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Unity Through Diversity: Leica Camera Launches Call for Entries and Reveals New Theme for the 6th Annual Leica Women Foto Project Award
Leica Camera today announces the return of the sixth annual Leica Women Foto Project Award, a celebrated initiative designed to empower and recognize visual storytellers who bring a unique and powerful feminine perspective to the world of photography. This year’s theme, “Unity Through Diversity,” encourages applicants to submit a photo essay on the importance of connection in a time of division. Open to applicants from the United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, and Canada (excluding Québec), the Leica Women Foto Project Award offers an extraordinary chance for winners to receive a Leica SL3 camera, a Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH. lens, and a $10,000 USD cash prize.
Empowering the feminine perspective and its effect on our perception and interaction with the world, the Leica Women Foto Project aims to transform visual storytelling. This award has played a key role in broadening the diversity of visual narratives, providing grants and collaborations with Women Photograph, Photoville, Las Fotos Project, and the ConnectHer Film Festival, while also co-founding the Leica Women Foto Project Grant to support the Leica Society International’s philanthropic initiatives.
“The 2025 Leica Women’s Foto Project will celebrate the incredible talent and unique female perspectives within photography,” said Karin Kaufmann, Art Director, Chief Representative of Leica Galleries International. “Each year, we witness stories that not only captivate and inspire but also challenge and redefine the boundaries of visual storytelling. This annual project continues our commitment to fostering diversity and empowering voices that need to be heard. I am thrilled to see the powerful narratives that will emerge from this year’s participants and to support their journey in shaping the future of photography.”
The recipients of the Leica Women Foto Project Award will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges, who will evaluate entries based on the quality of photography, the depth of the project, and a commitment to the art of photography. The 2025 judging panel includes:
- Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Director, Leica Galleries Worldwide
- Nikki Reed, Actress, Photographer
- Maggie Steber, Documentary Photographer & Guggenheim Grant Fellow
- Natalia Jimenez, Senior Picture Editor, The Washington Post
- Laura Roumanos, Co-Founder, Photoville
- Lucy Wescott, Director of CPJ’s Emergencies Response Team
- Kathryn Boyd Brolin, Photographer, Filmmaker and Entrepreneur
- Ana Linares, Travel Photographer and Condé Nast Contributor
- Sara Rumens, Features Picture Editor, The Times
- Mary McCartney, Photographer and filmmaker
- Eva Woolridge, Photographer and Leica Women Foto Project Awardee
- Elizabeth Krist, Former Senior Photo Editor at National Geographic
The call for entries for the 2025 Leica Women Foto Project Award will open on September 17th at 9:00AM EST and close on November 5th at 11:59 PM EST. The Awardees will be announced on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025.
Applications for the Leica Women Foto Project Award can be submitted through the online registration form found on https://leicawomenfotoproject.
com/submit with terms and conditions. All photos must adhere to the Submission Guidelines as outlined on the official website. Candidates must be legal residents of US, Canada, UK, or Mexico and 21 years or older at time and date of entry. Leica Camera will announce the winners of the Leica Women Foto Project Award on March 8th, 2025 via Leica Camera USA’s and Leica Camera UK’s website, newsletter, and @leicacamerausa, and @leicauk on Facebook and Instagram. Please visit https://leica-camera.com/en-
US/leica-women-foto-project/ about to apply for the 2025 Leica Women Foto Project Award. About Leica Camera
Leica represents a union of craftsmanship, design and experience. It is a beautiful collision of art and engineering, and the future of form and functionality. Leica Camera, headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany with a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the supreme quality and performance of cameras and lenses, and the iconic images that artists and photojournalists everywhere captured with them. For more information about Leica visit https://leicacamerausa.com/, or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. -
BEYOND THE STREETS Extends Estevan Oriol & Teen Angel Dedicated to You Through October
BEYOND THE STREETS extends their celebration of ESTEVAN ORIOL & TEEN ANGEL due to overwhelming support from the Los Angeles Community. Dedicated to You has drawn crowds from all over the city, spanning all ages, emphasizing the importance of Chicano and local representation. Thanks to its deep LA roots and Oriol’s brilliant photography, the show will continue to display a unique and often overlooked part of Los Angeles through Sunday, October 27th. With the support of Guayakí Yerba Mate, many more locals and travelers alike will have the chance to view the exhibition and absorb the rich history of this vibrant community.
