Category Archives: Nature Photography

In the courtyard of the Chinese Embassy in Iran, questions and answers were exchanged between Iranian students and the Chinese ambassador among lines of photos on China.

“Has autonomous driving been widely promoted in China?” Mobina Moradkhani, a third-year Chinese major at the University of Tehran, asked in front of a picture of cars moving on a road between skyscrapers. According to the caption, these are self-driving cars on the road in the high-level autonomous driving demo area in Beijing.

“Experiments are still being carried out in designated areas in major cities such as Beijing, and I believe they will be applied more widely in the future,” answered Chinese Ambassador to Iran Chang Hua while ushering the students visiting the photo exhibition An Extraordinary Decade of China in the New Era.

The ambassador guided the students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Tehran and introduced in detail the achievements made by the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people over the past decade.

Another picture of wild elephants sleeping soundly impressed Moradkhani even more. She learned that a herd of 17 Asian elephants from a state-level nature reserve in Xishuangbanna in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province began to migrate northward in March 2020. During the journey which lasted more than 10 months, people quietly made way for the elephants wherever they roamed.

Moradkhani had always known China is prosperous, yet the story of the elephants presented her a China “full of love,” she said.

Sepehr Fouladnia, 31, obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics and worked in a bank before deciding to pursue an undergraduate degree in Chinese.

“China has played a very key global role in many areas over the past decade, and there are many lessons for developing countries to learn… Iranians are interested in the latest developments in China, and Iran needs to strengthen ties with China and learn from China’s development strategy for modernization,” Fouladnia said. 

Ansel Adams very rightly said, “Photography is an austere and blazing poetry of the real.” Pressing the shutter of the camera isn’t simply photography. What photographers bring to the table is mystifying and enigmatic. Their eyes catch what others might not. A blue ocean means different things to different people. A photographer will freeze that moment through their camera in different ways than one. Maybe, that is the art of living and of understanding. In this light, we present some passionate photographers of India and their comprehensive collection, narrating a plethora of stories and making memories alive. 

Raghu Rai

Photographer Raghu Rai started snapshotting the corners of life at the age of 23, in 1965. Sensitive to the hustle bustle of life around, the simplicity in the moments, and the socio-political causes, Raghu Rai has photographed some of the most monumental images and pictures ever. He is a recipient of the Padmashree, awarded for his sincere work on the Bangladeshi refugees, the war and its surrender. His photography covers all opposites, be it his body of work on the tragedy of Bhopal or capturing the colourful liveliness of the city of Varanasi. 

Dayanita Singh

Dayanita Singh describes herself as a ‘bookmaker who works with photography.’ She is famous for her portraits of the urban elites and the middle class. Singh uses sequences of photographs to narrate stories and poetic possibilities behind each photography. Primarily working with black and white portraits, however, recently Dayanita Singh has been adding colours to her photography, to understand spaces in different hues and shadows.

Pablo Bartholomew

Born in New Delhi, Pablo Bartholomew first started photography at the age of sixteen after learning the basics of photography from his father. He has been interested in stories of the people, and through his keen eye and camera, he has relentlessly brought extensive exhibitions. One of his exhibitions, ‘The Nagas’, is a classic example of his brilliancy. Journeying in and around remote villages and uphills, Pablo photographed some crucial elements of the Nagas cultures, some which you might not find today.

Sooni Taraporevala

Sooni Taraporevala is an internationally acclaimed screenwriter and filmmaker. She has written screenplays for well reputed studios—Disney, Warner Brothers, HBO, Universal, etc. Based in Mumbai, Sooni started her career as a still photographer. Over the years, she has showcased multiple photo exhibitions. One of her most renowned photograph exhibitions has been on Parsis, titled, ‘Parsis: the Zoroastrians of India–A Photographic Journey’ The work is a result of almost 20 years, which gives us a deep glimpse into the lives of the Zoroastrian community in India. Sooni Taraporevala’s trained eyes have offered us a documentary on the Parsi community through her sequences of her photographs.

