This is a worthwhile interview -  :

The whole first five years in my career was wandering around on my bike with a Norman 200b and a Hasselblad. I would just show up to photo shoots and go, “Here I am. I’m taking your picture now.”

You just shoot things, because people ask you to shoot things, right? But every time I did a picture for them, what they were asking, I would make a conscious point of making an image that was 180 degrees in the opposite direction.

There was a couple of years where it was questionable if I was going to survive because I wasn’t just doing things to get by. I was saying, “No, I really don’t want to do that. And this is the pictures I want to take now, and this is where I want to go.”

FYI This lecture will be conducted in Spanish – On Tuesday November 17 at  12-1 pm in the  Hispanic Division of Library of Congress Spanish photographer (I should say Galician – the Spaniards invented Balkanization!) will be presenting his twenty-year project, Galegos na Diaspora. From Delmi:

Galegos na Diaspora is a photo essay documentary long term begun in 1989 and ended in 2009. It is a book published in Galicia with 600 pages.
Is the first time that the project has a presentation. In my country no media, press, Tv or organizations have interest in it because it is very controversial.
Finally I will talk about this long project out of my land and I am sad of that, but proud that in the USA it can be true and talk to the people about this galician diaspora around the world.
Galician diaspora is on memory of thousands of inmigrants that one day went out of Galicia and established their lifes in many countries of the world.
The project is based in travels around, Europe, Americas, Asia & Oceania, Africa…

Many stories of people who can not be heard and have been forgotten in the memory of time.

A ver:

O.M.G.  Boasting one of the more amazing magazine covers I have seen in a while, Chinese photography magazine Popular Photography, published a portfolio of images and Q&A from my Super-America show at Kunst.Licht Gallery in Shanghai.  Say what you will of the cover, I think their treatment of my photography, along with the red and blue airbrushing treatment, is nothing short of inspired.

Opening spread © Susana Raab

The top two are from the Dells in Wisconsin, middle two are DC and gas station is outside of Memphis.

That my friends, is some sweet clippage.

Need some new art, and let’s face it, who doesn’t? Check out the very worthy auction:
FotoWeek DC and Critical Exposure invite you to

“Picture Equality: An Evening of Empowerment Through Photography”

Reception & Silent Auction of Photographs

Thursday, November 12th, 6:30-9:30 pm
FotoWeek Central 1 at 3338 M St. NW in Georgetown

Tickets are $75 and include wine, beer, and appetizers. Click here to purchase!

FotoWeek DC has partnered with Critical Exposure to run “Cameras for Kids,” a program that teaches documentary photography and social advocacy to DC public school students.  Currently there is a program for students at Martin Luther King Elementary School.

The evening will consist of a reception with wine, beer, and appetizers, as well as a silent auction of images donated by over thirty professional photographers, including:
Damon Winter, a staff photographer for The New York Times, who took over 90,000 photos of Obama during the 2008 Presidential Campaign, one of which is in our auction.  He later won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for a selection of this work.
Ami Vitale is a contract photographer with National Geographic and is best known for cultural documentation.  Her stories have been awarded numerous grants, including The Canon Female Photojournalist Award for her work in Kashmir, and the Alexia Foundation for World Peace.
Patrick Farrell, a staff photographer for The Miami Herald, won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for his coverage of the 2008 Hurricane Season that ravaged Haiti.
Ed Kashi is an award-winning photojournalist, filmmaker and education dedicated to documenting the social and political issues that define our times.

Paul Nicklen, who grew up in a small Inuit community in Canada’s Arctic and has spent his photography career documenting the Arctic and its inhabitants.

Todd Heisler, whose images focus on American life and who won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography at the Rocky Mountain News for a project entitled “The Final Salute.”  Now a staff photographer for the New York Times, he works on a weekly project, “1 in 8 million,” that highlights the lives of New Yorkers.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to own a beautiful photograph and support arts programming for at-risk DC youth. A limited number of tickets are available. Reserve your spot at the auction!