With over 10,000 viewers, the exhibition has been a resounding success. Dedicated to You has brought a multigenerational audience to the gallery to view the strikingly authentic and deep works from Oriol’s illustrious career. The exhibition has undoubtedly captured the city’s heart and soul, resonating with a broad audience. Not only does the show highlight Oriol’s photographic achievements, but it also celebrates the impact of Teen Angel on his work. Teen Angel’s Magazine, with every issue, acted as a cultural beacon, uniting communities and forging lifelong friendships. The show pays tribute to the late Teen Angel, founder of the magazine, who passed away in 2015 but left an indelible mark on arts and culture.
The exhibition’s curation results from a meticulous exploration of Oriol’s extensive archive, a process involving countless hours of delving into his vast collection and visual legacy. Each chosen image underscores Oriol’s exceptional ability to reveal the beauty in often-overlooked landscapes, fostering a deep appreciation for Los Angeles’ rich and transcendent history. This careful selection process alongside Oriol’s relatable and breathtaking work has made the exhibition an undeniable success.
The extension of Dedicated to You also creates space for more related events at the gallery. Not only will more people have the opportunity to experience the heart of Los Angeles through Oriol’s eyes, but there will also be opportunities to attend events, signings, exclusive product releases, and more community-driven experiences.
BEYOND THE STREETS Founder Roger Gastman is delighted by the Los Angeles engagement and support, saying “It’s incredible to see Oriol’s work is reverberating so deeply with viewers of all ages. It’s a testament to the raw nature of his photography, his real portrayal of the city we all love so much, and the community’s desire to see a culture we don’t often see represented in galleries and institutions. Estevan Oriol and Teen Angel together bring storied histories, and I’m so glad to see they resonate with a larger audience.”
The BEYOND THE STREETS gift shop adds a unique curated shopping experience for attendees. Exclusive merchandise and printed matter will be available within the gallery gift shop including an extensive apparel collection, sculptures, prints, and the first release from Teen Angel’s Magazine in decades in the form of a 64-page special issue with Estevan Oriol, featuring a compilation of new and archived material. There will also be special events throughout the run of the show, including exclusive Polaroid portraits taken by Estevan Oriol himself at the end of September.
More information at www.beyondthestreets.com
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Sacha Lodge Announces New Private Birding Tours in Ecuadorian Amazon
Sacha Lodge, an easily accessible 5000-acre private ecological reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is thrilled to announce an array of NEW private birding itineraries. Of the 1,600 bird species registered in Ecuador, 600 have been seen at Sacha Lodge. For avid bird watchers, Sacha Lodge will provide specialist filed guides who know the best spots for the hard-to-find species and can easily identify them by sight and sound. Guests will spot an average of 60 distinct species of birds per day. Highlights of the new birding itineraries include the only Canopy Exploration Crane in the Amazon, nighttime expeditions, the Yasuni Parrot Clay Lick, the 940-foot-long Canopy Walk, the 360-degree panoramic Kapok Tower, and more. Itineraries can be found here. For more info, visit https://www.sachalodge.c
om/. Birders rejoice at the tremendous diversity of avian species found at Sacha Lodge. The lodge’s location in upper Amazonia among various habitats makes it an ideal environment for even the rarest birds. What was once a trip only for true adventurers and explorers has become accessible to everyone. Travelers no longer need to rough the elements of the rainforest to be immersed in the world of colors and calls of hundreds of Amazon birds. With itineraries designed to highlight the most popular species around the lodge, even the least experienced birders can spot these winged creatures.
Sacha Lodge is located on the broad meander plain between the Napo River and the Aguarico River, which offers a wetland environment of blackwater inlets, oxbow lakes, and palm-rich swamp-forest. This is ideal for birds since it provides the perfect balance of diverse fruits and insects for their diets and makes for ideal nesting in all levels of the sturdy trees of the rainforest. The trails and boardwalks traverse swamp forests and varzea (seasonal floodplains), which allows visitors to go deep into otherwise inaccessible parts of this pristine jungle environment.