Bharath Ramamruthan

Bharath Ramamruthan is India’s leading architectural, interior and travel photographer. He commenced his professional photography in 1988 and since then has delivered prolific work on India and its stupefying architecture. His eagle-eyes are sensitive to not only the structures of the architect but also its space, soul, spirit, shadows and hues. His architectural training has given him more insight into capturing the fine details and its aesthetic sensibilities.

They need to stay hydrated, just like us. They are also fans of the shortcut, the evening stroll and the midnight snack, just like us. And when you surprise them with a sudden candid-camera moment, they look a wee bit guilty, even when they are clearly doing absolutely nothing wrong.

And we all know what that’s like.

From a bobcat taking a water break on photographer Roy Toft’s property in Ramona to a short-eared owlcaught mid-bath in the Antelope Valley by photographer Roy Dunn, the subjects of the San Diego Natural History Museum’s new exhibit, “Caught on Camera: Wildlife When No One’s Watching,” are busy doing their thing on our turf.

But as these photos of Southern California wildlife taken by motion- or heat-detecting cameras remind us, these suburban yards and public thoroughfares are not really our turf at all.

“That’s what the heart of the exhibit is,” said exhibit developer Abigail Karkenny.“It’s really about the ways that people and animals are sharing space. Even when we don’t see them or hear them or think about them, they’re always there.”

On display in the museum’s top-floor photography gallery, “Caught on Camera” — which opens Nov. 18 — is divided into three sections, each devoted to a different type of camera-trap photography.

There are the stunning, artfully lit shots caught by camera-traps set up by professional photographers like Toft, Dunn and by the late Tony Mercieca, a skilled amateur nature photographer whose close-up triptych showing how bats drink while flying will take your breath away.

My, what pointy teeth they have.

Another wall features purpose-driven photos taken by researchers from the Natural History Museum and other organizations for studies on how climate change affects the San Bernardino flying squirrel and how wildlife use a highway underpass in Irvine. There are also many camera-trap photos of the Shaw’s agaveplants at the Cabrillo National Monument, which were taken during a study of the pollination mystery surrounding the rare succulent.

And finally, there are the fleeting images of our wildlife neighbors captured by their human counterparts.

A flat-screen monitor within the exhibit displays a rotating gallery of camera-trap photos submitted by people from around San Diego County. The current stars of this homegrown collection include a ringtail (a member of the racoon family) photographed in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park by Richard Chadwick; an American kestrel caught in midflight in East San Diego by James and Marilyn McFadden; and a greater roadrunner chilling outside the Escondido home of Union-Tribune outdoors columnist Ernie Cowan.

Whether it is Dunn’s glowing photo of a pair of young mountain lions lapping up some water in Antelope Valley, or researchers’ cameras catching a coyote casually strolling past a graffiti-covered underpass wall, all of the photos on exhibit serve the same Natural History Museum goal of advancing conservation and celebrating San Diego’s incredible biodiversity.

“You can’t protect something unless people know about it. That’s why, instead of 20 photos of coyotes, we wanted to have coyotes and bobcats and ringtails and flying squirrels and as many different things as we could fit into this show,” Karkenny said.

“With the bat photos, people were just amazed to see that sense of motion, and to see the bat taking a sip of water. That is something you would never get to see with your own eyeballs. And sometimes, it’s the eye contact, especially with the mountain lions and the bobcat. Getting the chance to kind of look into their eyes and feel that connection, people just love that.”

The “Caught on Camera” exhibit will be on display for at least 18 months, but that doesn’t mean it will never change. In the interest of science, conservation and human fascination, the museum will continue to display “wildlife selfies” from members of the public.

If you have captured an stellar animal moment on your own camera trap or security device, by all means submit it using the form on the museum’s “Caught on Camera” exhibit page. Your photo could end up in the exhibit’s rotating flat-screen gallery, which the museum plans to update every quarter.

You could be another link in the chain of sharing and caring that could make the world a better, wilder place.

“When you see a skunk or a possum or a lizard in your yard, you build empathy with it. It becomes your neighbor. You respect it and you want to protect it,” Karkenny said.