Critical Exposure is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that teaches youth to use the power of photography and their own voices to become effective advocates for school reform and social change. By empowering young people to develop skills in documentary photography and advocacy, and to exhibit their images and stories in galleries, coffee shops, and other public spaces, we expose citizens and policymakers to the realities and challenges faced by DC youth. Learn more at www.criticalexposure.org/auction.
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Unpromo-ed, but very much in the auction is an uncharacteristic offering from me: a black and white of a church in the Cuban town of Trinidad, at dusk.  V. affordable and worthy of your tax-deductible contribution!

A place of Tranquility, The Washington National Cathedral. © Raab 2009

I hate to mention the weather, but it has been nothing less than a phenomenal autumn with trees afire and brisk temperatures here in our nation’s capital.  I like to take abby and ted on a powerwalk to to the Washington Cathedral some mornings and all portended glorious-ity.  I don’t ALWAYS walk around with a camera but I needed to make some stock shots of the cathedral so I grabbed the 35mmDSLR.  Rounding around the side of the cathedral we saw some activity at the end of the driveway.  And who knew, YOU can protest outside the cathedral w/o permit just like the guy who is always protesting around the Vatican DCHQ over on Mass Ave.

I must confess to a bit world-weariness on the DC protest scene.  I’m happy for everyone to have their first amendment bits and all. But sometimes it is too much.  That is an understatement of the scene I witnessed yesterday AM around 10 on Wisconsin Ave in front of the Cathedral.  It was superlative on a few levels, and might I remind people that superlative does not only connote the postive.  Also, I assure you, it’s been a fair piece since I’ve been called a: “silly slut,” by one of my photographic subjects.  Apparently the Phelps-Roper Famille of Topeka, KS has earned a bit of press but remained unknown to me before our face-to-face encounter.  Two sisters and their children who were quite young stood of the sidewalk wearing offensive ignorant statements spewing hate.

Family spewing Hate before Sunday morning services at The National Cathedral © Susana Raab 2009

Getting the attention they deserve. © Susana Raab 2009

The saddest part was how young the kids were and how brainwashed and unable they were to have a conversation outside of reciting a script. When I asked how they liked Washington, I was given some speechifying and then when I tried to redirect the conversation by inquiring  about impressions of the city itself  as a landscape, for the architecture?  Well, I was subjected to some personal insults from the “aunt” of the young children basically insinuating that I do not spend enough time pondering deep and serious issues, and that, my friends, is putting it kindly. These people have no appreciation of loveliness so trapped are they by their fixations of hate and anger.

It was a bit of a spectacle with me (shooting), abby and teddy (impatiently observing with growing incredulity); another guy walking his terrier, Betsy, with whom Abby wanted to go agro; and this young high school student, Erik Klein, who had been observing these people’s activities for two years and whose HS (Bethesday Chevy Chase) will apparently be picketed by these seriously misguided people. Young Erik, full of righteous indignation, was soon filming and shouting expletives to and fro with the ladies.  I conferred with  Betsy’s dad from a safe distance regarding that quirky aspect of Washington whereupon one never knows just what sort of something one will run into out for a brisk stroll with the lil chappies.

They felt they had seen enough, didn't like the energy there, wanted legal emancipation to the fence I had tied them up to; wondered what happened to the concept of frolicking down the Olmsted Path? © Susana Raab 2009

Security officers were watching us from a safe distance and soon a couple of police cruisers had parked in the driveway.  We talked with Erik about the importance of not degenerating the conversation into a loud cussing match versus abstaining from dialogue if it could not be kept civil and also I met one wonderful man, Uwhankebe Anana, originally of Nigeria.

Uwhankebe © Susana Raab 2009

Uwhankebe, lately in the security industry, has been unemployed for several months and is distributing The Examiner in front of the Cathedral on Sundays and in the U-Street area during the week.  He was a very pleasant person and I’m sure will be a conscientious employee.

