Detroit Photographer Dwight Cendrowski. Musings.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was everywhere during the opening media days of the Detroit Auto Show, touting the state to media visiting Detroit from countries around the world.  The show opens to the public January 14.  The vibe is certainly more upbeat compared to recent dour years for the auto industry. See a sample of my images at www.cendrowski.com/naias_2012.html

I just read a Reuters report that said Kodak is on the verge of declaring bankruptcy.  Wow.  If ever there was an iconic company in the film and photo industry, Kodak was it.  But it shouldn't be surprising, since I've not shot a roll a film in 10 years.  Still, what a melancholy thought.

Time moves on.

I've just paid my dues for the organization ASMP, The American Society of Media Photographers, and I want to recommend them again to anyone running a serious photo business. I've been a member since 1989, and without doubt it's been the best investment I've ever made in my business.  They have an unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise in business issues, especially critical during these turbulent times in the industry.

Check out this short video on the ASMP website, then explore the rest of the site. 

I want to note the passing of the Queen of Detroit jazz piano and a good friend.  Bess Bonnier died in October at the age of 83. Anyone who knew this woman would attest to her quick wit, fierce independence, love of friends and family, and incredible artistry.

Here's some background from the program to her memorial service, written by her daughter Dorian.

"Bess began playing the piano at an early age taking her first professional job with a big band at 13. She joined the Detroit Federation of Musicians in 1946. Her career spanned over six decades and included regular appearances with Jack Brokensha at his club in Detroit's New Center area, and at countless other clubs and hotels, concert and festival venues, private parties, events and local resorts. Highlights of her stage career include a performance in 1981 at the "Detroit Jazz Summit" in New York City with Barry Harris, Tommy Flannagan and Roland Hanna. In 1994 she played in Brussels, Belgium with Jack Brokensha at the Very Special Arts Festival. In 2004 she appeared with the a capella vocal group "Coda" at the Jazz Cava in Terrassa, Spain and in 2006 was invited to perform a solo concert at the Library of Congress in Washington D. C.

Photo by Dwight Cendrowski

Bess was a regular guest of the Montreux/Detroit Jazz festival and the Michigan Jazz Festival at Schoolcraft College and the first artistic coordinator of the Detroit Institute of Arts "Jazz at the Institute" series. She taught many students as artist in residence at Cass Tech in Detroit in the 70's, at Grosse Pointe High Schools in the 90's, privately in her home and at her own music school.

She appeared on many recordings beginning in 1958 with "Theme for the Tall One" on Argo Records. Her last recording, a jazz opera based on the works of William Shakespeare titled "Suite William", was released on her own label, Noteworks, in 1999 and performed at the University of Colorado. In 1986 she received the Michigan Award for Jazz, in 1990, the State of Michigan Governor's Award. In 1994 she was named "Musician of the Year" by the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association (SEMJA). Over her lifetime she served on many Boards and advisory committees related to the arts, art education and to improving accessibility for people with disabilities."

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers."
                               ~José Narosky

ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) has established a new social bookmarking site called CameraCake that is open to everyone.  As they explain,

" CameraCake.com is our way of helping you keep up with the best resources on photography, video, multimedia, business, productivity, sales, marketing negotiating, creativity, techniques, equipment, educational programs, and everything else."

Check it out at cameracake.com

Apropos of nothing, my all-time favorite cartoonist is Jerry Van Amerongen, who does a strip called Ballard Street.  Never fails to start my day off with a laugh. See if his offbeat humor suits your taste:

http://www.gocomics.com/ballardstreet?ref=comics

I continue to work for colleges and universities in Michigan, something I've been doing since the early 80s.  Macomb Community College called early morning two weeks ago, asking if I could make it to one of their campuses later that morning to capture the first day back at school.  I moved some post production work to the back burner and headed out. It's the nature of the business. You've got to be flexible.

That can be tough for any sole proprietor or small business...being able to turn on a dime and revise the schedule to accommodate the customer.  Oh those pesky customers!  But come on, what else is there?  We're in a service industry, and if you can't put those customers first every time, then you're probably not cut out for this industry, or any other for that matter.

Here's a pdf  with some of those images.

mcc.pdf

    There's no doubt that video continues to have a huge effect in the imaging profession.  I wonder at this point if all photographers will soon be expected to have video production capabilities. I added video to my business 8 years ago, and it has been a growing part of my business.

     I recently videotaped an architectural featurette of Angell Hall on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor.  Instead of my dedicated video camera I used a Canon 5D Mark II still camera, since I did not need to worry about sound quality.  I added music in the editing process.

     It seems this type of video would work well for universities and colleges, as well as for documenting completed projects for architectural firms and construction companies.  Click on the photo to go to the video on the academic page of my website.