“I hope that’s what people take out of the community section. I hope that they see these animals truly as the creatures we are sharing space with, and that they know we have a connection with them.”

“Caught on Camera: Wildlife When No One’s Watching” opens Friday, Nov. 18, at the San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado in Balboa Park. Go to sdnhm.org for information.

Photographer Michael Cherney Photo: Courtesy of Michael Cherney

Having traveled throughout China to the point he has lost count of just how many places he has visited, Michael Cherney enjoys nothing more than capturing snapshots of the country’s natural landscapes on black and white film.

Cherney, a 53-year-old US photographer who has seen scenes such as the flowing Yangtze River through the lens of his 35mm film camera, said that he plans to spend his entire life working on his monochrome art that he compares to the distinct style of traditional Chinese ink paintings.   

Tradition is the future 

Photo: Courtesy of Michael Cherney

His art is often exhibited as part of lessons for art students in the US and Chinese universities, which in a way brings Cherney full circle as he was first drawn to Chinese culture when he himself was a college student. He was also strongly influenced by his father, who started doing business in the “golden era” of 1960s China. 

Cherney said at that time, he enjoyed learning the Chinese language the most, while the least enjoyable was involving himself in running his father’s business. 

Fu Chi, excerpt from Ten Thousand Li of the Yangtze River by Michael Cherney Photo: Courtesy of Michael Cherney

“I soon found out that I was not very into business,” Cherney said. 

“It [photography] is just a way to prove to myself that I was really understanding what I was looking at in China.” 

In 1991, the Chinese culture-lover settled down as a professional photographer in Beijing. 

After several years of taking “standard” landscape photos, the photographer has gradually progressed into an artist with an original style that incorporates the time-honored beauty of Chinese landscape handscrolls.  

His photo series Shadow Curtains was inspired by China’s “sea curtain” artistic ingenuity, a mounting technique that originated more than 700 years ago. The work follows the ancient method of displaying paintings in sequence along a long handscroll, and shows pictures he took in China’s cultural hotspots such as the Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province and the Yungang Grottoes. 

 Photo: Courtesy of Michael Cherney

Many of his works have been printed on Xuan-style paper, an ancient Chinese stationery that is one of the Four Treasures of the Study. 

“It is a very challenging material to work with… but it just makes it feel a bit more refined, a little bit more of a timeless feel,” Cherney said. 

“Timeless” is a profound artistic ambience that Cherney pursues in his art. For him, it is not just a style, but a means to show China’s evolution over time using photography to document reality. 

Started in 2010, Ten Thousand Li of the Yangtze River took Cherney seven years to complete. 

The artist has carried out research on 240 landmarks along the Yangtze River Basin documented in an anonymous Song Dynasty (960-1279) handscroll collected in a Washington DC gallery.  

Comprised of 42 handscrolls, Cherney’s project is like a contemporary counterpart to the ancient work that shows how people’s lives along the nation’s “Mother River” have changed as centuries-old towns and temples are now surrounded with bridges, mines and factories. 

“I think people tend to associate the word chuantong [tradition] with the past, but actually it’s past, present and future,” Cherney noted. 

Because he does not alter the photos shot in his 35mm film camera, Cherney takes a gamble every time he takes a picture on one of his field trips as he can only see them after he gets back home and develops the film. 

Yet, he has never regretted his choice, as he believes “nature’s paintings” “contain a resonance that can carry through generations.”  

Faith in culture

Traveling in Hubei Province in early January 2020 for his project Canglang Waters, Cherney did not realize that this journey would become life threatening since at that time COVID-19 had already started to ravage the province’s capital city of Wuhan. 

The Canglang Waters photo project was originally only supposed to be an artistic homage to China’s ancient text Tracing the Water Classic. Yet, as the realization of how the health crisis was impacting on people’s lives hit the photographer, it later turned into an introspective memo on how to cope with the hardships brought by the pandemic. 

In between photos on the handscroll are short calligraphy works inspired by the poem called “The Fisherman,” which was written by a frustrated poet of Chinese romanticism, Qu Yuan, during his exile. 

