The Impossible Project Film Giveaway

Want to win a FREE pack of the ever-so-artsy PX 600 Silver Shade film from The Impossible Project?! Then head over to Rachel B. Blog. There are five ways to win, but unfortunately only one winner... so good luck!!

(Images shot by me, Jena Ardell, All rights reserved). To see more of my Silver Shade images, please visit my flickr stream.

My Three-Bean Salad Recipe

Jena's Tres Frijoles Salad

In a large bowl mix the following:
-TWO 14.5-16 oz cans of string beans
-ONE 16 oz can of garbonzo beans
-ONE 16 oz can of light red kidney beans
Next, add as much of the following as you prefer:
-onion flakes-celery seed (I add A LOT!!)
-sugar
-red wine vinegar
-(olive oil optional)
-(oregano optional)
Place in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before serving.

A Wake Up Call to ALL Photographers and Artists

I want to share a email that I received recently:

Hi :)

I work for an Advertising Agency in London and were looking to do a fun “happy” campaign in and around the UK – It will be to launch a range of DVD`s and could be used on posters, in store and press ads.We really love your “The whole story” image – how would you feel about us possibly using this image to inject ‘happiness’ to the public! I completely understand if you don’t want to and I hope you don’t mind me asking,

Kind Regards, (Their name)

And here was my response:

Hi (Their name),

Thank you so much for contacting me. I am very flattered you would like to use my "The Whole Story" image. I would love to sell the rights to your advertising agency for print campaign usage. I rely on my photography to earn a living and I hope you understand why I can't give the image away for free. If you would like to negotiate a usage fee, I would love to move forward with this project!!

Hope to hear back from you,

~Jena~

Now here's the lesson: Yes, I am flattered and yes, I would LOVE to see my work used in an international campaign where it will potentially be seen by millions of people but let's get real. If you haven't already, you NEED to stop giving your work away for free. Not only does undermine your work, but it undermines ALL artists' works if ad agencies and companies can find photography and artwork for free. I know this ad agency may never respond to my email (they haven't yet and it's been four days since I sent it), but it's a matter of self-worth and principle. The sad part is I already know what they're going to do next: get back on flickr and search for someone who is willing to give their photography/artwork away for free in exchange for the excitement of seeing their work in print. Don't let this person be you. Start charging for ALL usage of your work (and if it's really creative/unique/one-of-a-kind, charge A LOT). If all photographers/artists do this, then more people will be able to earn a living as photographers/artists. By helping yourself, you will be helping an entire industry of struggling creatives. As for the ad agency, they should know better.

Published in Elle Girl Korea July 2010

My work is featured in the July 2010 issue of Elle Girl Korea on page 176!! :) More photos here: http://tinyurl.com/29hd5fn

Overheard in a restaurant tonight

There was a little boy sitting a table away from mine tonight at the Thai restaurant. He looked about six years old (couldn't have been older than seven), and was sitting across from his younger sister. In between bites, he looked up and asked his mother...

"Do you think there will be a World War III?"
"I don't know," she said.
"Well I hope not," the little boy responded. "I hope I'm not alive when there is a World War III. We'd hear gunshots outside in the streets... and people would be shooting in our windows!!"

The parents seemed unfazed and remained silent. Then his little sister asked when the end of the world was going to be!! Geeze. I couldn't believe that these YOUNG kids were worrying about issues like this. I already never want to have children, but stuff like this makes me REALLY never want to have children. Unless a miraculous awakening happens in the year 2012, all the problems we shrug off because it's not happening in most of our backyards, like contaminated soil or lack of clean water, are problems that the next generation is going to be forced to deal with. :( I hope the latter scenario doesn't materialize, but that's where it seems we are headed. This month-long-plus oil spill + ocean dumping + drying of seas + overfishing + overpopulation + wastefulness, especially of water + the current mass production of plastics is going to catch up to us REAL FAST.

BOYCOTT BP

"Sarah Palin urged the country to 'trust the oil industry' and to continue to pursue offshore drilling initiatives in light of the Gulf Coast oil spill when delivering a speech in Missouri over the weekend. The Kansas City Star reports that Palin called the massive oil slick 'tragic,' but defended drilling as a viable energy solution when speaking to a mostly Republican crowd."

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/03/sarah-palin-says-trust-th_n_561660.html

Sarah Palin's husband works for BP. Of course she's telling you to "trust the oil industry" despite there being a oil slick the size of Maryland and Delaware COMBINED floating in the Gulf Coast. DON'T SUPPORT OFFSHORE DRILLING and boycott BP.

FYI: BP earned 6.4 billion dollars at the begining of this year... why the hell aren't they using that money now to contain this disaster?!

FACT: BP refused to build a shut-off valve when building the rig. This catastrophe could have been avoided.

What a f-ing nightmare.

Photos of the oil spill.

Photos from the MOPLA Group Show

Opening at Smashbox Studios 4/29/10:

CROWDED!!

Me and my guy:

Prime real estate:

Bar area:

Me and my favorite boss Dave:

Reenacting my pose:

DJ room:

The place was PACKED!! My "Sexy Silhouette 2" print will be on display until May 20th. Hope it sells!!

MOPLA Group Show

A 24x30 styrene print of my "Sexy Silhouette 2" Polaroid will be included in this group show!!

Opening is April 29th at 7 pm and is free if you RSVP to groupshow@monthofphotography.com Hope to see you there!!

"C’mon, admit it. You’re kind of…well, a big deal. You’re one of LA’s best up-&-coming photographers. You just need more people to know it. Well, here’s your chance to get more of your work seen right here at SMASHBOX Studios. Month of Photography Los Angeles (MOPLA) is calling for submissions for a group photo exhibit that’ll show right here with us on April 29th, 2010. Co-curated by Hossein Farmani of the Lucie Foundation and Dee DeLara of Smashbox Studios."

The Month of Photography Los Angeles will deliver the most comprehensive celebration of Photography in Los Angeles. With the support of the Photography Community, MOPLA will showcase the work of 160 Photographers worldwide. The city of Los Angeles was incorporated in April 1850, 160 years ago. The theme for MOPLA 2010 is 160/160 - Celebrating 160 Years Through 160 Photographers.

Work will be featured until May 20th. Gallery is open Tuesday - Sunday, 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM. Smashbox Studios, 8549 Higuera Street, Culver City, CA