Eric and Uwhankebe © Susana Raab 2009

Hate-Fighter Eric Klein, Senior, Bethesda Chevy Chase High School on the left.

Sad is What I am When I see this Little Boy © Susana Raab 2009

So this young man apparently had enough of holding up the sign and after some negotiation with his mother was allowed to distract himself with something behind her.  I looked over and he appeared to be playing video games on an I-Touch, surely a symbol of hell and tarnation, if ever there were, do you not think?  So I sought to verify: “Hey is that an I-Touch you are using?”  Well, for the last time that morning I was treated with scorn and disgust, as I left soon after the scornful lad responded:

“No. It’s an I-Phone.”

Well, I can at least take comfort in the fact that they have to use AT&T.

The National Museum of the American Indian’s Indigenous Contemporary Arts Program offers support to a wide range of arts activities with the goal of increasing the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of contemporary Native American arts. The NMAI considers the recognition of living artists of the Western Hemisphere and Hawaii to be of primary importance and will give awards to projects that strengthen the scholarship in this underserved field and create opportunities for new and innovative work.

NMAI’s Exhibitions and Publications program awards grants of $7,500 to $15,000 to support exhibitions, installations, publications, and critical writing that interpret and present the work of contemporary Native visual artists to the public and encourage dialogue and critical commentary. At least one-half of the proposed project team (artists, authors, curators, etc.) must be Native American or Native Hawaiian. Awards are given to nonprofit or education-based organizations. Project budgets must show a minimum 50 percent match by the applicant organization or other anticipated sources.

NMAI’s Expressive Arts program awards grants of up to $10,000 to support the creation and presentation of new works through the collaboration of two or more Native artists. Awards will specifically support the creation of new works for public performance that may include, but is not limited to, music, dance, spoken word, electronic media, costume design, mask making, set design, performance art, photography, painting, and other forms of expressive culture. The award is open to all indigenous peoples who hold citizenship in the Americas.

More info here.

Dorothea at Work

McEvoy Auditorium, Lower Level
American Art Museum

Not familiar with Magenta Foundation? Aspiring photographic superstars should be.  They host a wide variety of programs, the best well known is their Flash Forward awards for emerging photographers (read under 34 and I’ll subvert my comments about ageism and where would Grandma Moses be!).  Come celebrate their efforts and a book launch at Foto Week Central. Details on the pic!

Eva, La Costa Verde, Peru, 2009 © Susana Raab

Looking on the bright side, the WSJ reports that after years of seeking exotic foreign artistes to add to their collections, collectors are now homeward bound in terms of rounding out their collections.

Now, a full year since the recession gutted the global art market, collectors are canceling their trips. Some Westerners are now loath to dip into markets like Russian or Indian contemporary art, whose prices soared during the boom but whose long-term value is less established. Many are cutting back on expensive art-buying trips. And some collectors say they’re interested in supporting local artists, particularly at a time of economic hardship—the cultural equivalent of buying an American car instead of an import.

Yes, that is news we can use.  Are you a collector looking for a fine piece of contemporary art while supporting your local community? DC (Maryland and Virginia too, you can claim me! I’m equal opportunity) collectors take note:  you too can support this very worthy artist.  Serious inquiries only at gallery [at] susanaraab.com

(and yes, Adam is holding the apple in the photo above; revisionist history? I don’t think so!)

