Detroit Photographer Dwight Cendrowski. Musings.

Insurance for photographers

2012-05-15T17:41:31Z

If you needed another reason to join ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers), view this lead on new insurance coverage by Tom C Pickard & Co. It's quite an upgrade that will now cover all your video equipment also.

As always I highly recommend ASMP membership to all working and emerging photographers, and to students. Best investment I ever made in my business was joining in 1989.

ASMP on Facebook

2012-05-04T14:08:48Z

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) has a new 'Find A Photographer' Facebook page to showcase the work of its members. Every other week a new artist will be featured.

I've been a member of ASMP since 1989, and it's been the best investment I ever made in my business. As you may know, ASMP is the world's largest trade association of respected imaging professionals. The new Facebook page is a portal for locating photographers all over the world. I invite you to visit this new page which displays the talent and professionalism of ASMP members.

About face

2012-04-24T18:29:10Z

Just read about an intriguing study that discovered people find photographs of the left side of peoples' faces more aesthetically pleasing than the right. Very interesting for someone like myself who does a great deal of executive portraiture.

Read about the study here.

Affordable Care Act for Small Businesses....yes

2012-04-10T13:24:42Z

Considering all the ballyhoo surrounding the Affordable Care Act at the moment, I think it's a good idea to get the straight scoop on how the act will affect small businesses, like those of many photographers and videographers. This guest column in the Ann Arbor News does a nice job of laying out the key provisions affecting small business. It's written by Rebecca Woodward, marketing manager of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce.

On an editorial note, I find the reasons to support this act compelling, both for individual families and businesses. Kind of a no-brainer in my opinion. Read the article here:

Federal health care reform for small business

Ann Arbor photography and video for families and organizations

2012-03-23T13:07:53Z

I've launched a newly redesigned website featuring photography and videography for families and organizations. Here you'll see samples from events and seminars, weddings, family portraits, dance and theater, sports, and family video biographies. If you know of a family who needs professional services, or if your association has an upcoming event you would like to document, please check out www.dwightcendrowski.com.

Pearls among the email junk

2012-03-18T16:02:06Z

As junk emails keep relentlessly cascading into my inbox day in and day out, I vacillate between anger, grief, resignation, then anger again. Like anyone running a business, I'm prone to more and more of this unwanted junk. Over the years I've gotten my website URL and email address scattered over countless websites in an attempt to get my name out and promote my services. Double edges sword indeed. The more places your email is posted on the internet, the more likely that junk email spiders will gobble up that address and feed it into the spam maw

I'm certainly not tossing away that email address that I've been using for years. So, as a cost of doing business, each morning I'll spend 10 or 15 minutes scrolling through the junk, searching for the nuggets of real and welcomed communication. But you say, why don't you just crank up your spam filter and send it all right to the junk folder? Well, I've fiddled with those junk settings, and could easily use the highest filtering and have a clean, lean, manageable inbox each day. But then this nagging worry will creep up, that I'm maybe missing that one new client with a big, juicy assignment.

So I continue to scroll, and scroll. Now I'm going to try a Zen approach. Stay calm, keep the blood pressure low. Maybe view it as a treasure hunt, searching for those pearls among the dross. It is a bit thrilling to see an actual, desired message every now and then. Treasure found.

Then again, my magnanimity extends only so far. I still would like to see severe prison sentences for the originators of this junk. Or maybe sentence them to 16 hours a day of scrolling through emails for diet patches, online doctorates, photo schools, appendage enhancement, awesome stocks picks and dating services.

ASMP Michigan program. Gregory Heisler

2012-02-15T13:55:50Z

ASMP Michigan, along with Canon and the College for Creative Studies photography department, is sponsoring a program with New York based photographer Gregory Heisler on Wednesday, February 16. The program is open to all and is free.

For information visit the ASMP Michigan website:
http://www.asmpmichigan.org/articles/canon-explorer-light-gregory-heisler.html

2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit

2012-01-11T20:29:39Z

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

Kodak in bankruptcy?

2012-01-04T22:23:07Z

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.

ASMP. For serious photographers

2011-12-20T21:09:24Z

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.

Bess Bonnier. A life well played

2011-11-16T13:23:56Z

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."

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T12:49:28Z

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

CameraCake

2011-09-28T15:11:55Z

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

Ballard Street Comic Strip on GoComics.com

2011-09-09T18:59:42Z

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

Photography for colleges in Michigan

2011-09-09T18:47:16Z

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