The Vendor Children

It is unfortunate that children everywhere do not always enjoy the opportunities of a good education and a secure environment where they can simply be children.

In Guatemala, public schools are sub-par, and Mayan Indian families often rely on the labor of children to help them get by.  Rather than sending them to the classroom, it is not unusual to see children, often very young, selling handmade goods and souvenirs on the street, especially in locations that cater to tourists.  Girls will usually be in their finest traditional Indian clothing.  They will approach whoever passes by and hone their sales skills on the street.

Young girls in Antigua, Guatemala become vendors at an early age.  You can click on photographs for a larger view.

Mayan children at a rural school in Chimaltenango.

A vendor on the steps of the Cathedral in Chichicastenango.

You can view my photography website at: www.tombellart.com.

Searching for Silver with the iPhone

Many will say that you don't need an expensive SLR anymore since everyone now has an iPhone or some other smartphone with a high resolution camera.  I totally disagree, as will most very serious photographers.  However, the iPhone is a great backup for the serious photographer.

I was with my son on the campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign to get him registered for classes when I noticed a bed of hostas.  I realized I could get some beautiful silver tones in a black and white print.  I hadn't brought my primary camera since I wasn't on a photographic mission.  But the iPhone certainly served the purpose.  Here's the photo to prove that its always a good thing to carry a camera, even when its your your phone.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Paducah Photo Exhibition

Four of my images will be on exhibition this summer in the Paducah Photo 2014 show.  My image, Gondolas will be in the international show, and three other images will be in the regional showcase.

Gondolas will be in the internatinal show.

Venetian Violinist will be in the regional showcase.

Cartwheel will be in the regional showcase.

Dog in Castrillo de los Polvazares will also be in the regional showcase.

The opening reception for the show will be June 7,  5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Yeiser Art Center in Paducah, Kentucky.  The show ends on July 27.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

6th EDITION POLLUX PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

I was surprised last night to learn that one of my images, Dog in Castrillo de los Polvazares (Spain), won first place in the Street Photography and Cityscapes category of the 6th Pollux Awards, an international photography competition that draws thousands of photographs from dozens of countries.  Winning works of the Pollux Awards will be exhibited at the 3^rd Biennial of Documentary and Fine Art Photography at the Municipal Museum in Malaga, Spain, opening on September 18^th, 2014.

Dog in Castrillo de los Polvazares (Spain).  First Place in Street Photography and Cityscapes.

Three other images were finalists:

Gondolas was a finalist in the Fine Art Photography category.

Cartwheel was a finalist in the Children category.

Bubble Man was a finalist in the People category.

You can view all of the winning images in the 6th Pollux Awards at:  http://www.call4artists.com/Gallery_6th_Pollux_Award.php.  Congratulations to all the winners.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

My Expressions Interview is Online

In my last post, I mentioned that a local PBS program, Expressions, would air an interview with me about my photography.  I promised that when it became available online, I would post the link.  Here it is:  http://watch.wsiu.org/video/2365178472/

If you find it interesting, please share.

Me (left) with Expressions host Najjar Abdul-Musawwir in the WSIU-TV studio.  Photo courtesy of WSIU-TV.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

I'm a Guest on Expressions

On Thursday, February 13 at 9PM, I'll be one of the featured guest on the local WSIU-TV program Expressions.  It's a program that features local artists and examines the creative process. I'll be talking about my photography.  Another segment of the program will feature a local tattoo artist.  Expressions is hosted by internationally recognized artist and associate professor of art at Southern Illinois University, Najjar Abdul-Musawwir.  The show is produced by Rajvee Subramanian, a Ph.D student at the University.

Me (left) with Expressions host Najjar Abdul-Musawwir in the WSIU-TV studio.  Photo courtesy of WSIU-TV.

Expressions gives local artist an opportunity to discuss their artwork and the creative process.  Photo courtesy of WSIU-TV.

If you live within the coverage area of WSIU-TV, Channel 8, please tune in.  The program will be repeated on Sunday, February 16 at 5:30PM.  Some episodes and segments are also available on the WSIU-TV website at http://watch.wsiu.org/program/wsiu-expressions/.  If the episode or segment is make available over the internet, I'll post it on a future blog entry.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.