The crown jewel of Sacha’s birding experience is the 360-degree panoramic Kapok Tower, the Canopy Walk, and the Canopy Exploration Crane. Just a few years ago, these towers and cranes did not exist at Amazon lodges, meaning that beyond the sounds, birders were left to their imaginations as far as what these canopy-dwelling birds looked like. Sacha Lodge was among the first Amazon lodges to build a tower into the canopy and is the only lodge with a Canopy Exploration Crane, providing exclusive access to a part of the rainforest that is still largely undiscovered.
Some of the rarest bird species expected to be seen at Sacha Lodge include Zigzag Heron, Scarlet-Shouldered Parrotlet, Lanceolated Monklet, Collared Puffbird, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Short-billed Leaftosser, Dot-backed Antbird, Ochre-striped Antpitta, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, and Orange-crested Manakin.
In addition to birds, bats, tiny pygmy marmosets, and giant otters call the reserve home, a space six times the size of New York’s Central Park. Creatures of all shapes and sizes live happily around the lodge – look out for Lucy the Caiman on her morning patrol and the families of monkeys chattering by the rooms. With luxurious beds, hot water showers, ceiling fans, and bug-proofed windows, Sacha Lodge offers spectacular nature experiences with all the amenities of a luxury resort. Watch giant otters duck, dive, and call to each other as you eat breakfast; caimans glide under the walkway as you head back to your room; monkeys chatter outside your balcony; and giant sloths hang on trees by the cabins.
About Sacha Lodge: Located in the largest private reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon, Sacha Lodge includes 5,000 acres of pristine rainforest. Not only does this provide a vast conservation area, free from mining, drilling, hunting, and logging; it offers guests an incredible and authentic Amazon experience. Set on the tranquil Pilchicocha lagoon, the lodge is a beautiful base to spot monkeys, river otters, three-toed sloths, a multitude of reptiles and amphibians, and hundreds of species of birds. Adventures can be done on foot, by boat, or up in the treetops via the Canopy Walk, the Kapok Tower or the Canopy Crane. https://sachalodge.com/
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FEMA Offers Support and Essential Tips for Residents Facing Wildfires in California and Nevada
In response to the ongoing wildfires across California and Nevada, FEMA has approved federal funding to assist local authorities in managing active wildfires, including the Airport, Boyles, Bridge, Davis, and Line Fires. This funding will help ensure firefighters can continue working to protect homes and communities.
Wildfires can spread quickly and unpredictably. It’s important for residents in these areas to prepare now. Here are essential tips to help you stay safe:
- Prepare to Evacuate: Familiarize yourself with your evacuation routes and gather essential items like personal documents, ID cards, medications, and glasses. Pack them in a “go-bag” ready to take with you.
- Evacuate Immediately when Ordered: Follow evacuation orders from local authorities without delay. Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do and when. Return home only when it’s declared safe by officials.
- Know Your Routes: Identify multiple evacuation routes from your home and your community. Plan where your family can temporarily relocate if needed.
- Protect Yourself from Smoke: Wear an N95 face mask or use other coverings to protect yourself from harmful smoke. Limit outdoor activity in smoky areas whenever possible.
For more information and to create your emergency plan, visit Ready.gov/wildfires today.
Federal funding through FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) provides vital support to help states cover the costs of fighting fires that pose significant threats to homes and infrastructure. FMAGs cover up to 75% of eligible firefighting expenses, such as equipment, materials, and mobilization efforts.
About the Bridge Fire
FEMA authorized federal assistance to combat the Bridge Fire on September 10, 2024. This fire is currently affecting areas in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, threatening more than 5,000 homes. The fire has already burned over 34,000 acres.About the Airport Fire
On September 11, FEMA approved funding to support firefighting efforts in Riverside County, where the Airport Fire is burning through more than 19,000 acres. The fire poses a threat to over 10,000 homes in the surrounding areas.For more information on FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grants, visit fema.gov/assistance/public/
fire-management-assistance.
