ever feel (not see) the greatest contrast,€ I knew the answer exactly, and then found a way to do it. I believe it’s the message in the image, not the photographer, that showed favor.
For more of Ann George’s work, visit www.anngeorgephotography.com.
To enter PWP’s 36th Anniversary InternationalWomen’s Juried Exhibition, visit www.pwponline.org.
Terry Berenson is Senior Editor of IMPRINTS, Director of Development for PWP, and a freelance photographer specializing in animal portraiture.
News From Our President – June 2010
PWP President, Madeline Ring. Photo © Susan Raab
PWP President, Madeline Ring. Photo © Susan Raab
Volume 4 | Issue 10 | June 2010
Greetings from the Board
The PWP Annual Meeting is this week and we look forward to seeing everyone there for Elections, The President and Treasurer’s Reports, Show and Tell and Pass the Mike.
This has been a wonderful year – both the Board of Directors and the various committees have been extremely active and much has been accomplished. We truly believe PWP has turned a corner. With great expectations of things to come, next year should be a great year as well.
The Board
Announcing the 2010-2011 Board of Directors
2009 – 2010 for PWP has been a wonderful year – Many thanks to Janice Wood Wetzel and Jackie Neale Chadwick for their contributions to PWP as they complete their term of service on the board.
We are looking forward to another great year with our new board – please welcome them and offer all the support you can
The Board
OFFICERS
President – Maddi Ring
Vice President – Beth Portnoi Shaw
Secretary – Mary Newman
Treasurer – Adele Epstein
DIRECTORS
Archivist – Catherine Kirkpatrick
Development – Terry Berenson
Exhibitions – Katie Mantell
Membership – Patricia Gilman
Outreach – Karen Smul
Programs – Ruth Gitto
Publications – Trish Mayo
Volunteers – Sandy Alpert
EXHIBITIONS
AMERICANA
PWP and the Exhibitions Committee would like to congratulate the members who participated in the Americana exhibit, and thank the Americana committee and MH Art & Framing for putting together such a wonderful show.
OBJECTS OF AFFECTION
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 – Friday, August 13th, 2010
Mark you calendars for the Objects of Affection Opening Reception
WednesdayJuly 28, 2010 from 6-9PM
The Gallery at Calumet Photo
22 West 22nd Street
2nd Floor New York NY 10010
212-989-8500
________
The Exhibitions Committee has a number of future projects in the works and always welcomes PWP member volunteers. It is a great way to learn about jurying and curating as well as forging great friendships within the organization. Contact Katie Mantell if you are interested at exhibitions@pwponline.org
PWP NEWSLETTER SPONSORSHIP
TAMRON
As you can see, there is an addition to the PWP Banner at the top of the newsletter. TAMRON Corporation is now the official sponsor of our Newsletter and we will feature their banner and website link in each issue. As always, we urge members to support our sponsors.
This month TAMRON has a rebate offer on its SP 17-50 2.8 Image Stabilization lens. Check out the ad below.
2010 ANNUAL MEETING – 6:15PM JUNE 2
Our Annual Meeting of Membership will be Wednesday June 2rd at 6:15 pm. Officers will report on activities and financial status of the organization, and annual elections will be held. If you cannot attend, please make sure that your proxy is submitted.
Order of business:
A. Roll call/proof of notice of meeting or waiver of notice
B. Reading/Approval of minutes of preceding meeting
C. Report of Officers
D. Election of Inspectors of Election
E. Election of Directors
F. Unfinished business
Please make every effort to attend this important meeting.
FIRST PWP INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL
Professional Women Photographers is sponsoring our first International Open Call in honor of our 35th Anniversary. There will be an exhibition in a New York City gallery as well as an online gallery for selected images. The results of the competition will be featured in 2010-2011 issues of Imprints.
Terry Berenson and Patricia Gilman are heading the committee to create the event and have Stephen Perloff and Elinor Carucci as jurors. This is a great PWP activity and should be very exciting to work on. If you are interested please contact Terry at terry.berenson@gmail.com or Patricia at patriciagilman@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
This year our Community Service Committee partnered with Women In Need, Inc. (WIN), providing both photography and mentoring services for this non-profit organization. On Monday, June 7th, 2010, Women In Need will be holding its “Volunteers Providing Help and Hope” reception at Baruch College. The reception will honor all volunteers who have helped WIN throughout the year, including the members of PWP’s Community Service Committee. Photographs taken by CSC members will be on display.
Our Community Service Committee has partnered, over the past several years, with non profit organizations in New York City providing pro bono photographic services at events. PWP CSC provides the partner organization with an image library of its events as well as display prints for special exhibitions, galas and receptions. PWP gives back to the community and our members gain experience in doing event photography while having their work displayed at these events.
In addition, the CSC has started a small mentoring program using photography as a way of introducing the art form and means of expression to needy children. If you would like to join PWP in this great committee please contact Karen Smul at outreach@pwponline.org
2010 – 2011 MONTHLY MEETINGS
SAME TIME – SAME PLACE
The PWP Monthly meeting will be held next year on the first Wednesday of the month at St. Paul’s Church on West 59th Street, as we have done this year.
PLEASE NOTE – because the first Wednesday in September is before Labor day and the second is in conflict with the Jewish Holidays our September meeting will be WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
We plan another exciting year of guest lecturers and programs so please mark your calendars and make the PWP meeting a priority.
CURTAIN RAISERS
Each month the PWP meeting opens with a curtain raiser – a PWP member who has the opportunity to show 10 images to the group. It is a lot of fun and a great way to get your images “out there” with our members and guests as the audience. Our Program Director Ruth Gitto is looking for member curtain raisers for the months of October, November, February and March. Contact Ruth at programs@pwponline.org
PWP ARCHIVES
Our Archivist Catherine Kirkpatrick continues to uncover more interesting items from the PWP Archives. For detailed information on some interesting “Cards and Letters: a Snapshot” have a look at the latest edition of the blog at
http://www.pwponline.org/blog/2010/05/21/cards-and-letters-a-snapshot/
Save $70 on Tamron’s fast standard VC zoom
Tamron’s popular fast standard zoom – SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 – features Tamron’s VC image stabilization for critically sharp handheld image capture. With Tamron VC, you get 4 extra shutter speed stops for low light/natural light shooting. This award-winning F/2.8 lens is made for Canon and Nikon DSLRs with smaller sensors and is equivalent to a 26mm to 77mm when converted to 35mm format. Save $70 with mail-in rebate thru 8/31/10. www.tamron.com
Sincerely,
The Board
Professional Women Photographers