“Our journey to Canglang Waters [the classical name for a section of water along the Hanjiang River in Hubei Province] felt to be a metaphor for what was to follow:  remaining still… and then moving again, in harmony with our surroundings,” Cherney wrote. 

At that time when many foreigners tried to leave China, Cherney remained calm at home producing more calligraphy works. 

“Sooner or later, everyone will come visit Beijing, either from China or other parts of the world,” Cherney said, expressing his unwaivering faith in Chinese culture. 

The year 2022 marks the 31st year that Cherney has lived in Beijing. Now a true Beijinger, Qiu Mai – Cherney’s Chinese name meaning “autumn wheat” – has stood witness to the country’s development over the past few decades. He noted that all the developments happened “almost too fast for new memories to be created.” 

Currently, Cherney’s Elements and Boundaries exhibition is underway in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. With Chinese artist Liu Lihong joining the show, visitors can grasp how China’s landscapes are interpreted by artists from Asia and the West. 

Cherney said that he isn’t surprised to see Chinese aesthetics appeal to people from different backgrounds as his arts have been an open door inviting more people to see the real China.

The exhibition will be showcasing the work of Mr Smith and Miss Morrison; Mr Smith’s father, George Smith, who assists with the program and is an avid photographer; and their student Graeme Robertson.

For each photographer, the inspiration for this exhibition comes from the unexpected beauty found in nature.

“The simple things inspire me,” Mr Robertson said.

“Unless you look at the ground, you don’t know what’s around you — there might be something beautiful on the ground.

“You could look at one thing and 20 people could photograph it differently.”

This is also the case for Miss Morrison, but her inspiration also comes from her passion for helping others reach their photography goals.

“My friend said to me a while ago: if it makes your heart sing, you’re doing the right thing — and I love that,” Miss Morrison said.

“I used to be a nurse and that was wonderful and great, but I had to transition to something else and one day I picked up my camera and the peace I felt was amazing.

“So, being a teacher, tutor, mentor and educator in photography, I have seen so many people that have got beautiful talent and beautiful images tucked away, and I just want to encourage and mentor people with their photography to showcase them.”

The exhibition will be open from 9am to 3pm at the MEAC, with various pieces of work up for sale. Entry is free.

Miss Morrison will be running more photography and video programs next year, so if you’re interested in getting involved with Fiona Morrison Photography, contact her via her website or Facebook page.

© Thomson Reuters
FILE PHOTO: Honeybee gathers pollen from a flower at farm in the western Austrian village of Seefeld

By Gloria Dickie

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) – The U.N. climate talks in Egypt closed on Sunday with a resolution to address the dual crises of climate change and nature loss, but did little to boost next month’s global meeting on biodiversity.

Countries will gather in Montreal in two weeks’ time to seek a global deal to protect the world’s declining wildlife and degraded ecosystems.

Many environment ministers and campaigners have said the climate talks should underline the importance of protecting nature to help to limit climate change.

But the final deal repeated much of the same language on nature as last year’s Glasgow pact, and there was no mention of the upcoming U.N. biodiversity summit – COP15 – to take place Dec. 7-19.

The decision “failed to signal the need for (COP15) to be successful, demonstrating the continued unnecessary and outdated walls between the U.N. climate and biodiversity approaches,” said Brian O’Donnell, director of non-profit organisation Campaign for Nature.

Campaigners are calling for a fully-fledged “Paris Agreement for nature” at COP15 under which countries would set national conservation targets and then report routinely on their progress in meeting them as has happened for carbon emissions following the Paris climate accord.

“If nations are committed to the text just adopted in Egypt, then they must follow through with ambitious nature conservation targets in Montreal,” O’Donnell said.

Currently, 21 conservation targets are proposed on efforts from reducing pesticide use to cutting harmful subsidies by at least $500 billion per year. The “landmark” target of the draft Montreal deal proposes protecting 30% of the world’s land and sea by 2030 – known informally as 30-by-30.