FEMA encourages all residents to remain alert, follow evacuation orders, and take steps now to protect their families and homes. -
Unwittingly Transported To The Future, One Man Must Determine The Fate Of Time Travel Itself In The Timestream Verdict, a Bold New Sci-Fi Novel By Jordan Berk
When a time-traveling jury is summoned to rule on the first-ever case of time-travel murder, they must reach a verdict on the nature of time itself.
This is the riveting premise of The Timestream Verdict, a bold, original new sci-fi book written by first-time author Jordan Berk and debuting in print and e-book September 10 by IngramElliott Publishing (http://www.ingramelliott.com/
timestream_verdict.html). Thought-provoking, tinged with humor, mystery and action, rich in characterization and a genuine page-turner, The Timestream Verdict is certain to delight fans of time travel novels and legal thrillers alike.
Tackling the mind-bending complexities, potential world-changing ramifications and confounding ethical quandaries associated with time travel, The Timestream Verdict not only spans several fiction genres, but finds an inventive new way to tell the classic story of an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances that is certain to resonate with readers of all interests and backgrounds.
Copies of The Timestream Verdict can be pre-ordered now via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Apple iTunes, and – as of September 10 – may be purchased in select bookstores nationwide.
A Time-Travel Crime Calls For a Time-Travel Jury
Aaron Barnett falls asleep as an ordinary 1980s accountant and wakes up sixty years later as a juror for the trial of the century. As he soon learns, the utopian society of 2042 is grappling with the murder of the legendary scientist deemed the ‘mother of time travel.’ And only this jury of inadvertent time travelers is equipped to reach an impartial verdict.Once the shock of his situation begins to wear off, Aaron finds the world of the mid twenty-first century to be a paradise. Far removed from his monotonous life, he savors the advancements and luxuries that the seemingly idyllic future has to offer.
Unfortunately, Aaron’s initial euphoria is shattered once he uncovers the complicated, hidden truths behind time travel, and realizes that his own past, present, and future are suddenly at risk. Because the harsh reality is that Aaron and his fellow jurors may be ruling on far more than a lone case of temporal homicide. They may be delivering a verdict on the very nature of time itself.
Commented Jordan Berk, “I’m so grateful to IngramElliott for the opportunity to contribute to my favorite genre of fiction, and to follow in my father and grandfather’s footsteps as a novelist. Being a lifelong, avid reader and watcher of time travel books and films, I feel like this is the story I was always meant to write.”
“We knew instantly that Jordan was a rising star,” said publisher P.E. Calvert. “The premise of The Timestream Verdict struck us immediately as a fresh take on a beloved and familiar genre. We loved following along with the characters as they encounter this incredible new world and our entire team resonated with the humanity that Jordan brought to the science fiction genre. We immediately saw its potential for adaptation to film and TV.”
In this regard, the company will soon begin actively exploring opportunities to develop The Timestream Verdict into a theatrical movie or television film.
About The Author
Jordan Berk is the grandson of noted screenwriter and novelist Howard Berk, whose credits included Columbo, Mission: Impossible and The Rockford Files. Jordan’s father is Peter Berk, co-author (with Howard Berk) of IngramElliott’s award-winning TimeLock series of action/sci-fi novels and the author of a political legal thriller entitled First Line of Defense that will be published by IngramElliott October 1.
A software engineer by trade, and a self-described nerd by nature, Jordan has loved time travel stories for as long as he can remember, which is why it’s no surprise to those who know him that his first-ever novel would be in that genre.
In addition to writing, Jordan enjoys basketball, technology, and songwriting. He lives near Los Angeles with his wife, Stephanie, and two young children.
Connect with Jordan on Facebook and Instagram @
jordanberk_author or by email at jordanberk.author@gmail.com. About IngramElliott Publishing
IngramElliott is an award-winning independent publisher with a mission to bring great stories to light in print and on-screen. For more information, please visit www.ingramelliott.com.
