Current Feature – Exposed DC

Black Lives Matter, and Doing No Harm in Documenting Protests

June 4, 2020 By exposeddc Leave a Comment

As a community of photographers based in our nation’s capital, we are no strangers to protests. Washington, D.C. is the center of U.S. politics and a natural place for people from all walks of life and all sorts of backgrounds to gather together around a cause. During this pivotal and painful time for so many Americans, we want to express our support for the Black community and our solidarity in the fight for justice and to be free from police violence, not just in D.C. but around the entire country and beyond.

As a nonprofit for photographers of all levels, we also want to remind those in our community who are participating in or documenting the protests to consider how you do so with the greater good in mind. To this end, we’d like to share some valuable documents provided by the Authority Collective. For photographers documenting the protests, we encourage you to review the Do No Harm: Photographing Police Brutality Protests guidance. We also encourage everyone to check out these resources for photographers and beyond on anti-racism.

#BlackLivesMatter

Friday Links: May 29, 2020

May 29, 2020 By Ron Keith Leave a Comment

Focus on the Story is hosting a virtual happy hour critique session with the DC Street Photography Collective today from 4-6 p.m. Panelists include Ryan Madison, Ashley Tillery, Sofia Sebastian, Kanayo Adibe, and Tom Mullins.
Women Photograph created “The Journal” as a way for members of the community to document their private spaces and daily lives during COVID-19.
Profoto is offering a chance to win a Profoto B10 with their #ProfotoPets competition running through June 24.
Photography students in Paul D’Amato’s “The Documentary Book” class at Columbia College Chicago usually have individual final projects, but this year it will be a collaborative one as many students couldn’t complete their original projects due to social distancing measures.
Professional adventure photographer Chris Burkard and National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale share tips on how to practice and hone your skills right now at home to become a better travel photographer.
Mark Seliger, whose esteemed resume includes a decade as chief photographer at Rolling Stone and lots of work for Vanity Fair and GQ, discusses the role of fashion in his photography. He’s also partnered with Christie’s to auction off 25 iconic celebrity portraits with all of the proceeds going to charities of the celebrity subjects’ choice.
Join Exposed alum Geoff Livingston on a virtual tour of Olympic National Park on his Show Me video podcast. The full transcript with photos is also available here.
Steve Benjamin is usually an aquatic photographer, but he’s turned his lens to birds visiting his backyard where he created a studio setting for wild birds by positioning a feeder in a small sunny area with nearby shade and mounted additional underwater video lights. The results are stunningly dramatic.

COVID-19 Information for Photographers

April 7, 2020 By Noe Todorovich Leave a Comment

As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our lives, we wanted to gather information and resources that could be of interest and assistance to local photographers. We will do our best to keep this page up-to-date, but please keep in mind that the situation is continually changing and there may be a delay in some updates. Also feel free to comment below or drop us a line if you’d like to suggest an addition to the page. Thank you and stay safe and healthy, everyone!

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides guidance and loan resources for small businesses. Current funding options include the Paycheck Protection Program (loans that will be forgiven if used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (loan advance up to $10,000 for economic relief), SBA Express Bridge Loans (for small businesses with a current business relationship with an SBA Express Lender), and SBA Debt Relief (SBA will pay the principal, interest, and fees of current and new 7(a), 504, and microloans issues prior to Sept. 27, 2020).
The IRS extended the deadline to file and pay federal income taxes to July 15, 2020 and will begin processing economic impact payments by mid to late April. More information is available here.
Beware coronavirus scams, such as people contacting you claiming to be with the Treasury Department offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments requiring personal financial information or advance fees, taxes, or charges. You can report such scammers at www.ic3.gov.
Freelancers Relief Fund, operated by Working Today, will provide assistance of up to $1,000 per household to qualifying freelancers to cover lost income and essential expenses.
Qualified individuals can take up to $100,000 in coronavirus-related distributions from an IRA or qualified retirement plan without paying tax on it or early distribution penalty if repaid within three years.
Freelancers can claim paid sick leave in a coronavirus emergency.
Format created the Photographer Fund to help self-employed photographers facing financial hardships, offering up to $500 per person.
Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to practicing artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19, with rolling application periods through August 20.

LOCAL RESOURCES & INFORMATION

The DC Mutual Aid Spreadsheet includes links and information for all sorts of resources available for both helping others and if you need help yourself. Be sure to check all the tabs!
Here’s a list of local independent freelancers, artists, gig workers, and shift workers impacted by COVID-19 cancellations. The list includes a bit about each person and ways you can send them money to help. You can also fill out a form to request being added to the list.
WPOW DC created a GoFundMe to raise emergency funds for members in order to help with everyday expenses that may have been incurred due to lost work or medical issues.
P0STB1NARY created a mutual aid project to support independent artists in response to COVID-19.

VIRTUAL CONNECTION & LEARNING

Capital Photography Center has taken their courses online and are offering 50% off any course with the code SAVE50V.
While we shelter in place, Leica is offering #StayHomewithLeica online programs that include Instagram photo challenges, Instagram Live interviews, and more.
Focus on the Story is hosting weekly online chats and discussions on various topics. You can join their Facebook Group to keep track of those sessions and other news for photographers.
ASMP is holding a series of virtual town hall meetings to provide a quick update on the state of the industry with regard to COVID-19 and then open the floor to attendees to ask questions and share concerns. Previously recorded town hall Q&As are available here.
Nikon is providing all of their online courses free for the moth of April.
PPA is opening all of their online education to all photographers and small business owners worldwide. Create a free account to access over 1,000 online classes. Note the page says for two weeks, but the exact end date of the offer is unclear.

GENERAL TIPS & INFORMATION

Learn how to disinfect camera equipment and spaces with Lensrentals.
Popular Photography shares tips for freelance photographers at this time.
PPA provides 7 marketing tips for photographers during the pandemic.
COVID-19 & Freelance Artists is a new site created by four freelancers in response to the current situation to provide free resources, opportunities and financial relief options for artists of all disciplines.
SmugMug rounded up some resources, grants, funds, and other info to help working photographers.