Received word yesterday that all three of my photography's were juried in the 13th Annual Juried Photography Exhibition at the "MACK" in McCormick, SC, and one titled "Neon Footprints"received "Honorable Mention".
Many thanks to the McCormick Arts Council and the Juror, Bill Barley.
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Found this site today using one of my photo's of Aiken, SC on a site listing the 15 best charming towns in South Carolina, Aiken was listed as #12, not sure about how they came up with this rating. Anyway here's the site if your interested. (Click For Links)
"IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EYE"
The camera has been extremely good to me, and because of that I have added two new projects to the mix. The first project is titled "Drive-By Shootings", somewhat self-explanatory, if I had titled it drive-by photography, I don't think anybody would be interested. ( They may not be interested anyway, but these projects are just self-assignments that I enjoy doing.) The other project is titled "ICM's", (this will be defined at a later date) mainly because I don't have any work to display as it was just created last night. Both of these projects may SUCK in the long run, but they are a reason to keep the camera battery and my battery charged, being active is the key to longevity, I just need more energy ! Check out the Galleries for posting to these new projects. This is another article from the Aiken Standard by Dede Biles about this years contest for the United Way, and I was fortunate to have five of the top nine winner. I think this will be my last year to enter, cause it will be hard to top that next year, and anything short of that, everybody will say, that I'm losing my touch! LOL....
"Our Aiken" photo contest auction benefits the United Way By Dede Biles Published Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:54 PM EDT Even though the price kept rising, Renay Trotter kept bidding, and her determination paid off. She got what she wanted during the live auction for the City of Aiken's second "Our Aiken" photo contest Thursday. Trotter's $40 purchase was a black and white picture called "Train Depot" that James Perry had taken at the site of the old Aiken Railroad Depot. "I am so happy," Trotter said. "I've been in Aiken all my life, and this is part of Aiken's history. I love Aiken." The City of Aiken United Way Committee chose nine winning photographs. The pictures were enlarged and sold during the live auction outside of the Municipal Building. Inside, there was a silent auction that featured small prints of the winning pictures and other photos that were entered in this year's contest. "We also had about 20 pictures from last year's silent auction," said Emory Langston, the City's Aiken's special projects coordinator. Five of D.S. Owens' photos were among the winners. "It's unbelievable," he said. "I don't know who the judges were, but I'll have to thank them." Owens' winning photos included "Radiating" and "Path to Enlightenment," which both had been taken in Hopelands Gardens. His other winners were "Chestnut," "Aiken 4202," and "Gaston." The subject of "Chestnut" was a horse, and "Aiken 4202" was a train engine. "Gaston" was a photograph of the historic Gaston Livery Stable. "I started taking photos when I was in the Navy," Owens said. "I wasn't any good at it for a long time, and then digital photography came along. That's what made the difference for me. I could see what I was doing wrong and then I worked on it. I was self-taught." Nancy Moseley enjoyed looking at the winning photographs before the start of the live auction. "I entered a whole bunch in the contest last year, and I wanted to see how the entries looked this year," she said. "They're very nice pictures, very pretty." Moseley especially liked "Train Depot" and "Radiating." "I've taken that one many times, but never at night in black and white," she said of "Train Depot." Then Moseley pointed to "Radiating," which had a statue in the foreground, and said, "I like the way the morning light is coming in on it." The winning photographs brought prices ranging from $20 to $45 during the live auction. USC Aiken's head baseball coach, Kenny "Coach T" Thomas, was the auctioneer. "This was wonderful," said Langston afterward. "I was extremely pleased with the turnout. I think the crowd really had fun." The nine winning photographs will be highlighted in print and online promotions for the City of Aiken, Langston said. In 2014, the proceeds from both the live and silent auctions went to the United Way of Aiken County, and the organization was the beneficiary again this year. "It's such a nice thing for the City of Aiken to provide this wonderful event in support of the United Way," said Sharon Rodgers, president of the United Way of Aiken County. "It brings awareness to our mission, and it raises funds for our critical-need programs in the community." This is an article from the Aiken Standard Newspaper by Stephanie Turner about the new photo display in the building as of July 2015, that I had the privilege of having seven of my photos included in this permanent display.