Looking for something to do? Here’s a round-up of Fotoweek stuff in Anacostia:

FOTOWEEK ANACOSTIA : special event November 6th : all other events November 7-14th

SPECIAL EVENT : November 6th @ 7:30pm
Silent Auction + Reception hosted by Senator Al and Franni Franken
For tickets 202-365-8392, includes light fare and drinks, only $25
Address: 2204 MLK Jr Ave SE
The fundrasier takes place next to the gallery at a converted warehouse space, 2204 Martin Luther King Jr Ave in Southeast Washington DC. Join us as the event kicks off at 7:30pm with light fare and drinks. It will be a great opportunity to purchase affordable photography during the Silent Auction with works generously donated by Owen Franken, Joshua Yospyn, Renee Woodward, Antoine Sanfuentes, Jared Ragland, Chandi Kelly and many other photographers. The proceeds from the event will help reinforce ARCH Development Cor The poration’s commitment to Anacostia, bringing fine arts and cultural programming to Anacostia through its two art spaces, The Honfleur Gallery and The Gallery at Vivid Solutions. Senator will be drawing his famous free-hand map of the US to be auctioned off during the event. Owen Franken will also be presenting a slide show during the evening, discussing his life’s work and images displayed. Tickets are only $25 and are available in advance by calling 202-365-8392 or email bferraro@archdc.org.(Preview of Owen Franken’s A Photography Retrospective at The Gallery at Vivid Solutions is free and will open at 6:30pm.)

Five different exhibitions throughout the Historic Sector of Anacostia, East of the River. All the exhibits open Saturday November 7th @ 7pm and are in walking distance of each other. We are accessible by metro (green to Anacostia) and metro bus (90 to Anacostia). Please check the web sites for gallery hours and more directions.

Honfleur Gallery
1241 Good Hope Road SE WDC 20020
Women Photojournalists of Washington : Launch
WPOW’s mission is to connect and educate the public of the work of women photographers. The photographers featured in the juried exhibit are Astrid Riecken, Allison Shelley, Abby Greenawalt, Ashely Twiggs, Algerina Perna, Amanda Lucidon, Andrea Bruce, Carol Guzy, Gabriela Bulisova, Jamie Rose, Katie Falkenberg, Laura Elizabeth Pohl, Melina Mara, Sarah L. Voisin and Yanina Manolova. Launch is generously sponsored by Camera Bits.

A Contact Sheet : Honfleur’s represented artists + local favorites
Photographers include Darren Smith, Renee Woodward, John K. Lawson, Antoine Sanfuentes, Joshua Yospyn, Jean-Francois Bauret, Jean Francois Rauzier, Jean Noel L’Harmeroult, Cyril Anguelidis, Andrea Hope, Jared Ragland, Sherry Ways and Deborah Terry.

Alternative Arts Space 2200
2200 MLK Ave SE WDC 20020
BK Adams + Steven M. Cummings : I AM ART
Steven Cummings, DC based photographer, collaborates with BK Adams, Anacostia based sculptor and painter presenting an experimental installation with interactive components.

The Gallery at Vivid Solutions
2208 MLK Ave SE WDC 20020
Owen Franken : A Photography Retrospective
The French have a word that aptly sums up Owen Franken’s career: Imprévisible (unforeseeable). To many, unforeseeable might be a source of anxiety. To Franken, it’s freedom. It is not surprising then that Franken enjoys an unusual profession for an MIT grad: Photojournalism. Franken’s career has taken him to 103 countries, allowing him to taste the best (and sometimes the worst) of what the world has to offer and get paid for it. “I’ve always relished freedom and never worried about financial security,” Franken says from his home in Paris, where he juggles his roles as a food and travel photographer, a father of two, a gourmet chef, and the older brother of Senator Al Franken. His photos have appeared on the covers and pages of Time, Newsweek, Forbes, BusinessWeek, the New York Times, and National Geographic, as well as Saveur, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine,and Travel and Leisure. He has photographed presidents from Nixon to Clinton, covered wars and Woodstock, illustrated Chinese economic reform and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

ARCH Training Center
1231 Good Hope Road SE WDC 20020
Student Photography Exhibit : Eco-Action-Reaction
Student photography show focusing on the importance of renewable energy resources, such as solar power, and exploring the environmental juxtaposition between man and nature. This exhibition is funded in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.