明けましておめでとうございます = happy new year.

this is strange stuff optically + i’m interested in the repercussions down the road. optical camouflage via kinect by interactive designer takayuki fukatsu.

great photo project tokyo compression from hong kong based michael wolf. if you’ve ever had the joy of riding in tokyo at rush hour you might feel this a little deeper. unfortunately i had the pleasure a few years ago on my way back to tokyo from pataogonia headquarters south in kamakura. the stories are true. not as bad as it sounds or looks though. i mean, the first gentlemen is even sporting a smile.

so a complicated matter this Project HELP stuff. as you know, last year i decided to dedicate a full week of work to a non profit in need of a visual face lift. after opening the floodgates here myself + crew sorted through a wild variety of applications + in the end went with a new non profit with solid roots. The Network of Young People Affected by War (NYPAW) had a great plan we came to find out through numerous discussions with members of the group. check out their new site here.

however, as the non profit world tends to be rather temperamental, i’ve come to learn, even the best laid plans change. anna our producer has attempted to get into my head that we’re here to help so flexibility is key. unfortunately, our attempts at flexibility only pushed the 2009 version of P HELP into 2010. granted, our group at NYPAW is truly motivated but they are answering to a higher power – in this case the UN.

with that in mind, wanted to let you know that we have made one last effort to pull everything together + help this group with one fine production. if all goes down as it should we’ll be shooting later next month in nyc. the same time i’m moving to portland. should be an exciting month + i’ll keep you posted.

in terms of the 2010 version. you can imagine that 2009 left us rethinking how to make this project more effective. i mean, how hard can it be to give away a week of work? apparently it’s more complicated then i originally anticipated with the bulk of the effort lying not in providing the visual media but rather in finding a solid match.

it’s with this in mind that i’ve decided to change the format for this, our second year, of Project HELP. you’re still welcome to send non profits you think would be a good fit our way but bottom line is i’m now working on reaching out to organizations i see as a good fit. for the time being this list is down to a last few possibilities so i hope to have the full story soon.

then we’ll open the doors to have you jump in should you want to. regardless, i encourage you to look around your current locale + see where you can help out. if you’re in portland, here’s a start.

it’s coming together + we’ve got dates + location for our non-profit project this year. we’ll be up in halifax, nova scotia in august putting this together so stay tuned. in case you’ve missed it this far, myself + staff are donating a week’s worth of energy to a non-profit in need of creative firepower. this year’s recipient is the Network of Young People Affected by War (NYPAW). more here + here. this project has recently been named one of ASMP’s Best of 2009 so we’re all proud of that + ready to get working.

NYPAW is a fantastic new organization founded by an amazing group of young people who have insane backgrounds + experiences with war but have turned themselves around. if you’re interested in their stories check out Ishmael Beah‘s NY Times best selling book ‘a long way gone’. i’m reading it now + hello! it starts with this kicker;

New York City, 1998

My high school friends have begun to suspect I haven

we’re welcoming in 2009 with arms wide open.

with the new year dawning and an ever increasing sense of squeeze all around us i’m proud to announce that we’re offering up challenge to photographers, visual media professionals and creatives everywhere. reading recently i came across this bit from tom parker’s book rules of thumb: a life manual – brilliant guestimates, shortcuts and a few shots in the dark.

“You are wealthy enough to give some money to worthy causes when you can buy all the groceries you need.”

with that in mind, my staff and i are will dedicating a full week of creative firepower over the next year to a non-profit cause that needs the help. this will include a fully produced shoot of nearly any nature and all the fixings. i’m really looking for a cause that may be needing a boost due to a lack of recent donations or simply has a powerful issue that needs attention. we will be working with the selected group to complete a full project featuring still images, motion clips and perhaps even some of our new hybrid work.

i’m not limiting the causes in terms of geography, size, etc but will need details as follows:

• a cover letter describing the work, history + goals of your organization
• a detailed statement of why your organization needs a new visual face + what you hope to accomplish with it
• send the above two pieces along with a link to your website to info@heathkorvola.com for review
• deadline for 2009 Project HELP is 2.15.2009 with a decision to be announced 3.31.2009
  spread the word or pass along recommendations directly if you know anyone that fits the mold
• keep an eye out here and on my site heathkorvola.com for more info.

as a potential additional feature, if the cause is one that requires medical attention my wife could be joining us. this too will be in a donated capacity.

so put your thoughts into those around you and let us know what you come up with. i’m excited to make this happen and look forward to making 2009 a truly memorable one.

happy new year.