SAFEGUARDING NATURE FROM MASS EXTINCTION

Scientists believe the Earth is experiencing a sixth mass extinction event, with more than one million species at risk of disappearing.

The world’s wildlife crisis is largely driven by habitat loss, with wild spaces turned into agricultural fields and cities, or degraded by pollution. But climate change poses an increasing threat as temperatures climb, pushing species out of their comfortable ranges.

The final deal from Sharm el-Sheikh spelt out “the urgent need to address, in a comprehensive and synergetic manner, the interlinked global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss”.

It encouraged parties to “consider, as appropriate, nature-based solutions or ecosystem-based approaches” to climate change. These include strategies such as protecting forests or restoring wetlands to aid the Earth’s natural ability to store carbon.

Marco Lambertini, director general of World Wildlife Fund International said nature-based solutions were critical.

“Even by achieving net zero emissions … we will not be achieving 1.5 degrees Celsius. We need nature on our side,” he said.

CHINA AS HOST IN MONTREAL

China holds the COP15 presidency, although the summit is taking place in Montreal, the seat of the CBD secretariat, after being postponed four times from its original 2020 date in the Chinese city of Kunming.

China and Canada have worked closely on arranging the event and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to attend, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected.

The Chinese foreign ministry on Friday told Reuters that “the Chinese side will at the right moment disclose the attendance situation of Chinese officials.”

Canada’s environment minister Steven Guilbeault said his country “had a very constructive and collaborative cooperation with China since the U.N. asked us to host COP15”.

(Reporting by Gloria Dickie; Additional reporting by David Stanway in Shanghai; Editing by Katy Daigle and Barbara Lewis)

Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.

Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo Makes Glowing Return

Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo, the facility’s annual holiday light show, flipped the switch on its 10^th consecutive season Nov. 19.

Presented by Strategic Staffing Solutions, the event features millions of twinkling holiday lights across dozens of designed displays throughout the zoo.

Dates and times for the Wild Lights 2022-2023 season are as follows:

• 25-26 (5-10:30 p.m.)
• 27 (5-9 p.m.)
• 2-3, 9-10, 16-23 (5-10:30 p.m.)
• 4, 11, 14-15, 26-31 (5-9 p.m.)
• 2-8 (5-9 p.m.)

New features of Wild Lights include:

An Enchanted Trail where guests can stroll through a forest of lights while listening to the sounds of the season.

Toyland, an immersive installation featuring larger-than-life, lighted toy sculptures, such as a 40-foot-long train – along with a Wishing Tree, where families can make their holiday wishes come true.

The Wild Lights Lodge, a festive, indoor oasis where guests can warm up and take in holiday décor, bar service, s’mores, and more.

“Wild Lights is one of our most successful and fun events of the year, and it’s easy to see why,” says Megan Gregg, senior events manager for the Detroit Zoological Society. “The incredible new activities we have planned for this year, along with all the traditional festivities that are part of Wild Lights, are what make this family-friendly event so popular.”

Wild Lights guests also can check out the Wildlife Photographer of the Year art exhibition, which is included with admission to any Wild Lights event. Owned by the Natural History Museum in London, this exhibition celebrates the best of nature photography and photojournalism using the unique. The Detroit Zoo is the first stop in the United States for the exhibition, which debuted Nov. 19.

For more information and tickets, visit wildlights.detroitzoo.org.

Applications for $50M Going PRO Talent Fund Program Opens Today

Michigan employers looking to take advantage of the Going PRO Talent Fund program will be able to apply for a share of approximately $50 million in competitive training awards over the course of two application cycles starting today.

Going PRO Talent Fund helps ensure employers have the talent they need to grow and stay competitive by providing awards to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training must fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer and lead to a transferable, industry-recognized credential.

“We are committed to expanding opportunity for Michiganders, ensuring they have a path to good-paying jobs and making sure businesses can develop the talent they need to compete in the global economy,” says Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “Since the program’s launch, Going PRO Talent Fund has provided training for 145,000 Michigan workers, supporting the needs of more than 5,000 businesses.”

