From feature-length documentaries to short films and animations, these environmental festivals are intended to raise awareness and encourage discussion about the world’s most pressing environmental issues. After five years of media production schooling and my love for filmmaking, I decided it was time to morph my interests and delve into the world of eco film. I have collected and complied a list of festivals from all across the world that reflect an interest for both the filmmaker and the environmentalist.  Hopefully this will help convince you to go dig your camera out of the closet and start planning a movement of public environmental awareness!!  (Who knew thre were so MANY!!??!)

If you know of any other Eco Film Festivals, make sure to let us know in the comments section! You should also check out this Seed Grant Info for Eco-Filmmakers as well as the resources available at the Center for Environmental Filmmaking.

 

Artivist Film Festival
http://www.artivists.org

AFF Hollywood Festival in October and Tokyo Festival TBA

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
http://www.bigskyfilmfest.org

BSDF February 2010 Festival Dates

Black Maria Film and Video Festival
http://www.blackmariafilmfestival.org

BMFVF July 2009 Call for Entries

Cinemambiente Environmental Film Festival
http://www.cinemambiente.it

CEFF October 2009 Festival Dates

Cornell Environmental Film Festival
http://cinema.cornell.edu/fleff/index.html

CEFF 2010 Call for Entries TBA

DC Environmental Film Festival
http://www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org

DCEFF March 2010 Festival Dates

EarthDance: The Short-Attention-Span
Environmental Film Festival
http://www.earthdancefilms.com

ED Accepts Submissions on a rolling basis- 20009 currently touring

EarthVision Santa Cruz Environmental Film & Video Festival 
http://www.earthvisionfest.org

Ecofilms – Rodos International Film + Visual Arts Festival
http://www.ecofilms.gr

2010 Call for Entries TBA

EcoVision Festival
http://www.ecovisionfestival.com

FICMA – Festival Internacional de Cinema del Medi Ambient
http://www.ficma.com/ENG/contact.html

Global Green Indigenous Film Festival
http://www.ntec.org/filmfestival.htm

GGIFF October 2009 Festival Dates

Global Visions Film Festival
http://www.globalvisionsfestival.com

GVFF November 2009 Festival Dates

Hamilton ECO Film and Arts Festival
http://www.ecofilmartsfestival.com/

Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival
http://www.hazelfilm.org

HWEFF 2010 Call for Entries TBA

International Wildlife Media Center & Film Festival
http://www.wildlifefilms.org

IWMC Call for Entries available in October 2009

Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
http://www.jhfestival.org

JHWFF Competition begins Septemebr 28-Oct 2, 2009

The Muddy River: Boston’s Environmental Film Series
http://www.coolidge.org/muddyriver

MRFS September 23 Kick-off

Okomedia
http://www.oekomedia-institut.de

Planet In Focus: Toronto International Environmental Film & Video Festival
http://www.planetinfocus.org

PIFFF October 2009 Festival Dates

Princeton Environmental Film Festival
http://www.princetonlibrary.org/peff

Call for Entries Deadline September 1, 2009

Reduction Festival
http://www.reductionfestival.org

Rio Film Festival
http://www.riofilmfest.com/

RFF January 2010 Festival Dates, Open Submission, Non-competitive

Rodos Ecofilms Festival
http://www.ecofilms.gr/

Sustainable Planet Film Festival
http://www.sustainable-planet.net

Undercurrents: BEyONdTV
http://www.undercurrents.org/beyondtv

Vermont International Film Festival
http://www.vtiff.org

Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival 
http://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org

WSEF Call for entries open NOW! January 2010 Festival Dates

Wildscreen Festival
http://www.wildscreen.org.uk

WF Registration Currently Open

World Community Film Festival
http://www.worldcommunity.ca/film.htm

WCFF 2010 Call for Entries TBA

World Population Film and Video Festival
http://www.wpfvf.com

Everyone these days has one, and has probably owned a few over the last couple of years since they became so popular (and useful). A USB port. In case you don’t know, these are pinky finger-sized portable zip drives that store small amounts of data (music/photos/text) from your computer and have the accessibility to transfer data to another computer. Handy little gadgets. The first wave of USB drives were pretty straightforward: black or maybe red, brand logo imprint, may light up when in use. Kind of dull.

