Wallpaper: June 2010
This month’s wallpaper is a fun image I shot in India while traveling by train from Delhi to Hardiwar. I wanted to get a shot that showed the train as well as the countryside. The train was important as it gives context and an integral part of the visual story. The countryside without people would [...]
What’s all this talk about vision?
I don’t even know where this post is going. Partly, I’m posting out of discipline. Partly, I’m posting because I know there’s something in my brain that needs to be said; I just can’t put my finger on it. Vision, vision, vision, all this talk about vision. Very few people actually define what they mean [...]
Location Scouting
A very short (and late) post today. This morning I went out with two friends scouting for locations for the July 24th Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk. I think we found a very cool route. Starting off at a historic colonial cemetery in Georgetown, here in Penang. Spent way too long walking around, but had [...]
Movin’ Like Crazy
That’s me, (not in the picture, in life) movin’ like crazy. I have a lot going on over the next few weeks. Not the best pan shot ever taken. But I thought it was fun, and I like the pastel colors. Taken in Hardiwar, India. In other news, be looking for the unavailing of two [...]
A Promise is a Promise
The poet Robert Service once said, “A promise made is a debt unpaid“. I have several debts that need to be paid. How about you? Have you ever promised someone that you’d send them their photo and then just forget about it. Maybe on purpose. Maybe out of just laziness. Maybe your just too busy [...]
And the SoundSlides Winner is…
So this was way, way more difficult than I expected. Everyone of you that entered the contest had amazing ideas how you would use the SoundSlides Plus application. I only wish I could give every one of you the application. In fact, I was so impressed by what I read I contacted the folks at [...]
Lumen Dei Trophies: Examples of SoundSlides by our Students
You still have till the end of the day here in Malaysia to enter the SoundSlides Plus giveaway. I will stop taking entries at midnight my time (GMT +8). It’s been fun. Honestly, I’m humbled and somewhat amazed by all the selfless and creative ideas that have been submitted. I guess with my background in humanitarian [...]
The Photo Essay: Give it Your Best Shot
Monday we started talking about photo essays. We began by looking at SoundSlides, a great product to use to help you produce engaging photo stories. In fact, Monday’s post marked the beginning of a giveaway that will last throughout this week and culminate on Friday with some lucky person getting a licensed copy of SoundSlides [...]
Depth of Field: Jasmine Star
Jasmine Star is a real person. By that I don’t mean to imply that she was thought to be some fictional character. What I mean, is that for someone who has rocketed to fame in a few short years as she has, she has maintained a grip on reality. She’s not pretentious. I did not [...]
GIVEAWAY + Review: SoundSlides Plus
This week we will be looking at what it takes to create a well done and communicative multimedia photo essay. I will be introducing you to some of tools it takes to create these effective presentations. We’ll also be taking a look at the type of photos you need in an essay to build the [...]
Friday Wrap Up
It’s Friday and it’s been a long week. I don’t think you know, but my wife has been gone for two weeks to the Philippines. She is arriving back tonight. I’ve been playing Mr. mom, and doing a pretty sorry job at it. I’ve managed to grill the worst steak ever, make the most pasty [...]
It’s Nice to Have Conflict
If you’re reading a story and everything goes according to plan, everyone gets along and there is no conflict at all in the pages of the book, that would be a very boring book. Conflict in a story, as in life can get your heart beating. Remember the time you had conflict with that particularly [...]
In a Perfect World
This is a dangerous blog post. Partly because it might step on some people’s toes. Partly because I haven’t completed my thoughts on this. So all in all it’s just plain dangerous. But, I need to fill the empty space and this is something I’ve been thinking about a lately. I’m not sure who first [...]
Multimedia: The Last Hat Maker
Living in Penang has been fun and compared to Kashmir quite easy. But, the one sad part for me is I feel I’m here just in time to see a lot of the culture that is so rich in Penang disappear. Remember The Last Lantern Maker that I shot pictures of a few months back? [...]
My New PhotoShelter Gallery
I am excited to draw your attention to my new PhotoShelter gallery. I’m still uploading images, but you will get a good idea of what’s in store. To access it, simply go to the pull-down menus at the top of this page and go to the portfolio button. I’m excited about my relationship with PhotoShelter [...]
Multimedia: Wasim The Varanasi Sari Maker
One of the assignments we gave our last Lumen Dei workshop participants was to create a short, two minute multimedia photo essay on anything or anyone as long as it was in Varanasi. They were to use Soundslides, but we would provide the audio bed for them. The assignment was to be shot the two [...]
Depth of Field: Trey Ratcliff
Meeting with Trey Ratcliff online for an interview was about as easy as pulling teeth. This guy is busy. I thought we would never make our schedules match. The irony is after a ton of emails, and a hand full of miss-connects over Skype; after finally getting the interview with him, then posting a blog [...]
When We’re Simply Human
By Brian Hirschy Occasionally in the life of an NGO photographer things can hit too close to home. On April 14th at 7am my wife woke me up with the news that there had been a series of powerful earthquakes in and around Yushu, a town 500+ miles southwest of where we live and work. [...]
May’s Wallpaper
Here is your May Wallpaper. I am thrilled at the amount of downloads I have been receiving. Many folks have expressed how much they are liking these. So, my request you you is; share the gift and pass on the link. I love it when I get emails telling me of how people have seen [...]
I shoot for mostly NGOs and nonprofits. I photograph images of the unknown, the forgotten and the helpless. These are often the stories that most people overlook. 
