Vote for My Image for the 2013 Mercy Corps Calendar

***UPDATE****
I didn't win, but did come in second.  It was great to be chosen as one of the 3 finalists.
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No matter if you are Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, or even an illegal immigrant please vote for my image! This is no war on women people!

On a whim, I entered a contest to be included in the 2013 Mercy Corps Calendar, and my image has been selected as one of the three finalists! If I get the most votes, the image will be included in the calendar, and I'll get a social media shout out from Getty Images.

You can vote once a day and is open until this Thursday (8/31/12)  11:59 PST. 

(No voter ID required!)

Wisconsin State Fair in Black & White

Fairs and carnivals are one of my favorite places to photograph.  There is so much going on from the livestock barns to the midway.   I tend to gravitate towards the midway of course given the lights, colors and carnies.  When I visited the Wisconsin State Fair with some friends, I decided to try to spend a little more time in the pavilions and decided to lose the color and switch to black and white.  I really liked the results, especially at the midway (always back to the midway). The colors don't distract as much, and the quality of light is a bit more interesting I think.

 

Mad City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

I was asked to do some pro-bono portrait work for The Mad City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to use on a postcard being designed for them.  They are also going to be participating in a fundraiser call Dunk A Nun where they will be sitting in a dunk tank.  Irreverent?  That goes without saying.  It's part of the shtick of the sisters. After forming in San Francisco on Easter Sunday 1979,  the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence has become an international organization with orders all over the world bringing their irreverent good cheer to the charity and community work they perform.

As they state on their web site: "...the Sisters have devoted ourselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. We believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty and we use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit".

Amen!

ACT10 - Wisconsin's AIDS Ride

This past Auguast I had the pleasure of donating my time and photography skills documenting the10th anniversary of the ACT Ride.   This is a 300 mile 400 day bicycle journey through south central Wisconsin to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to raise money for AIDS Network of Madison which supports and advocates for those with HIV/AIDS.  It's a wonderful 4 day traveling caravan of bicyclists, volunteer support crew and camp services who set up our home away from home at local high schools.  It's considered one of best supported charity rides of it's kind with it's a wonderful supportive community of riders and volunteers. It's hard work for all involved, but at the same time feels like a vacation.