This year, the application process includes increased transparency for applicants — allowing them to see their scores prior to submitting an application and make adjustments as needed.

The application period for the first award cycle ends at noon Dec. 12. Selections will be announced in January 2023. For more information, visit here.

Sterling Heights-based Jet’s Pizza Debuts in Henderson, Nevada

Jet’s Pizza, the Sterling Heights-based pizza chain, has expanded to the Las Vegas market with its first location in nearby Henderson.

“Nevada has long been on the list of the most requested locations by our fans,” says Doug Pierard, owner of Jet’s Pizza in Henderson. “We couldn’t be more excited to serve the local community and welcome pizza lovers to experience our new location.”

The new location will offer the full complement of Jet’s Signature pizzas, calzone style Deli Boats, freshly baked Turbo bread Stix, fresh salads, crispy wings, and boneless chicken, as well as cookies and cinnamon stix with delivery and carry out options. Gluten-free pizza is available upon request.

With the launch of its Henderson location, Jet’s Pizza has more than 400 locations in 20 states.

Lionsgate Launches Rewards Initiative Using Detroit-based TiiCKER Platform

Lionsgate has partnered with Detroit-based shareholder loyalty platform TiiCKER to launch the Shareholder Red Carpet Rewards program to increase retail shareholder engagement with the studio’s portfolio of film and television brands and franchises.

Lionsgate, home to the blockbuster “John Wick,” “Hunger Games,” “Dirty Dancing,” and other brands and franchises, now will offer verified shareholders an array of perks under its tiered Shareholder Red Carpet Rewards program.

These include limited-edition, collectible Lionsgate commemorative shareholder certificates featuring favorite Lionsgate movies and television series, a 50 percent discount on a full-year subscription to global streaming platform STARZ, discounts on movie tickets in partnership with Atom Tickets and discounts on a broad range of Lionsgate events, experiences, and merchandise.  Shareholder rewards also will include giveaways and sweepstakes that give shareholders the opportunity to win free tickets to movie premieres or host hometown screenings.

“We’re thrilled to debut our first partnership with a world-class Hollywood film and television studio and their tens of millions of subscribers and fans in utilizing the TiiCKER platform to build shareholder loyalty and engagement,” says Jeff Lambert, founder and CEO of TiiCKER. “Individual shareholders are loyal and want to connect with the companies they own and Lionsgate’s Shareholder Rewards program is the most comprehensive suite of perks and experiences ever introduced by a public company.  We’re honored to be their partner on this blockbuster program.”

Detroit Announces Street Closures, Bus Reroutes, Parking for Thanksgiving Events

Individuals attending America’s Thanksgiving Parade, Turkey, Trot and the Detroit Lions game on Thursday, Nov. 24 should make note of street closures, bus reroutes, and suggested parking, as tens of thousands flock to downtown Detroit.

The city of Detroit also issued a reminder to parade watchers that the building of scaffolds and any device without a city permit is prohibited during Thanksgiving events in downtown Detroit on private or public property.  Violators will receive tickets, and the scaffolds will be removed.

ROAD CLOSURES

Nov. 23

• Woodward between W. Grand Blvd and Warren to close at 9 a.m.
• Woodward from Warren to Congress to close at noon.
• Atwater between Civic Center Drive and Third to close at 3 p.m.
• Griswold between Fort and Congress to close at 6 p.m.

Nov. 24

Motorists may cross Woodward at these intersections until 5 a.m. Crossover streets are: Warren, Alexandrine, MLK/Mack, Fisher Service Drive, Adams, Park/Witherall, John R/Clifford and Grand River.

