The following is an article submitted by one of our readers, Fred Bonilla. We know that a lot of folks need your help, and ask for it every day.
This organization is asking you to use your skills as a photographer to help the cause.

1 Thing, 1 Cause, 1 Change – The Bold Agenda of “Do1Thing”

by Fred Bonilla

Coming off the initial good vibes of the inauguration and the new incoming administration, and Barack Obama’s call for increased social involvement, I was pleasantly surprised to be made aware of an effort by a number of prominent photographers to do good and begin a ongoing effort to raise awareness of important social issues. And it begins this Valentine’s Dayâ€:

[photopress:Foster_Rodney_AS.jpg,full,centered] ©Najlah Feanny/Do1Thing.org

In speaking with Do1Thing’s co-founder Najlah Feanny, their initial focus will be on teenage homelessness.

She explains that “There are more homeless people today than at any previous time in U.S. history, with more than 1.3 million of them being children. Do1Thing is our call to action to make a difference. We believe that by focusing our efforts on highlighting 1 Cause while asking people to do 1 Thing for that cause, great change will come. More than 30 Pulitzer-prize winning photographers and some of the most recognized names in photography have come together in conjunction with Covenant House to put a face on teenage homelessness while asking you to put a face on activism and do 1 thing to help. Why focus on teenage homelessness? Three out of every 10 homeless adults admit to a history in foster and with 25,000+ children aging out of the foster care system each year, many will end up experiencing homelessness. The issues surrounding homelessness are gigantic. The solutions offered are endless. But what if everyone did 1 thing on 1 day to help this 1 cause? On the day where we spend 14 billion dollars telling each other how much we care, we appeal for any one who is moved to do so Do1Thing for homeless teens to make their lives a little better”.

An initial look at their website, www.do1thing.org shows video appeals from award winning photojournalist Ron Haviv and some homeless teens themselves from the different Covenant House shelters nationwide. The list of photographers is very impressive, and companies such as Canon, Fuji and Think Tank has joined forces to help out. A major national magazine has expressed interest in publishing the project’s photographs as well.
I urge you to check out the site and help out in any way you can.

http://blip.tv/play/AeWIOJLZfg

Looking at the larger picture, we can certainly do1thing on Valentine’s Day, however large or small to reach out and help someone in need.
It excites me that we can continue to use our craft and vocation to make a difference, as so many have done before.
Check it out and Happy Valentine’s Dayâ€:

The Daybooks of Edward Weston was an inspirational book in my teens, and made me want to hit into the wild with a view camera, lunch and the sweet wait for the right light.
It never happened.
I grew older and reread the books and realized what they held was not a call to action, but a call to see. To experience the world around you and all that it was. And then being able to interpret all of that with a still image. The struggles of an artist and the lush life he lived is laid out in an inspirational 2 volume set.
Edward Weston lived and loved with a fervor that is intimated in his brilliant images.
Sadly, this book is out of print.

But we have a pretty good alternative for you this week:

[photopress:417QMYNCT7L._SS500_.jpg,full,centered]

The Flame of Recognition: Edward Weston published by Aperture, includes an excellent overview of his photography and, thankfully, excerpts from the Daybooks.

Even if you don’t get this from us, you deserve to have a copy for yourself. Whether you are keeping warm inside, or laying by the pool this winter, learn about this artist and the passion he brought to his life and work. Perhaps it will inspire your own creative life.
We can’t quite describe it all but you will never look at a vegetable the same way. No innuendo here, but awe and respect for Edward Weston did with one of his most famous photographs of a pepper. It was #30, I believe.
A platinum print of his work “The Breast” sold for almost $850,000 in 2005, and the highest price paid fro pne of his prints was $1.6 million. USD
He died in 1958, never selling a print for more than $25.

Anyway, here is how you can get a copy of this book in your hands and your head:

1. Check you email inbox and make sure you have the NEWSLETTER from us (info@photoinduced.com)
2. Delete the body of the email (saving server space)
3. Put the special word into the subject line. you know, the one that was in your weekly NEWSLETTER ( sign up for next weeks here)
4. Make sure you did all of that.
5. Hit reply.

Reply #58 will be sent the book no matter where you live in the world. Seriously. We know that almost 2/3rds of you are off of the continent, thank you very much, and you should know that we want to make sure you are getting the goods, also.

Yeah, we know the giveaway is a little different this week, but a little variety is good.

And when we can get our hands on a copy of the Daybooks, rest assured it will be given away to one of you. We’re keeping our old dog eared copy.
Hmmmm… maybe it’s time for a re-read.

We know that a lot of you have an iPhone.
Sure, even those that insist that the Blackberry rocks your world, you have to admit that the iPhone is one heck of piece of………
tech.
And with every passing day, there are more applications that we photographers will find useful. Or just fricking fun.
Here is the best one we’ve seen to date:
Camera Bag. At about 3.00 for the download, you will now be able to use your iPhone camera to simulate a whole slew of other camera styles, time eras, and techie goodness.
And here is the best part: you can also use ANY photo from an uploaded library on your iPhone to apply the interpretations.

So, take ONE picture or use ONE shot and all of the variations get processed. Sorry, no choice till you delete.

Ok, let’s show you what we’re talking about.
Start here:

[photopress:IMG_0030.jpg,full,centered] original image

And that one image gets converted to all of these:

[photopress:IMG_0028.jpg,full,centered] Instant (SX-70 type)

[photopress:IMG_0026.jpg,full,centered] 1962 ( harder contrast as were the times)

[photopress:IMG_0034.jpg,full,centered] cinema (16:9 and crunchy color)

[
[photopress:IMG_0031.jpg,full,centered] Fish Eye

[photopress:IMG_0032.jpg,full,centered] Infra Red (kinda)

[photopress:IMG_0033.jpg,full,centered] Lolo ( I guess the Lomo folks would be upset)
[photopress:IMG_0035.jpg,full,centered] 1974 ( a little washed out, kinda like the year)
[photopress:IMG_0027.jpg,full,centered] Mono ( easy B&W)

[photopress:camera_bag_sample.jpg,full,centered] This is what the screen looks like as you take or use one photo and then scroll through the cool results.

And when you sync to your computer you can bring them in to the photo software of your choice. Sweet.
If you want to see some more examples of this, check out NerveCenter for more.
And of course there is a Flickr user group for this.
Now, it is a bit of a memory sucker but you’ll get over it.

We never really wanted to use the camera in the iPhone..till this app came along.
And c’mon..it’s less than a cuppa Starbucks.
Is anyone still buying that coffee?

If you look close today on the Super Bowl you may see Harry How working hard.
Here is the 3rd video in the series, where he gives a bit of sage advice :

Cheers!

Here we go for a deeper look into Harry Hows camera bag.
Today we’ll see what our YouTube version looks like for you.

Come back tomorrow where we revisit the last video in Harry’s videos.
Happy Friday!