Friday Shout-Outs and Sugary Sweetness

This week we look at everyday lives that goes on amid war, a killer new photog website, and some cash you might be able to get your hands on if you want to shoot a photo story. Also, several other brag-worthy things are sprinkled throughout. So let’s start shouting.

Shout-Outs are a regular Friday thing, and you can be part of it, too. Send us suggestions! If we think it’s worth shouting about, it will show up here in the blog on a Friday. To submit something, scroll to the bottom to see how.

AMID WAR, LIFE GOES ON
I think that globe-trotting photojournalist Paul Jeffrey has shot some of the most interesting photos of Misrata, Libya that I’ve seen so far.

Rather that shooting the fighting action, he documented the aftermath, and how people are getting on with their daily lives in Libya’s war-torn rebel enclave. One particular image that caught my eye shows children posing for a photo while standing on a damaged tank that was placed in Misrata Square.

11 WAY TIE FOR FIRST PLACE!
What are your chances of winning the lottery? Like one in 10 trillion or something like that, right?

What are your chances of winning a 16GB Wifi iPad2 from PhotoShelter? Pretty damn good! (If you’re a member, and you’re willing to “Spread the Love“, that is.)

Through the month of July, the member who refers the most people (who join PhotoShelter) through the Refer-A-Friend program will win a 16GB Wifi iPad2. Second and third place winners will take home B&H gift cards.

The odds are in your favor, because you really don’t need to sign up that many people to pull ahead of the pack. We are just one week into the contest so far, and there’s an 11-way tie for first place – each with just a single signup!

People who have already Spread the Love this month are:

Herb Lingl
Archivolatino
Images of Birmingham Photo Library
Guillem Lopez
Cindy Seip
Andrew Downes
John and Lisa Merrill
Keith Simonian
Andreas Uher
Ema Tanigaki
Lennette Newell

2012 IS COMING UP ROSES
If you’re looking to pretty-up your surroundings in 2012, consider investing in the 2012 Flower Calendar from super talented photographer Donald Verger.

The calendar is currently for sale through Amazon, but move quick- the site says they’ve only got a few left.

This is Verger’s third calendar series.

SHORT GRANTS, TALL COIN

The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) is bringing back the community photo story through the NPPA Short Grants, with five awards of $3,000 each.

So, what’s the rub? There really isn’t one – and you should consider applying.

The grant is designed for funding projects small enough in scale that the bulk of the work can be accomplished in two weeks or less.

The entry period will begin on August 1, and will end on September 30, 2011.

This grant is funded by international reprographic rights funds, and the program is open to everyone (not just NPPA members).

Eligible applicants must reside in the United States and make their living primarily through still photography.

What are you waiting for?

TRIPPIN’ WITH ART
Art Wolfe is currently leading a workshop in Iceland, and he just uploaded a few cool images of the photogs he’s with on the trip.

“I have managed to get a few shots, but I am mostly busy with my fellow travelers,” he writes.

Art runs some really amazing workshops, and you can learn all about them by going to artwolfeworkshops.com.

GOT IT COVERED

Congrats to photographer Debi Pittman Wilkey. One of her images landed on the cover of Florida-based Must Do Magazine.

Aside from photography, Debi’s career has included stints as an Emmy-winning Producer, award-winning newspaper and magazine editor, celebrity features writer, and syndicated entertainment/talk show producer. She is currently traveling throughout Florida, photographing and writing about her new friends and travel adventures.

HOLD THE PHONE – THIS IS AWESOME

Holy smokes, check out the sweet new web digs for John Dunne Photography! He just redesigned his website and it looks pretty damn amazing. Dunne is a landscape and fine art photographer based in Dublin, Ireland.

“The goal was about allowing my images to take center stage,” he said. “Five months in the making, it has been both a joy and a right pain to redevelop but I am really happy with the way it has turned out.”

He writes about his full redesign experience on his blog, and talks about why he decided to change directions.

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I am always looking for things to include here in our Friday Shout-Outs – so if you have anything you think is worthy, let me know. One great way to do that is to post a note to Twitter with my name in it (@heygrover), and that way I won’t forget it later. Don’t have Twitter? Email me: grover-at-photoshelter-dot-com.