Woodward from W. Grand Blvd. to Larned will be closed completely from 5 a.m.-4 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

The following streets will close beginning at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24 and reopen after the Turkey Trot at approximately 10 a.m.:

• Jefferson from the Lodge Freeway to Cabacier
• Michigan at Cass
• Fort Street from Trumbull to Woodward
• Congress from Shelby to Randolph
• Larned from Shelby to Randolph
• Shelby from Congress to Michigan
• Michigan from Cass to Woodward
• Monroe from Woodward to Randolph
• Lafayette Blvd. from Trumbull to Griswold
• Washington Blvd. from Adams to Congress
• Atwater from Civic Center Dr. to Third
• In addition, the southbound Lodge exits at W. Jefferson/Cobo and Larned Street (Exits 1A & 1B) and the northbound Lodge exit at W. Jefferson (Exit 1A) will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. and during the entire Turkey Trot. The Larned exit will reopen after the Turkey Trot ends.

The Detroit People Mover will be free on Thanksgiving Day and operating from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.

As a result of street closures for Thanksgiving Day events, DDOT customers can expect delays beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 24 until the end of the parade. Some eastside and westside bus routes will be rerouted.

The following routes will be located on Beaubien between Congress and Lafayette at the Bricktown People Mover Station.

• 5 Van Dyke/Lafayette
• 6 Gratiot (Gratiot will be located on Congress)
• 9 Jefferson
• 31 Mack
• 52 Chene
• 67 Cadillac/Harper
• Passengers can transfer by way of the People Mover at no charge (Bricktown Station on Beaubien at Congress and Michigan Station on Cass at Michigan)

These routes will be located at:

• 3 Grand River will be at Cass on Michigan
• 4 Woodward will be available at the Rosa Parks Transit Center (Bay 15)
• 16 Dexter will be available at the Rosa Parks Transit Center (Bay 14)

DDOT will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day for all regular routes at regular fares. For more information, please call DDOT’s Customer Service Office at (313) 933-1300 or go to RideDetroitTransit.com.

The Detroit Municipal Parking Department (MPD) recommends the following facilities:

• Ford Underground Garage, Nov. 24, 5 a.m.-7 p.m., $10
• 30 East Jefferson Ave., Nov. 25, 6 a.m.-7 p.m., $5-$15
• Eastern Market Garage, Nov. 24, 6 a.m.-9 p.m., $20
• 2727 Riopelle St., Nov. 25, Closed
• Normal business hours resume Monday, Nov. 28.

Parents can find lost children at the Detroit Police Department Downtown Services, 20 Atwater, or by calling 313-237-2850.

Metro Detroit Young Professionals Start New Committee to Combat Illiteracy

More than 100 metro Detroit young professionals met in late September to learn about the mission of Beyond Basics, Michigan’s leading provider of structured literacy intervention.

The event, conducted at the Riverside, launched the newly formed Leaders for Literacy, which is a committee of adults aged 25-40 who want to do their part to eradicate the crisis of illiteracy in America.

Committee Chair Abigail Turnbull felt moved to become part of the solution after learning about Beyond Basics at a nonprofit showcase in 2021. Currently two-thirds of fourth graders nationwide are reading below proficiency, and pandemic learning losses have only added to their ranks. Turnbull said she was was heartened to learn there is a remedy: Beyond Basics’ multisensory approach helps students achieve grade-level movement in an average of six weeks.

Turnbull’s passion to become a literacy advocate quickly drew her peers to join her in forming Leaders for Literacy, and the committee’s enthusiasm is contagious, as evident by the many young professionals who milled about the venue, enjoying cocktails and music, curious to learn more.

“I’m blown away by the generosity of our attendees,” says Turnbull, an account manager at leading insurance broker NFP. “I’m very much looking forward to keeping the momentum to continue to make a difference and work to eradicate illiteracy.”

Young professionals interested in joining, can email Executive Outreach Manager Katie Nienstedt at [email protected].

Photography Art Galleries around the world are dying a slow and painful death. While the empty storefronts and haunting ghosts of exhibits past may pale in comparison to the extinction of the dinosaurs, or this weeks mass exodus of employees at Twitter, there is no doubt that like many businesses, the art community has been hit hard in the past eighteen months.

Already up against the wall with the growth of e-commerce over the past decade, coronavirus-related restrictions, a general hesitancy to travel and the current state of the economy have all combined to create a deadly cocktail that many photography art galleries have been unfortunately forced to drink.