Assistant County Administrator Brian Sanders looks at the Aiken County Government Center as “the people’s building.” To help depict such a notion, he and the rest of the building committee wanted to exhibit photos representing of all of the county and reached out to Anne Wood Uskup of Marketplace Art, which she runs with her husband Tom Uskup, and Tom and Chris Abbott of Southside Gallery of Aiken. Uskup then contacted local photographer Shelly Marshall Schmidt of Oh Schmidt! Productions to help decorate the second floor. "We’ve worked together on many other projects, but this one was fun to do,” Schmidt said. Schmidt spent two weeks traveling and taking photos, narrowing down her massive pile to a handful for the committee. Uskup did the framing, while Schmidt did the printing. One photo the committee wanted but was difficult for Schmidt to take was the Bicentennial Wagon of South Carolina, which is housed in the Wagener Museum, so Schmidt obtained an archive photo from the museum and formatted it for the County building. The Abbotts handled covering the first and third floors with photos either the committee provided or from photographers the couple knows. These included their photos and photos by Larry Gleason, Pat Paxton, Mark Hudson, Mike Kleiman and D.S. Owens. Since Southside is considered a “one-stop shop,” according to Tom Abbott, the studio was able to print, frame and install their contributions. Overall, about 60 photographs of noted buildings or nature scenes came out of these collaborations and have been hanging for less than a month. "They are really beautiful,” Sanders said. “They both did a fantastic job.” Showcasing local artwork in the facility has been a plan since at least fall 2013; the building opened last spring, the Aiken Standard reported. Other artwork hangs in conference rooms in addition to a temporary exhibit on the first floor. The historical photos for this display originally came from the former Shoney’s restaurant on Whiskey Road, and the idea to hang them came from Gayle Wolman, Aiken County’s Human Resources director. "They’re such great photos,” Sanders said. The Aiken County Government Center is located at 1930 University Pkwy. I coined a new phrase the other day and that would be "PHOTO DRIVE". It's a combination of "Photo Walk" but with a car. This was one of the better days I've had lately with the camera. I started out early heading to Allendale, SC to see if I could find the Swallow Tailed Kites and the Mississippi Kites. They show up in July each year migrating from South America to the Allendale area to breed. This was my first time to view these amazing birds, and I was lucky enough to find them after two hours of looking for them. They feed on June Bugs; that they catch in fight with their feet, and consume while still flying. It's really something to see. I have included several photos for viewing, but these birds are hard to photograph because they are so fast.
Also found several "Rural Abandonment" photo opportunities that I have added to my gallery; here's the link if your interested in viewing them. http://www.dsowens.com/rural-abandonment.html All in all it was a great day for me, even if it was 95 degrees, but now I have to go thru about 600 pic's of birds in flight, and you thought this was easy, but I still love it, maybe it's more about the adventure, than the finished product! Looking forward to the next outing. DS- The Camera Hippie dsowens.com #PHOTODRIVE Got a surprise last night, received word that I had won 2nd place in the 12th Annual Juried Photography Exhibitions at The McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK), many thanks to The Mack, and juror Russell Jeffcoat.
You're invited next month to the "Jazz-In-June" show at the Aiken Center for The Arts, should be a great show featuring 6 or 7 artist, contributing to the Jazz theme. The opening reception is on June 11 th, from 6-8pm, with live jazz music planned and refreshments. You'll see my work plus George Edward Buggs, and several more talented Aiken artists.