Well, the creative kids have come to the rescue once again. Listed below are links and photos to websites where you can buy, view and marvel at the clever designs of the new breed of USB’s.

Top 10 Weirdest USB drives ever

ThisNext funny flash drives

Speigel Online: the site is in German, but an English speaker can still navigate through pretty easily.

You can even check out homemade USB’s on etsy.com

Enjoy!

Looking for textures? Look no further. Zen Textures is all about, well, textures. And these are not your average textures- you know, the ones that are HORRIBLE yet free. And free is good, but preferably when you are able to find awesome ‘free’ rather than lame ‘free’.

The blog is run by Caleb Kimbrough and is a branch off from his main site, Lost and Taken. Caleb focuses on giving away free high-res textures to “all of the dirt-poor, starving artists and designers out there.” Sounds like a good plan in my book.

Like all of us, Caleb knows what it is like trying to find good design resources when your budget is minimal. In my case, there is usually no budget at all. As he puts it, “I’m trying to fill the ‘good, free texture’ void on the internet, one picture at a time.”

Ahh, he is so sweet!

His texture categories include: Paper, Plant, Grunge, Clouds, Fabric, Paint, and MANY MORE. So many, I don’t have time to write them all down. You have probably even seen a few before, here and there, maybe unknowingly. I know I have. It makes sense based on the fact that he has over 800 hits on Del.icio.us and over 2600 articles or sites linking back to zentextures.com. My favorite category? Plants. No contest.

Check them out for yourself. Make sure to express your sheer thanks and appreciation for his good deeds.

A wonderful photo contest for photographers, by photographers. Plus, they give you a choice of three portfolio categories – Homeland, Natural Wonders and People of the World – a One Shot category, Young TPOTY, First Shot (for less experienced amateur photographers), and New Talent, for those looking to start a career in photography.

You can enter all the categories that you are eligible for as many times as you like.

You have quite a bit of time before the deadline so GET ON IT!! Good Luck!

Make sure to check out the 2009 PRIZE LIST as well! Wowzas!

Information below has been copied from the original site: www.tpoty.com:

TPOTY is run by photographers for photographers, judged by renowned photography experts, and provides amazing prizes, including foreign travel, the latest photographic equipment and photography tuition.

Who can enter?

Anyone! Wherever you live in the world, whether you’re an amateur or professional photographer, and whatever age you are, you can enter TPOTY.

Check out the three portfolio categories, a single image category, Young TPOTY (for kids with cameras), the First Shot beginners’ award and New Talent, for students or those looking to kick-start a career in photography. One – or more – will be right for you!

Why enter?

As well as great prizes, TPOTY offers international exposure, through the TPOTY Journey books and our exhibitions. TPOTY has helped many photographers – not just the winners – raise their profile, sell their work, get commissions or launch photographic careers. Click on the menus on the left to learn all about this year’s TPOTY competition.

How to enter?

Click on the menu on the left. Explore the prizes and categories, check out the Winners’ Galleries to see images from previous years, then visit the ‘How to Enter’ section to learn exactly what you need to do to start submitting images.

Keeping you in the picture

To receive regular updates on the awards, books and exhibitions click here.

We are also passionate about protecting photographers’ copyright so your images remain yours at all times and we do not ask for or grant unlimited license to use your images. As a result, we are proud to say that TPOTY is on the Pro Imaging Rights-On list.

What’s in the rest of the site?

Once you’ve discovered all you need to know about the awards, why not explore the rest of the site and the three linked sites?

Take a Journey

The TPOTY Journey books, featuring fabulous images from the first four years of TPOTY, and are available through this site. The next book, Journey Three, will be published this year and images entered into TPOTY 2009 will be considered for inclusion in Journey Four.

Exhibitions

Come and meet us or see the best images at our exhibitions.

Photo Iconic Photography Courses

UK and international photography courses and holidays with tuition from award-winning photographers. Special “On Assignment” courses for those who want to sell their images of turn professional.

