Janet Kotwas | Photographer | 813-727-6481 http://www.kotwasphoto.com Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:52:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Photo Book Cali Winner | Sport Photography | California http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:56:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% Sweet! One of my photos has been selected into Photo District New’s (PDN) PhotoBook Cali Contest 2011!  PDN is the leading photo magazine and is known worldwide for their photo competitions.  Along with the other contest winners, this photo will be published in an PDN branded special edition book celebrating the images that capture true Cali experiences!
http://www.photobookcali.com/g allery/winners.shtml
Athlete Christopher Gort, practicing a balance sport called slacklining on a 35ft flat, nylon webbing while local residents enjoy the sunset at Pines Park, Dana Point, California.
All Images © Janet Kotwas.  Please Enjoy My Photos but Please Do Not Copy My Photos Without Permission.
]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 0 Blue Earth | Photographic Project Sponsor | Documentary http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:08:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% Calling all documentary photographers, have a new project you need funded??  Blue Earth sponsors photographic projects whose goal is to educate the public about endangered cultures, threatened environments, or current topics of social concern. Blue Earth is primarily interested in work that is educational and informational in nature, and will consider proposals of any geographic scope, involving the photographic medium (we do not sponsor motion picture projects). Our standard contract sponsors the project for two years.

Blue Earth accepts project proposals only twice a year, next deadline will be July 20th, 2011. Recipients are announced approximately two months later.
To learn more and view the submission guideleines please visit:

http://www.blueearth.org/projects/submit.cfm

]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 0 Remembering Our Nation’s Heroes | May 2011 | California http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 16:26:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%
Southern California Veteran’s and their families came out to the Vietnam Traveling Tribute Wall in Dana Point to remember all who have given the ultimate sacrifice.  The American Veteran Traveling Tribute is a Veteran owned project that honors all Veterans and those currently serving by letting them know they will never be forgotten.  AVTT was founded on the principles that American Heroes must all be remembered and also allows those without the means or ability to travel to our great National Memorial sites to pay respect and share in the experience of honoring our heroes.  To learn more please visit http://www.avtt.org/

Tom Padburg of San Clemente, California, lost 4 cousins in the Vietnam War.  He rests his fingers on 2 of their names while saying a prayer in their honor. 
These identification tags represent the names and contain the details of all Global War on Terror casualties.  The memorial is updated every 30 days.
The highest number of Vietnam War causalities were between 1968-1971 ranging from 27,915 to 21,833 lives lost in one year.
All Images © Janet Kotwas.  Please enjoy my photos but please do not copy my photos without permission.
]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 0 2011 W. Eugene Smith Grant for Humanistic Photography http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 21:58:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% The W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography is presented annually to a photographer whose past work and proposed project, as judged by a panel of experts, follows the tradition of W. Eugene Smith’s concerned photography and dedicated compassion exhibited during his 45-year career as a photographic essayist.

The W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund independently administers the grant program that provides photographers with the financial freedom to carry out or complete major photographic essays. For 2011, the amount of the grant will be $30,000. An additional $5,000 in fellowship money will be dispersed, at the discretion of the jury, to one or more finalists deemed worthy of special recognition. Awards will be presented in a ceremony held in New York City in early October.

All of this information, how to enter and more can be found at:
http://www.smithfund.org/public/apply/smith

]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 0 Del Mar National Horse Show | California | Equestrian Photography http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 14:00:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% Over the past few weeks the Del Mar National Horse Show, one of the oldest and most prestigious equestrian competitions in the Western United States has taken over Southern California!  Equestrian enthusiasts travel from all over the country to witness this annual event.  Even though I’m more of a Western fan I could not help but be totally amazed by the elegance and exceptional athletic ability of the Hunter/Jumper riders and horses.  The Del Mar National began in 1946 and continues to attract more than 1,500 horses of every breed, training and all are extremely eager to show off their hard work and dedication.  These images are a combination of sport and portraiture.  Most were taken during the preliminary Hunter and Jumper competitions, which in my opinion are the best events to photograph since you can get super close the athletes and everyone is a little more at ease.
All Images © Janet Kotwas.  Please Enjoy My Photos but Please Do Not Copy My Photos Without Permission. Southern California | Equestrian Portrait Photographer | Custom Portrait Photography
]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 2 2011 Spring Classic Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix | California | Cycling http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Mon, 02 May 2011 18:30:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% Yesterday Dana Point, California was swarmed with cyclists from all over the country!  The 2011 Spring Classic Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious one-day professional bicycle races in America and includes an exciting L shaped criterium, aka “crit,” considered one of the most challenging courses in the county.  The family-oriented event also raises money for outstanding local and national charities.  Races ran all day from 7am-early evening with events ranging from amateur, youth and pro.  I photographed the earlier races which made for interesting lighting, slower shutter speeds and closer access since everybody else was still sleeping, he he.  Using slower shutter speeds to show more dramatic motion allows you to forget about the rules of hand-held shutter speeds (other subjects in the frame that are blurry will make the point of focus stand more prominent).  Also keep in mind the tangent line and distance to your subject!
The first leader breakaway around turn 3, amateur category 5/public race.
Nikon D700, 70-200mm lens @200mm, ISO 800, f/22, 1/25 sec.
Breakaway-UBS Masters Cycling Team members Thurlow Rogers (center) and Steve Strickler (left) placed 1st and 2nd in the Men’s Master +50 category at the 2011 Spring Classic Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix.
Nikon D700, 70-200mm lens @ 200mm, f/14, 1/50 sec.
]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 0 Emerging Photographer Grant 2011 http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:19:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% Excellent Opportunity! BURN, an evolving journal for emerging photographers, is now receiving submissions for the The Emerging Photographer Fund grant of $15,000.