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New Cookbook – The Iberian Table – Provides an Introduction to the Spanish Mediterranean Diet
A new book takes home cooks on a culinary journey through Spain’s healthiest traditions. A health book, cookbook, and culinary travel memoir all rolled into one, The Iberian Table by award-winning author Robin Keuneke is a love letter to Spain, decoding one of the world’s healthiest and most delicious food cultures. Spain is not only home to more restaurants in the world’s top 50 than any other country, but it also boasts one of the highest life expectancies globally, second only to Japan.In The Iberian Table, Keuneke, known for her bestsellers Total Breast Health and The Detox Revolution, takes readers on a vibrant exploration of Spanish food and culture. With over 100 mouthwatering recipes crafted for the American home cook, she brings the Spanish Mediterranean diet to life—an often overlooked yet profoundly life-extending approach to eating. Alongside easy-to-follow recipes, Keuneke offers practical advice on meal planning and weekly menus, with ingredients readily available at most grocery and health food stores.Some of the recipes included in The Iberian Table:Vegetable MenestraCarme Ruscalleda’s Irresistible Ibérico Ham CroquettesPoached Chicken on Endive with Saffron YogurtMediterranean seafood paellaGarlic Shrimp CazuelaSalad of Steamed Baby Purple Potatoes over Fennel, Sweet Onion, and CapersFabada AustrianaKeuneke also shines a spotlight on the culinary traditions of Spain’s northern region, a gastronomic powerhouse that boasts 9 of the 11 restaurants awarded 3 stars in the 2018 Michelin Guide. The book includes special contributions from Michelin-starred chefs Carme Ruscalleda and Elena Arzak, who share health insights and a few treasured recipes from their legendary repertoires.Through The Iberian Table, readers will immerse themselves in Spain’s diverse culinary landscape, each region offering its own unique gastronomic identity. Keuneke’s rich storytelling and expert insights provide a deeper understanding of the Mediterranean diet and the Spanish way of life—a lifestyle that has contributed to the remarkable longevity of its people.This book is a must-read for food lovers and health-conscious cooks of all ages, offering both inspiration and practical guidance on how to incorporate these timeless traditions into everyday life.
“The Iberian Table whisks me away emotionally, historically and scientifically to incorporate this way of eating into my lifestyle. So simple and so much fun! With Robin’s recipes I can visit Spain in my kitchen every night knowing that, in the process, I am promoting good health for my family.” – Sandy Gooch, author and natural foods retail pioneer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robin Keuneke is an author, natural foods chef, and fine artist. She is the author of Total Breast Health: Power Foods for Prevention and Wellness, a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year, and coauthor with Thomas J. Slaga of The Detox Revolution: A Powerful Program for Boosting Your Body’s Ability to Fight Cancer and Other Diseases. The former food editor for Total Health Magazine, Spain’s Mediterranean diet was a story she had to tell. Keuneke has exhibited her oil paintings in New York City and London and her etchings are in the permanent collection of the New York Public Library. With her husband, Thomas, she divides her time between Atlanta, Georgia and Delray Beach, Florida. Her next book, Basque to Barcelona and Stories Along the Way, is a collection of historical fiction around the theme of Spanish culinary pursuits.Basque Piperrada Vasca of Orange and Yellow Bell Peppers and EggsServes 4
IngredientsExtra Virgin Olive OilMinced pancetta (optional)1 cup of red, orange, and yellow bell peppers cut into thin strips1 large yellow onion, sliced (about 1½ cups)4 garlic cloves, minced2 large tomatoes cut into bite-size pieces6 large eggs, from cage-free hensSalt, pepperIn a large skillet or a cazuela, sauté onion, half the garlic, and the peppers in EVOO for 15-20 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper, and taking care to stir with a wooden spoon at intervals to prevent onions and peppers from burning. Remove.In the same pan slicked with plenty of EVOO, sauté remaining cloves of garlic (and pancetta) for about5-7 minutes.Add tomatoes, season lightly with salt and a grinding of pepper. Continue sautéing until tomatoes soften.Stir in the peppers/onions. Break and arrange eggs over the mixture of tomatoes, peppers,and onions and salt lightly. Take care not to overcook. The yolks should be runny.