TPOTY Blog

Book and equipment reviews, travel and photo news and features, free prize draws, tips and technique and thoughts from TPOTY.

Travel Shooters Showcase

A chance for photographers worldwide to showcase their work to an international audience. Take a look, get inspired – and maybe submit your own images?

Digital Photography School, or DPS, is a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in their understanding of photography. Discover how to use your digital camera to its full potential with their Digital Photography Tips.

This blog has many helpful sites and stories that relate to all aspects of digital photography. From taking family pictures to working with children to what equipment rates best in todays technology race – DPS has it all. Main topics emphasize on Tips and Tutorials, Cameras and Equipment, and Post Production. They also have a wonderful community forum where you can share pictures, take on weekly assignments, give and get critiques, and share your tips and tricks. 

Plus, if you enjoy writing about digital photography, they have an option to submit your work for a feature on the web site. They list all the details and requirements on the site.

If you know of any other photo blogs or sites that might still be a bit under the radar, let us know and share them with a comment or two!

Old art, old photos, old diaries; they all hold a special place in our hearts.  Sometimes new things just aren’t the same.  They don’t possess the same character earned over years of storage.  New things can be too pristine, too clear… In the new digital age, a .jpg will look the same in 30, or 50, or even 80 years as it does now (considering the technology to view it still exists).  To fulfill a longing for photographs that bring back feelings of nostalgia, and to archive photos of the present as documents of the past, we can visit the half-Japanese website Bakumatsu Koshashin Generator. Click on the English page translation in the upper right corner. Below are a few examples of this process. Also, for a look at some authentically old photos, check out the website Shorpy Photo Archive.  Enjoy!

Old sound devices can be fun, especially if you are using them for new music projects. But you know what is even more fun? Using them for DESIGN PROJECTS! Think of all the cool posters and advertisements you can make with vintage sound device brushes!

I have included a collection of six different brushes, all musician friendly. Use them however you like, where ever you like. The only thing I would like in return is a image of your finished work to display in our gallery. Then LOADS of super rad people can see your work and dream about making their own piece of musical art.

Download Sound Device Brush Set

Below is a list of Fellowships and Grants I collected across the internet. All of the programs seem very well organized with great rewards. If you have any additional fellowship resources you would like to share, we would love for you to post them in our comment section!

JOHN GUTMANN PHOTOGRAPHY FELLOWSHIP AWARD

For over sixty years, John Gutmann made an imprint as an artist and educator on the development of photography as an art form. Through his philanthropic generosity, annual awards of up to $5,000 are made to emerging photographers showing professional accomplishment, serious artistic commitment, and need in the field of photography. Candidates for Gutmann Fellowships are nominated by an appointed jury.
Aaron Siskind Foundation Individual Photographer’s Fellowship

The Aaron Siskind Foundation is offering a limited number of fellowship grants of up to $7,000 each, for individual artists working in still photography and photo-based art. Grant recipients and award amounts will be determined by a review panel based on artistic excellence, accomplishment to date, and the promise of future achievement in the medium in its widest sense.
The Alicia Patterson Foundation

The Alicia Patterson Foundation Program was established in 1965 in memory of Alicia Patterson, who was editor and publisher of Newsday for nearly 23 years before her death in 1963. One-year and six month grants are awarded to working journalists to pursue independent projects of significant interest and to write articles based on their investigations for The APF Reporter, a web published magazine by the Foundation and available on the web.
The W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography

W. Eugene Smith Grant 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 compassionate dedication exhibited during his 45-year career as a photographic essayist.

Continue Reading

Ever tire of the boring layout when searching through Google images?  I did, until a friend showed me a download plug-in that made searches much easier on the eyes. The site is called Cool Iris.  It browses images in the same format that iTunes browses album covers, with a sleek black background and a smooth sideways movement.

Textures for you. 

I have compiled a handful of brick textures to add to the free texture grab bag picks here at Foto Luminosa. If you can’t already tell, we love textures. We also love anything macro so be prepared for more up close and personal fun. If you have any requests for a unique texture or design, just send us a note!

Download Brick Textures

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, thanks to nice people.