Miami International Art Fair 2011 Draws Art Enthusiasts

The Miami International Art Fair opened its doors on Thursday January 13 for a preview with a selected few and for an enthusiastic art crowd from Friday to Monday January 17. 

MIA offered an energizing new wave of performance projects and the first viewing of America’s most exciting mid-winter contemporary art fair, with 25 local and 48 international dealers and artists; some of the dealers being artists themselves.  Featuring contemporary, emerging, conceptual and modern art of all media, including photography, installations, performance and video. 

The diversity and offering of art variety created excitement and curiosity of both adults and children.  The techniques used and the creativity continues to amaze as new and modern technology is incorporated into art creation.  Simple materials as straws and paper bags up to miniature led screens are being incorporated and used to create amazing pieces for art lovers and collectors.

MIA Art Fair was sponsored by Collectrium, The Art Newspaper, Seven Sea Cruises, Florida Design Magazine, Opci Wine Company, Black River Caviar and Tesla Motors.  Hopefully this list will continue to grow and as requested by many the Art Fair can start having an event also during the summer months.

Several book signings took place, also lectures and panel discussions as well as video screenings.  MIA opened its doors with great reviews.  MIA great art exhibition will certainly continue to grow year after year.

MIAMI BEACH ART DECO WEEKEND 2011

Once again Ocean Drive and Miami Beach welcomed the Art Deco Weekend now in its 34^th edition.  The theme for this year – Selling Glamour & Style – certainly combining Art Deco and Advertising.  Art Deco and advertising have been used together to create great ads through the years.

The Art Deco Weekend is full of events: lectures, film screening, fashion show, vendor booths, classic car show, parade, tours, furniture expo, artists, street entertainment and lots of beautiful people.

The weekend parade incorporated this year the art deco dog parade, with pooches of all sizes lead by K-9s and showing their best costumes.  The Art Deco Classic Car fest also participated in the parade with antiques from the early 1900’s up to the year 1986, along with the Miami Beach Senior High School Marching Band, local celebrities and officials.

Tours of Miami took place on the hour, lots of people participated trying to learn more about the amazing Deco Architecture.  Ocean Drive Tour, Underworld Tour, Collins Park Tour, Lincoln Road Tour, Cocktails with a Twist, Gay & Lesbian Tour, Fifth ST Gymnasium Tour and Coach Tour, something for everyone.

Vendors from around the country participated and provided area deco style products and yummy finger food, everything from popcorn to alligator skewers.

The 34^th edition is not finished yet and I am already looking forward to the 2011 edition of Art Deco Weekend: “Celebrating 35 Years of Miami Beach’s Visionaries”.

Ideas for New Year Photographer's Resolutions

It is still time to include some photography resolutions in your New Year’s long list.  The options are endless, just commit the time and the passion that you have and you will become a great photographer.

Shoot RAW – You want to start shooting for real then switch your picture quality setting to RAW.  Do not be afraid, as soon as you do you will start noticing an improvement.  Yes your photos will be heavier and will occupy more space but the advantages of shooting RAW are far beyond the amount of images that you will be able to save in your card.

Accept critique with an open mind – Receiving criticism is not easy but it is the only way you can improve your art.  Show your work to others, both photographers and not, and listen to what they have to say it will help you improve the way you shoot and the way you create your images.

Learn how to use your camera – This is something that everyone should do, but as with other things we never read the manual.  Most of the times we have no idea of what the camera is capable of doing and what each button is for.  Take some time to review your manual and most important to use and push every button, see what they do and the results they produce while you are creating amazing images.  Become an expert in your camera.

Forget the AUTO mode – Auto settings are not always accurate and they do not allow you to create and get the result you want.  Learn how to use manual settings.  Start by using the Aperture Priority Mode first, understand what Depth of Field means and then jump into Manual Mode.  Learn from your mistakes while you learn how to use the Manual Mode.

Avoid your camera flash – Learn about light and the amazing effects they can produce.  Forget your camera has a flash.  Lean how to shoot with wide-open aperture, test decreasing your shutter speed and increasing your ISO settings.  Use a tripod and if you have the possibility invest in good fast lenses.

Set goals to accomplish this year – What ever they are set them and accomplish them.  They can be as simple as learning a photo technique every day or as fancy as getting your work published in the cover of a major publication. 

Connect with other photographers – Photographers like to share their work and how they accomplish it, connect with them, go to photo shoots, workshops, follow them on Facebook and Twitter, read their blogs, join photo communities in your area, the options are endless.  Network with photographers and improve the way you shoot.