Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Review of DGP News from 2007

2007 for Doug Gifford Photography was filled with lots of new projects, challenges, assignments, travels, event, and loses.

The year started with the loss of one of my dearest friends, mentor, teachers and colleagues and ended with the loss of another one.

Most of the world knew Monte Zucker as a great teacher of photography technique, as did I, but he also became a great friend over the past 25 years. I miss him dearly!
Most of the photographic community would not know my other great friend that we lost just recently unless you where involved with PPA photographic print competition as I have been for many years. Buddy Stewart was a true southern gentlemen, funny, smart, and a great photographic artist that all us that knew him will miss.

Here is a review of the DGP News of 2007.

Doug attends PPA Convention in San Antonio
San Antonio, TX.-
Doug attended the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) convention in January to stay on top of the changes in the photographic industry. Besides learning a lot and catching up with old friends, Doug also got to spend two extra days there because an ice storm closed down the city of San Antonio. But, he did walk away with a very unusual photograph of ice hanging off a cactus in front of the Alamo.

Dates announced for a Photographic Tour of China
Beijing, China -
The Itinerary have been set for the Photographic Tour of China with Imperial Tours that Doug will be the photographic expert. Imperial Tours was founded by Westerners who've lived in China for many years. It combines local knowledge and know-how with a top-quality, professional service; we bridge the gap between your preference for high quality service and its provision in China. Both parties are excited to be working together on this Luxury Photographic Tour of China. For more information go to:
www.imperialtours.net

A new limited edition book is now available of Doug’s images of people and places in China.

New book about California
Laguna Niguel CA. -
Doug is proud to have 10 images in a new book called, California…A great place to live, by Rhino Media Works.
www.rhinobooks.net All of Doug’s images in the book are from Catalina Island, an island off the coast of Southern California which he has worked and played on his whole life.

UCI Irvine Extension – DG Shares Photo Wisdom
Irvine, CA –
Doug will return for his sixth year in the Spring 2007 to teach photography fundamentals through the extension program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). After years of teaching only his peers, this course was open to all who wanted to know more about how to take better people pictures using their own cameras. Titled, “Keeping it Simple, Photographing People”, Doug shared some of his photography wisdom and a few “tricks of the trade” for the amateur and aspiring photographer. For info, contact UCI at
www.extension.uci.edu, or call (949) 824-5414.

Getty Images
Los Angeles, CA. -
Doug has just signed with the leading supplier of photographic images to the worlds media Getty Images to cover events for them in the Orange County, CA. For more information about Getty Images and to see Doug’s images from the latest event he has covered, please go to their website,
www.gettyimages.com.

The Morning Light Project
Long Beach, CA. –
Since August of last year, Doug has been working with his long-time yacht photographer friend Sharon Green (
www.ultimatesailing.com) on shooting stills for a documentary movie being made by Roy E. Disney. The movie is about a young crew of sailors that are on the yacht Morning Light in the Trans Pac Yacht Race that sails from Los Angeles, CA. to Honolulu, HI. every other year. The movie follows these 15 young sailors through the selection process in August 2005, their training in Hawaii and Long Beach, and sailing the race in 2006. Look for it to be out in a theater near you in the Fall of 2008. One of the highlights on this project for Doug was when Roy took the team to Disneyland. Having worked there, and grown up there himself, Doug enjoyed photographing the team as they had a chance to visit the park with Walt’s nephew. Funny, they didn’t have to wait in any lines!

New photographic book – Building of the new Concert Hall at OCPAC
Costa Mesa, CA. –
Doug published a new photographic book of the building of the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Artscenter (OCPAC). Doug than sold the book to the OCPAC who than give it to their top donors. Doug has worked for the OCPAC for seven years as a staff photographer and was there for the building of the new concert hall from the ground breaking to opening night. Doug covers about 40 performances, parties and events a year for OCPAC.
www.ocpac.org

Catalina Art Festival – Doug to Exhibit Fine Art Photography
Avalon, Catalina, CA –
From 2001 to 2004, Doug was involved with the Catalina Art Festival as a judge. Since than, Doug has been a exhibitor at this annual event that is held each September in Avalon. He has won 2nd place in the photography division the last two years. From those entries, for the second year, he will produce the official poster for the event. Beside those posters, he will also have two new photographic books, Avalon, and The Inn on Mt. Ada, as well as prints, note cards and post cards of images from Catalina and the around the world. If you want to have a great day and see some amazing art, join Doug and over 100 other exhibiting artists in Avalon on September 16-18.
www.visitcatalina.org

Doug Gives Back
Laguna Niguel, CA –
For the last 27 years, Doug has enjoyed being able to give back to the not-for-profit community. This past year, he donated items for silent auction fund raisers held by organizations such as: Healing Odyssey, 2nd Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Girl’s Incorporated, Orange County Noblettes, Sierra Catholic School, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center Guilds. Each year Doug makes it a point to help several great causes. Call him to see if he can help you.

Monday, November 19, 2007

New DGP Website is Launched!

Finally!

After a lot of hard work, our new website is launched and we would love your opinion - especially as we now have the ability to add images easily and frequently - whether from travels around the world or editorial work in the entertainment industry or the fine art and books that are now available for purchase.

Over the years, we have been invited into your homes and businesses and to your special or family events and occasions to capture images that represent who you are and what you do in the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of your life.

We have designed the site so that you will be able to share future photographic experiences that we capture for you with your family, friends and colleagues more easily online as well as order those images that you want to display.

After 27 years in the business, many of you have asked me how to take better images yourself in addition to using our services for really important moments in your lives. We heard you and are thrilled to announce DGP photography coaching services. While my class at UC Irvine offers a way for you to learn how to take better people pictures using your own camera, many of you have asked for additional "one on one" help to become better photographers yourselves. DGP now offers private and semi-private coaching in a single session or a series. It's a really great gift for the photography enthusiast in your life!

My intention for this site is also to engage you in a conversation about photography - whether as part of this blog or in a class, as your coach or on one of the photography tours that we will launch in 2008. I want you to feel comfortable connecting with me about your questions - from technical questions about your own images to those about the industry in general.

I remain as passionate about being an image-maker today as when I first began. My hope is that you will be inspired to visit our site again and again and that you will consider Doug Gifford Photography for your photographic needs for many years to come.

Let me know what you think!

Cheers!

Doug