Photography seems to be in the zeitgeist this week as I keep stumbling over photo news.

America in Color 1939-1943

First off, a gorgeous gallery of 70 color photographs taken during the war years in America; just pictures of life in small towns, carnivals, speakeasies and lots and lots of people. The Denver Post seems to be taking the cue from Boston.com's The Big Picture blog by featuring very large images on their gallery. Kudos to them too. The color really pops in these images or maybe life was just more colorful then. This is a treasure trove for costume researchers.

A wedding photographer who had been filling in for a friend was shot and killed after he posed wedding guests with firearms. One of the guns was evidently loaded and went off, killing Calogero Scimea. Arming people at a wedding might be common in Sicily, where this took place, I don't know but I'm pretty sure if I ever engage in this kind of service I might ask also for a movie set arms master to be part of the contract.

More in the NY

Michael Kalus sent me this link just now. It's a Samsung ad parodying how you can get misleading gorgeous online profile shots by following a few tips. Even horror-movie characters can look the hotz with these lessons.

on Youtube.

The Vancouver Folk Festival has begun and this year I live within walking distance of it which pretty much guaranteed that I would be there all three days. Hope to hear some great music and see some fun people.

And of course, packing some interesting cameras to take pictures of people.

That blog site must have received more responses and notices because they informed me that they are suspending their RSS syndication feed. I should mention that they did keep up a dialogue with me, even through my anger and I'm happy they are reconsidering it because what they were doing was wrong -- even if there was some grey loophole that was available.

My advice to them is to get it working so that it filters only for CC (Creative Commons) material. That is the purpose of that licensing.

Mamiya has sent out mail announcing the availability of a *new* (!!) RZ medium format body: the RZ33. The 33 refers to megapixels. 33mpx more than anyone needs unless they are doing poster / ad work, of course.

Got $17,990 kicking around?

I have a question though: can it still mount a film back?