This Jazz Poster was designed by my talented sister-in-law, Brenda Underwood Piercy, Thanks B. Share if you will. dsowens.com #aikencenterforthearts,#jazzinjune,#artshow,#aikenartistguild, #artassociationofridgespring,#AARS, Canon 50D body with books and cables
Canon BG-EZN Battery grip Canon EF lens 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS with hood Canon 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 Kit lens 72mm UV filter 72mm Circular Polarizer filter 4 Batteries and charge Large eye cup Tenba Shootout Sling Bag Everything is in excellent shape, price including everything is $800, if interested send me a message. Another one for the project-"RURAL ABANDONMENT" Was a well know Hotel in downtown Edgefield, SC, Just waiting for Jack Nicholson to check in.
dsowens.com-all rights reserved Howard Johnson Motel- Who remembers these?
Another shot from the new project "Rural Abandonment" Makes you wonder what happen, doesn't it? Had the pleasure of having one of my photo's selected as "Commemorative Poster Award Winner", at the reception for the Spring Fest Music Theme competition on March 6, 2015.
This piece will be the featured art for 2016 North Augusta Cultural Arts Council Poster and other event publicity,promotional materials and merchandise. Many thanks to the North Augusta Cultural Arts Council, and The Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta,SC The piece was titled "Let The Music Flow" I think i finally decided on a title for the new project after two months of letting the title work it's way to the top of the pile. sometimes you just have to sit back and it will come by it self, well anyway, as my wife and sister-in-law say all the time, well anyway, the title is "RURAL ABANDONMENT"
After looking at these pictures, that's what it is, Good people just had to walk away from their businesses and homes. Made it on 500px Poplar Page today for the first time, you get there by having other photographers like or fab your photo, Was thrilled ! Photo was Mr. Baker.
https://500px.com/popular?page=1 Another pic from the new project, (still untitled) about the decline in small businesses. This one was an effort to bring a New York style night club to the south, but it didn't last long, nothing to do with foreign trade though!
dsowens.com Have been driving past this place for the last 30+ years, never knew what was here before, looks kinda like a Howard Johnson's, but it doesn't matter must cause after they built interstate 95, they didn't used highway 301 like before,so you pack up and move on.
Abandoned properties are becoming the new landscapes pictures of America. The backbone of this country is slowly dying away! My ongoing project is to record what has happened! Rural towns and business in decline......
dsowens.com Starting to get my new project off the ground, still haven't decided on the final name yet. But it will come to me soon....
Will be putting more work from the project up on my website soon. Let me know what you think! dsowens.com When we rearrange nature, does it add to the beauty of it, or take away from it ?
All Rights Reserved. dsowens.com I started looking for a mirrorless about six months ago, and had about giving up, because most still will not live up to a DSLR, but change my mind in what i wanted, just a small camera to carry all the time. Got a Canon G12 a few years back, and was good but still didn't fill the bill-(It's for sale if anybody's interested-deal!) Anyway i keep coming back to the Sony A6000, ad when B&H put on sale before Christmas at for $448 body only, i couldn't past it up. Got a Sigma 19mm 2.8 for $199 to go with it, now i can't put the camera down, this sucker will shoot in the dark, and still low noise. so many features that the big boys haven't adopted yet. still keeping my 7d, but going to sell my 50d, 30d, and G12. Here's a video from Jason Lanier about switching to the A6000 and the A7, that is worth watching.
http://youtu.be/7wM_5nROeaw 10 Reasons Why a Professional Photographer Left Nikon and started... youtube.com I received my quarterly edition of CNPA magazine today ( Carolina Nature Photographers Association) and I have a full page story in there, Story was about my Artist-In-Residence week at Santee State Park, in Santee SC, this year.
Got a surprise last night when i found out my pic of "South Boundary First Light" taken in Aiken, SC showed up on USA TODAY web site for the 10 best- prettiest streets in the south. Thanks USA TODAY and the city of Aiken.
USA TODAY 10 PRETTIEST STREETS IN THE SOUTH dsowens.com New photography project on the horizon, have been looking for something different to work on for some time now, well i think I've found it!! |
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