Pictory Blog

Chicago Color Run 2012 - one of the most incredible things that...

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:45:10 -0400

Chicago Color Run 2012 - one of the most incredible things that I have ever had the joy to experience. It began with a 5k, and ended with this. I sat there among the color-splashed finishers, camera ready and covered in my trusty and very professional plastic grocery bag, as everyone around me counted down. The countdown hit zero and suddenly clouds of color engulfed me and my friends, eventually becoming so thick they blotted out the sun.

By Kyle Telechan

Submit to the Pictoryblog through Tumblr.

Don’t miss this exhibition related to Pictory’s...

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:40:23 -0400

Don’t miss this exhibition related to Pictory’s creative retreat for photographers!

phootcamp:

Going to be in or near New York City on Friday June 22nd? Come see the first ever Phoot Camp exhibition at the amazing Photoville NYC event. Head over to Pier 3 at Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo to see the amazing work that comes out of this weekend of 35 photographers taking over a summer camp, but stay for the rest of Photoville: a beer garden, dog run, shipping container-sized camera obscura, and exhibits from our heroes like The New York Times and Magnum.

Try to make it on the 22nd when most of us will be there, but if not, stop by anytime before July 1st to see the show.

Help us spread the word?

phootcamp: Who’s Going to Phoot Camp 2012? Find out now — don’t...

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:24:48 -0400

phootcamp:

Who’s Going to Phoot Camp 2012? Find out now — don’t miss these super creative self-portraits! (Shown: Dan Busta’s incredible self portrait)

phootcamp: Our friends at Photoville are hosting a super fun...

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:31:24 -0400

phootcamp:

Our friends at Photoville are hosting a super fun contest:

SUBMIT NOW to be in the running to have your photos displayed on photographic mesh that will cut a vibrant swath across Brooklyn Bridge Park this Summer and be seen by hundreds of thousands of people! Not to mention the amazing prizes and having your work reviewed by a exceptional photographic jury!

phootcamp: During an international flight yesterday, I finally...

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:49:48 -0400

phootcamp:

During an international flight yesterday, I finally had time to finish digging through the tens of thousands of images from Phoot Camp 2011 and put together The Story of Phoot Camp 2011. If you ever wondered what the deal was with the radiation suits, now’s your chance to figure out what exactly happened last year!

Also, I extended the application deadline for June’s Phoot 2012 in New York state to TONIGHT (May 30) at midnight PST. Go apply!

New Showcase: Paris!

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:39:37 -0400

New Showcase: Paris!:

Longing for the city of light: Paris! Check out this stunning photo tour of Paris complete with a gorgeous guest design by Jessica Hische.

Phoot + Photoville!

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:29:20 -0400

More info about Pictory’s creative retreat for photographers!

phootcamp:

So excited to release some more details about Phoot Camp 2012, taking place June 14-18, 2012 near Woodstock, NY. Apply by 4/30!

(Photo modified from a shot from Phoot Camp 2011 by Michael O’Neal)

The reason I picked upstate New York for this year’s event is that I wanted to put extra pressure on my (supremely capable and talented) campers this year by asking them to each have an exhibition-ready photo by the end of camp. When I found out about Photoville NYC taking place in Brooklyn right after Phoot, I could not have been more excited about the potential for a perfect venue to showcase the work. A phone call confirmed that the folks organizing Photoville, United Photo Industries, are the just the kind of energetic, creative people I love collaborating with. Their goal with the two-week-long event is to pull the NYC photography community together, and they’ve got a line up of our photo compadres and heroes, including 20x200, Lomography, and PDN, all exhibiting in one space at one time. Sounds so dreamy, even before you get to the part about the room-sized camera obscura, beer gardens, and dog runs! I couldn’t think of a more perfect location for the very first Phoot gallery show EVER, which will open four days after the camp, on June 22, 2012, and run for two weeks.

(Photos from United Photo Industries’ “Foto/Pods” at the Dumbo Art Festival.)

Beyond that, we’ve also found the local photography community near our lodging in upstate New York to be fantastic. Not only is there the impressive Center for Photography Woodstock, there’s also a wealth of other photo and art centers in such a small area. We hope to get to know and love the locals like we did with the residents of Marfa last year.

(Portrait of Marfa locals by Ryan Schude)
Oh, and last but not least, there is river tubing. YES! After all, what’s camp without a little water recreation?!

