News & Exhibits

Spring 2008 Picture Postcard and Newsletter Released

WHAT'S NEW AT IRENE ABDOU PHOTOGRAPHY
Quarterly Picture Postcard and Newsletter
Spring 2008, Volume 1, Issue 4


1. INTRO

Hello again and welcome to the 2008 Spring Newsletter. Winter went by pretty quickly, and I was glad to see spring when it emerged. The warmer weather meant photo opps where I didn’t have to freeze my hands off to immerse myself in the joys of photography. And this spring brought all sorts of new and interesting photographic opportunities, which I was happy to spring on.


2. PICTURE POSTCARD

This quarter’s picture postcard is a photograph from my very first Native American PowWow!
















I recently found out that there are quite a few Native American PowWows up and down the East Coast. I was excited to realize that here was a culture in my own backyard that I had never explored! I was able to experience two powwows in the space of just two weeks, though I had to drive quite a distance for the second one. But the beat of the drums, the beautiful regalia, the singing and the dancing, and the realization that, despite the difficulties, Native Americans today have been able to hold on to many of their traditions, made the trip well worth it. Most memorable of all is after one of the dancers—Eagle Tail, from the Micmac tribe of Canada—viewed my photos after the powwows and wrote to me:

“You truly capture the life that we as Native People have. Your eye sees things that we feel. You capture our feathers as they sing and dance for the spectators. You have this this gift that speaks with out words. You capture our souls with your lens. I thank you for all of us..... Wa-la-len (thank you).”

I can’t imagine a more meaningful compliment. Thank you, Eagle Tail!

Please circulate this postcard to friends, family, colleagues, etc. If you would like one (or a few) print copies from me, send me an e-mail, and I’d be happy to oblige. As always, if you’d like back issues of previous picture postcards, just let me know. Or, view them first on the web in the Picture Postcard Gallery. Also, check out Section 4 below to pick up a link to the powwow photos.


3. FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

The biggest news with my fine art work this quarter is that I was named a “Selected Artist” in the 2008 Chelsea International Fine Art Competition, sponsored by Agora Gallery of Chelsea New York, and juried by Manom Slome, Chief Curator of the Chelsea Art Museum, New York. I was one of just a few artists to receive a placement on Agora Gallery’s Art-Mine.com website. You can view the full results of the 2008 Chelsea International Fine Art Competition and/or view a selection of my limited edition photographs on Art-Mine.com. Agora Gallery will also be releasing a press release about my work very soon.

Adding to that, this has been yet another VERY busy quarter with more exhibits and art sales. I’m actually looking forward to a break in the next few months, as my next exhibit is not until October 2008, where I will have my first solo exhibit at the Frederick Arts Council / Cultural Arts Center of Frederick County in Frederick, MD.

Upcoming Exhibits (Mark your Calendars!)

• October 2008 - Solo Exhibit, Cultural Arts Center of Frederick County, Frederick, MD.

Ongoing Exhibits (There’s still time to visit!)

• Apr 1-Aug 30, 2008 - “Face of the World” fine art photography exhibit (juried), Rockville Innovations Center, 4th/5th Floors, Rockville, MD.

Past Exhibits (This Quarter)
Click on the links to view photos of the exhibits and artwork.

• “Shades of Spring” Exhibit and Art Sale, Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD, May 2-4, 2008.

• “Art Anonymous” Exhibit, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, May 1-10, 2008.
I was invited by Heineman-Myers Gallery/Friends of the Corcoran to contribute three photographs to this exhibit. All works by all artists were 5x7 in size and priced at $100 each. Works were anonymous until purchased. Now that the event has passed, though, I could finally post photos of my pieces on the website, together with photographs of the exhibit (click on the link above).

• “Women in Fine Arts” Exhibit, Gallery Serengeti, Columbia Heights, MD, Mar 15-Apr 25, 2008.
While the Gallery Serengeti exhibit has ended, you can still visit the gallery to see some of my work through mid-June.

And as always, a selection of my Africa travel/documentary limited edition work is available at Parish Gallery in Georgetown.

For another selection of my limited edition work, don’t forget to look on Art-Mine.com

And a selection of my smaller, open edition work (architecture, nature, light & movement, travel/documentary, and more) is on sale at Art Galaxy, located at 19725-C Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 21704 (tel. 301-540-9055).

You might also be interested in reading about buying fine art photography – the difference between a fine art photograph and a poster; processing, printing, and archival quality; open vs. limited editions; differences in photographic papers; and the purpose and benefits of matting.


4. WHAT’S NEW ONLINE AT WWW.PHOTOSWITHSOUL.COM

If you thought I added a lot of new images last quarter, then this quarter will beat your expectations. Here are some of the newly added images you’ll see in the New Releases section of the website:

• Niger (one photo, more to come)… March 2008

• Smoky Mountains National Park, Healing Horse Spirit PowWow, and Red Wing Native American PowWow… April 2008

• Fine art from Cambodia, Lighting to Unite at the Washington National Cathedral, and the 2008 Joint Service Air Show…May 2008


5. PUBLICATIONS

In Print
Two of my photos were published in EOS Magazine’s April-June 2008 issue. EOS Magazine is a UK-based photography technique magazine for Canon SLR camera users. Visit the new Tearsheets Gallery to view the EOS Magazine pages.

On the Web
Reuters, the international multimedia news agency, since my last newsletter picked up another six photos for publication in their weekly website slideshows. Pick up the links to the slideshow on the Reuters website by clicking on the links below:

• Healing Horse Spirit PowWow photo

• Red Wing Native American PowWow photo

• Lighting to Unite photo #1 and Lighting to Unite photo #2

• Joint Service photo #1 and Joint Service photo #2

Also, Population Services International (PSI), the non-profit organization that implements lifesaving social marketing programs in more than 60 developing countries worldwide, continues to use my South Sudan images in their publications. View the two photos used this quarter in PSI’s May 2008 newsletter in the Tearsheet Gallery.


6. COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES

We’ve added more images from other weddings to the wedding photography gallery this quarter. Be sure to check them out! Also, don’t forget about our family & casual event photography and photo enhancement & retouching services.

Does your business need photography? Visit our corporate photography, event photography, and assignment photography page for a full listing of our services for businesses.

Have something else in mind? We're always open to new projects. Don't hesitate to contact us with your ideas.


7. PARTING WORDS

Thanks again for your interest in Irene Abdou Photography. Please forward this e-mail, as well as the attached picture postcard, to friends, family, colleagues, and anyone else you know who may be interested. I love to receive feedback, so feel free to e-mail me or give me a call! (And if you wish to unsubscribe from this e-mail list, just let us know.)


Best regards,
Irene Abdou