ArtCal is the "opinionated guide" to New York city art galleries. This isn't just about photo galleries, but they are included.

Your Awesome New Camera Bag

Aside from a few buttons and some pocket holes, sewing and I have not crossed paths since I was in seventh grade. The stuffed electric guitar made for an excellent "axe," even though the dowel rod supporting the neck snapped well within the first imaginary stage performance. One or two times since (I'm 25 now), I've thought about the things I could make if I only had access to a sewing machine.

I've always thought that the fleecelike blankets they used to give you on flights would have made an excellent liner for a laptop sleeve, and now that I've found plans for a wicked cool Camera Bag (I'd use different fabric, but it's super simple and doesn't look stupid!), the desire to make my own reminds me of the Crumpler 7-Million Dollar Home that I own, love and could never replace (it fits a ton, is comfortable and looks great). So, despite the urge to create something great and useful, I'll have to defer that pleasure to you.

If you've created one of these bags contact me; I'd love to hear your experiences (and see pictures).

A Million Little Pictures

Art House Shop is asking you to help them out (yes, you in that corner over there--no *you*). What do they want you ask? They want you to join the A Million Little Pictures project. All you have to do is send them $16 and shoot the film in the disposible camera they give to you. The theme is "adventures," the best photo overall wins a $200 gift card, and all the photos are featured in an exhibit in a city yet to be determined. The city will be determined by finding the city with the most participants.

Update: When signing up, I got an error, though it actually signed me up...odd. Hopefully they'll fix it and you'll have no problems.

Trash the Dress: Alternative Wedding Photography

Trash the Dress, is quite the interesting project. Photographers take pictures of brides in an artful way that more often than not destroys the dress. There unfortunately isn't a gallery page, but the Photographer of the week page shares some shots.

“First and Foremost, Brides and Photographers that participate in TTD sessions do it for beautiful art. It is not an attempt to destroy the dress, but rather an attempt to create something memorable. To quote a good friend, we just want to let the bride enjoy herself and her gown, and get away from the “Don’t get a spot on my dress” mentality. ”

I haven't decided yet if this is the opposite of Wedding Photography, or if it should still be considered a subset of it. For one, it still involves a bride (and optionally a groom), in a wedding dress. It also shows off a brides commitment to the groom. "I won't ever need this dress again, might as well trash it." But, it still goes against traditional wedding photography in a big way. I love it.

Update: They've moved to http://www.trashthedress.com

Hirshhorn: Wolfgang Tillmans

I encourage everyone to go check out Wolfgang Tillmans' exhibition at the Hirshhorn, in Washington DC. It's free and amazing. This is of course if you are in the DC area, or are planning to travel to the DC area before August 12th, 2007.

The Face of Tomorrow

What is the face of London, New York, Paris? What does a Londoner, a New Yorker, a Parisian look like?

The Face of Tomorrow is a concept for a series of photographs that addresses the effects of globalization on identity.

Blinks and Buttons

Blinks & Buttons is a set of two projects investigating the camera as a networked object. One of the projects, `Buttons' contains a camera like device, that records a moment in time with someone elses picture. Buttons does this by searching for public photos that were taken at the same instant as the device's shutter release, thus making a virtual exposure. Buttons only records the image it finds, not the image you are seeing in person.

The installation Blinks which contains a prism which refracts the ray of time running through a photo into all the moments that were captured simultaneously in different places.

Monoface, aside from being a bit scary is really awesome.

Bill Sullivan Works

Bull Sullivan takes photos unbeknownst to his subjects in different scenarios. The results are compelling to say the least.

Running From Camera

Running From Camera is a photo blog in which the photographer runs as fast as he can from his camera, before the 2 second self-timer captures him.

His other blog, though less unique is equally interesting.

One Shot at the Top of the World

Vincent Laforet's work is absolutely stunning, and one of his latest projects is featured in an Aperture profile. The project: Capture a worker on the Chrysler building in New York City a top one of the gargoyles overlooking the city. The result: awesome.

Hunter S. Thompson Gallery

I can't claim to know much about Hunter S. Thompson, and my lack of knowledge is apparent since I didn't know he took photographs. This exhibition started December 2, 2006 and goes til January 20th, 2007. If you're in California, maybe you want to check it out for yourself.