(Photo from Phoot Camp 2011 by Michael O’Neal)

Less than two weeks left to apply! Deadline: 4/30/12. DO IT. And help us spread the word if you can!

Pictory’s annual creative retreat for photographers, Phoot...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:12:00 -0400

Pictory’s annual creative retreat for photographers, Phoot Camp, is back! Apply by 4/30.

phootcamp:

IT’S TIME! We’re gearing up for the 2012 Phoot Camp, in upstate New York, and we’ve got spaces open. Maybe for you! If you’re an awesome photogeek over the age of 21, consider joining us for four days of adventuring and friendship.

If you think you can contribute to making this year’s Phoot the best ever, please apply by April 30th! http://phootcamp.com/apply

Watch this wonderful video from Paul Octavious to get a sense for what it’s like: https://vimeo.com/25194938

My ex-boyfriend and I used to stop here all the time on our way...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:55:42 -0400

My ex-boyfriend and I used to stop here all the time on our way from college to home. This beautiful though unremarkable barn was the halfway point for us, and just somewhere that always made us think of the other, whether we were together or not. When together, we’d stop. When not, we’d text each other: “barn.” That’s it, but it was enough. This was our place, a place that though we were only ever at fleetingly, was ours alone. Not all love stories end happily, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t extraordinary during their time. I used to think love was all you need, and I hope to again, but sometimes you just need more. We were high school sweethearts turned college lovers turned our separate ways. Wishing you the best, you who were my best friend. P.S. I still think of you whenever I see the barn.

— By Aubrey Wood (from “Open Theme”)

Submit now to Pictory’s Open Themes

During a 4th of July barbecue last summer, my niece found old...

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

During a 4th of July barbecue last summer, my niece found old prescription safety glasses. They belonged to her great grandfather, who passed in 98. It’s great seeing how little you need to be happy when you’re young.

— By Diego dos Santos (from “Open Theme”)

Submit now to Pictory’s Open Themes

An old friend of mine and went diving in a clouded lake with my...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

An old friend of mine and went diving in a clouded lake with my camera. I was hoping for clarity, but during post-processing I noticed every image was chaotic and diffused. I left the editing process for a while, discouraged, but later came back to this.

— By Leslie June (from “Open Theme”)

Submit now to Pictory’s Open Themes

Hi there! I really appreciate those works, it's amazing and well done. I'm wondering if is possible to contribute with my photos. I would like to know more about it. Sara

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:50:15 -0400

Thanks Sara!

Yes! You can submit through the main site, Pictory, or now you can submit right through this blog. It’s a great way to get your photos in front of 60,000 people!

As I was visiting my father in Shanghai, I was brought to a...

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:45:48 -0400

As I was visiting my father in Shanghai, I was brought to a water village (sort of like a Venice of the east). There are often many tourists, foreign or local, that come to these villages to spend the day. Amidst the crowds, the local villagers remain indifferent to the visitors and go about their day to day lives, as does this man, simply relaxing until something catches his eye from above.

— By Jennifer Rimaz (from “Open Theme”)

Submit now to Pictory’s Open Themes

Minnesota has long been known as home to some of the most...

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Minnesota has long been known as home to some of the most warm-hearted individuals that anyone could possibly meet. “Minnesota nice,” Is a coined phrase for us fellow forester-sounding, hotdish-eating folks. Outside a quaint cafe in the heart of old St. Paul sits Ryan. He is homeless, one of many, and regulars the quiet life of Western Ave. He claims he hails from middle Minnesota and shares a few life stories as I take a break beside him for a moment on the stairs. His life wasn’t always this way, the bulk of his time spent wandering the streets and collecting social security. A common theme among the destitute. What ever caused his abandonment of home and material goods no longer detains him, as he smiles and shares his plans to spend Easter with a few dear old friends.

— By Rochelle Tschida (submitted to “Local Legends”)

View the Published Photos from this Theme

Jasper is the love of my life. He taught me how to nurture and...

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Jasper is the love of my life. He taught me how to nurture and care for another. Most importantly, he taught me that I was capable of nurturing and caring for another.

— By Natalie Durio (submitted to “Love without Language”)

View the Published Photos from this Theme

I was visiting my other half in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho just...