Deadline for entry is May 15, 2011

http://www.burnmagazine.org/emerging-photographer-grant-2011/

Funding is designed to support continuation of a photographer’s personal project. This body of work may be of either journalistic mission or purely personal artistic imperatives. The primary intent is to support emerging photographers who will become the icons of tomorrow.
The Emerging Photographer Fund grant was initiated by David Alan Harvey in 2008, and is awarded by the Magnum Foundation, a non-profit created by the member photographers from Magnum Photos, Inc…Funding for the EPF has come from several private donors who have chosen to remain anonymous.
—
Anyone can enter the EPF 2011 Grant, there are no age restrictions… however, it is intended for emerging photographers, who are the icons of tomorrow and not today… we use the SlideRoom system which is very easy to use for your submission to the EPF 2011 Grant… you can sign up and edit your work as much as you like for the next several weeks, right up to the deadline, and you only need to pay the submission fee IF/WHEN you actually submit your final essay for consideration…
All the rules for submission are explained in great detail once you are signed in to the SlideRoom system and start uploading your images.

The EPF grant 2011 submission link:
http://burn.slideroom.com
]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 0 William John | 3 Month | Custom Baby Portraits | Colorado http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:05:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% This little guy might look familiar to you because last year I took portraits of his Big Sister Lake (looks just like him) and beautiful new mommy, Jessica. This is one good lookin family! William is so funny.  We took these photos right between breakfast and lunch so one minute we were all smiles and funny faces and the next, well, not so much, but that’s how it goes! I’m just thankful we were able to use this gorgeous window light (and silver California Sunbounce reflector for nice skin tones) since that day was not on the warm side of the thermometer. We had a good time bundling him up in some cute scarves and hats, since he is a Colorado baby and all!
All Images © Janet Kotwas.  Please Enjoy My Photos but Please Do Not Copy My Photos Without Permission. Southern California | Baby Portrait Photographer | Family | Custom Portrait Photography

]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 0 Welcome Home 3/5 Marines and Thank You!! http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:06:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% Please join proud family and friends in welcoming home the brave heroes of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment and attached Corpman of  H&S Company! To say this is a special group of warriors would be an understatement.  The 3/5 Marines and attached Corpman returned home last night to Camp Pendleton after 7 long months of deployment.  The 3/5, known as the Darkhorse, has the largest number of casualties than any other Corp battalion in the 10-year war.  The unit suffered 24 casualties and 175 wounded while fighting for control of the Sangin district, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  My sincerest condolences to those soldiers and their families.    Please remember to keep all of our deployed service members in your thoughts, till they all come home!!!
 
All Images © Janet Kotwas.  Please Enjoy My Photos but Please Do Not Copy My Photos Without Permission. Southern California Photojournalist | Orange County Photojournalist | Photojournalism | Family | Photography

If anyone from the 3/5 would like prints please email me anytime: janet@kotwasphoto.com

]]> http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%/feed 0 Jackson Patrick | Baby Portraits | Children Portraits http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name%#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:18:00 +0000 jkotwas http://www.kotwasphoto.com/%post-name% Look at this sweet little angel, he is the most peaceful baby you could ever meet!  We were able to get some fantastic photos of Jackson snuggled up in the afghan his great grandmother crocheted for him, just precious.  Jackson is only 20 days older than his cousin Jace, their moms think they’ll get into plenty of trouble together when they’re older, we will have to wait and see!

All Images © Janet Kotwas.  Please Enjoy My Photos but Please Do Not Copy My Photos Without Permission. Southern California Photojournalist | Orange County Photojournalist | Family Portrait | Baby Portrait Photography | Colorado
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