While photographers like myself who conduct the majority of their business online have not made it through unscathed by any means, the bumps and bruises we have been taking are slightly more treatable than the tourniquet and blood transfusions that photography and fine art galleries have had to endure. From the coasts of California and Islands of Hawaii, to the streets of Soho and the Sins of Las Vegas, art galleries everywhere are breathing their last breaths.

Mo Money, Mo Problems

The single largest problem that photography art galleries face today is simply overhead. Convincing the steady stream of travelers who walk through their doors that they want or need artwork to decorate the walls of their homes costs money. Big money. If there is one thing for certain, enlightened by the eternal wisdom of the Notorious B.I.G, we know that Mo Money Mo Problems.

Photographic Art in the gallery needs to presented in the finest way possible, with luxurious wood for your feet to walk on, high end lighting systems to bring it all to life and well dressed, silver tongued gallery directors and art consultants to help usher you towards your destiny. All of this glitz and glamour added to the cost of doing business, corporate lease agreements and the cost of producing the work itself cascades into an endless pit of cash. It has always been a balancing act, dangerously teetering between feast and famine but the events of the past two years cut straight to the bone.

As noted in this article by the New York Times, for centuries, dealers have used their own real estate to frame and enhance the experience of looking at art. “These bricks-and-mortar galleries validated the reputations of contemporary artists, and the prices asked for their works. But the coronavirus crisis, and digitalization, are forcing this generation of gallerists to rethink and adapt.”

A Lesson In Value Direct From The Artist

A recent survey conducted by The Art Newspaper discovered that as a result of global lockdown, art galleries around the world are expected to lose an average of 72% of their annual revenue. In a recent interview with CNN, Dominique Lévy reported a near “90%” drop in business since the beginning of the pandemic.

As a photographer myself who makes his living selling the same museum quality wall art produced by photography galleries around the world, I have a deep understanding of the costs associated with producing high end artwork both from an artists standpoint and a business one. That being said, I have always felt that all the fanfare and fluff that goes along with running a gallery comes at a cost that in no way benefits the artist or the fine art collector.

The corporate machine keeps on grinding, pulling resources from the pockets of artists who in turn are forced to pass this burden on to collectors without increasing the value of their product in any way.

While artists like Peter Lik attempt to fabricate mystery and a perception of glamour around the artwork they offer, the simple truth is that all photographers today have access to the same production materials and as a result of that fact pay similar costs to produce the work.

For example, a large acrylic mounted photography print costs between $1200 – $2000 to produce. As a collector, nothing changes about the art itself whether you pay $3000 directly from an artist like myself or $15000 from a gallery. I invite you to skip the snooty gallery directors, the uncomfortable feeling of being stalked and keep $12,000 of your hard earned money in your pocket while still discovering beautiful wall art photography from the comfort of your own home.

The Only Constant Is Change

Viewing photography artwork online instead of in-person is growing in preference by the majority of people who enjoy art. While there is no substitute for viewing art in person, there are more and more reasons for consumers to look online, from the cost of investment to protecting themselves and the health of their families. No one wants to go out and stand elbow to elbow, sharing air with strangers inside an enclosed space in 2022. Unless they are drunk. Drunk people still want to do that.

While this fact does cause painful choices to be made by art galleries as a whole, the opportunity for artists themselves have never been greater. The ability to reach your potential customers through the internet means you can sell your art, without selling your soul in the process. As an artist, you have the ability to create real value for collectors of your work, provide a higher level of service and create meaningful relationships with those who appreciate your work. As a collector, you are able to achieve a deeper connection with the work you are purchasing by getting to know the artist on a personal level instead of simply being served wine, cheese and a credit card reader on some really nice wood floors.

Do We Even Need Art?

Art gives us immeasurable personal and social benefits. Nature photography specifically creates the same reaction in your brain as actually being in nature! Displaying art photography of nature in your home has an extensive list of benefits to your health, life and spirit! Without art and creative work, there would be no laughter, no music, no imagination, and no stories. We simply need it to survive. Do we need photography art galleries? Only time will tell.