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

I was visiting my other half in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho just about a week ago. While the little town is expanding it’s surrounded by even smaller little places. We drove through the outskirts and passed a century plus old church on top of a hill in Cataldo. It was and still is the perfect scene for a great eerie movie. I’ll be returning there for more photos in the coming months! I can’t wait!

— By Ira Kh (submitted to “The Best of Small Town America”)

View the Published Photos from this Theme

Daisy, the tabby cat, used to rule the whole house living her...

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Daisy, the tabby cat, used to rule the whole house living her life like a queen coming and going as she pleased. Then one cold December night her fate changed. The chocolate lab mix puppy arrived as a surprise early Christmas gift looking like an adorable fluffy brown stuffed animal all snuggled up in a warm blanket. Daisy stepped down from her throne as queen of the love seat couch when Snuggles entered the family room. She ran away in fear and hid every time Snuggies was around. Sometimes she would even hide underneath my parents’ giant bed terrified when she heard Snuggie’s paws tapping on the kitchen floor. When the dog went to sleep the cat came out to play. When the lab was playing fetch outside the tabby would just stare at the tennis ball gliding through the air from the window. As human beings, who so often want to fix all things in our own way and control all situations on our own time, my family and I tried everything to make this scaredy cat accept and love this friendly, adorable dog. Nothing. Nothing at all. Fear had conquered the once Queen Daisy. Or had it? One random Tuesday afternoon, probably over a year and a half after the new member of the family entered, we heard a quiet noise . My mom and I were cooking dinner in the kitchen when we glanced into the family room to see if it was my dad arriving home from work. Snuggies always waited patiently for him on the love seat couch. And there it was-one love seat couch with two animals lying down on opposite sides. Neither one ran away or made a single sound. They did not fight over who won the throne of the love seat couch. They both just seemed peaceful, calm, and simply full of acceptance. And from that day the friendship and love between the feline and canine grew slowly and perfectly as it was meant to be. The love actually grew so strong that Daisy never left Snuggies side as she lied on the cold, bathroom floor suffering through her last dying days. So much simple yet poignant wisdom to be gained. We just need to have the faith to live our lives, be ourselves, and surrender that all will be taken care of in time. If we can let go of searching for the answers to our fears or analyzing all the ways to conquer our terror we will one day, without even realizing it, live right into the answers. When the time is right, when we are least thinking about it, when we don’t even realize it, we will grow right out of fear and grow into love. And when love enters our lives miraculous things happen. Beauty that we once thought was impossible appears as our reality! Be free, surrender, let go! It’s all good!

— By Michelle Caporale (submitted to “Love without Language”)

View the Published Photos from this Theme

Dear Mum and Dad, I have discovered the perfect place to raise...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Dear Mum and Dad, I have discovered the perfect place to raise my family. I’m sorry it means your grand-children will be growing on the other side of the world. There is so much freedom here in New Zealand, their life here will be a never-ending adventure. I’m sorry, but I’m not coming back.

— By Romain Perin (submitted to “Something to Write Home About”)

View the Published Photos from this Theme

Not only is Williams, Arizona, home to part of what is left of...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:30:05 -0400

Not only is Williams, Arizona, home to part of what is left of Historic Route 66 but it also prides itself as being the Gateway to the Grand Canyon. And, with that, the Grand Canyon Railway was born.

— By william adam collins (submitted to “The Best of Small Town America”)

View the Published Photos from this Theme

After a very crowded studio apartment became too much for two...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:30:06 -0400

After a very crowded studio apartment became too much for two dogs and two puppies, I picked Celeste up brought her home. She was a true pit-bull, with the ability to scare people just by looking at them. I felt so much obligation to her, to make sure she didn’t spend too much time alone, that she got enough exercise, that she interacted with enough people. When my relationship ended and my boyfriend moved out, it was just Celeste and I. She would lay with me and stretch her long body out to cuddle with me, I would cry and she was always there. She was so loving, so loyal to me. One day, she got scared and she nipped a girl’s behind. It was a horrible shock for both of us. She whimpered immediately and ran to me. I knew this was it, that for her good, I had to send her to a home with more attention than a single, full time, no yard, one bedroom resident could provide her. She taught me that you can truly love, and still you have to let go. She lives in New Jersey now, with a huge yard, and a family of four. I think about her all the time, I still feel her love and the bond we experienced. Because of her, I know how much I am capable of loving, I know the strength of the heart.

— By Linka Odom (submitted to “Love without Language”)

View the Published Photos from this Theme