Latest News and Exhibitions

I hope you are enjoying your summer!  So many things are happening around here that I haven't had the chance to let you know what has been going on.  I have been so fortunate to be selected for the following exhibitions and publications!  I am thankful for you for your continued support and I hope to see you at one of these events.

Upcoming Shows:

August 2nd - September 15th - Photo Center NW "Musings: 18th Annual Photo Competition" 

August 2nd - 31st Black Box Gallery "Color Photography Now"

August 2nd - August 31st Seities Gallery, Alberta Canada - Featured Artist

October 4th - 26th - The Center For Fine Art Photography "Center Forward"

October 12th - November 17th - The Art of Photography Show - San Diego, CA

Recent Publications and Events:

"Reflected Identities" featured in Square Magazine

Featured in Museé Magazine

Slideshow Selected for Slideluck Potshow in Ireland

Seities Magazine - Featured Member 

Spring 2013 Edition of Airstream Life Magazine

I was so thrilled to hear that the portrait I took of Robert at Alumapalooza 2012 made the current cover of Airstream Life Magazine.  This image was one of my favorites from the event. Robert and his pups were such great sports to pose for me!

This will be my 3rd cover image for Airstream Life Magazine.  Looking back, I noticed that all three covers have a dog in the photo.  There must be something about traveling with pets that is so appealing.  I know that I can't even imaging traveling without Max.  The article in this issue is all about traveling with your pet...something Max and I know a little something about.  

Thank you, Airstream Life!

French Marie Claire Magazine Feature

I was honored to receive an email from a photographer researching women who travel the "American open road." He found me online and read my story and thought French women would be interested in an American who quits her job to wander around the country.  That pretty much sums up my life for the past few years.  At first, I thought it was a joke.  I researched the photographer to see if he was the real deal and then wondered why he would be looking for me instead of a writer?  I pushed the doubts aside and kept an open mind.  He asked me if I knew of other women doing similar things and I immediately thought of my friend, Kristiana Spaulding!  She designs beautiful jewelry and knows a thing or two about Airstream trailers.  In fact, she towed her trailer up this steep hill in Big Sur for this photo!

I don't know what the article says since it's in French, but I am sure it has something to do with women taking it upon themselves to travel solo.  For that, I am happy to participate to hopefully inspire other women to do the same!  The photographer and writer kept referring to Kristiana and I as "Thelma and Louise" so we started fighting on who was Thelma and who was Louise.  I suppose you can call us that without the breaking the law and suicide part.  I know... spoiler alert!  Because I love camping so much, I started a facebook camping page a while ago just for women who enjoy camping.  You can participate in the conversation HERE.

Kristiana and I met in Big Sur to camp three days before the actual photo shoot to give us time to hang out and relax.  Well, little did we know that there wouldn't be a shower in sight.  One night we drove for miles to find one with no luck.  So what you see here is the real deal... three days of camping with no shower.  Not the best way to get ready for a photo shoot but that's how we camping girls do it! 

If you are in France or by a fancy news stand that carries the French version of Marie Claire, it's out now...the August edition.  The image here is a screen shot of the website. There's a preview online but will not show the entire article and I have yet to figure out how to translate it.  You can see it HERE

I am honored to be featured in this article and it makes it even sweeter that I get to share it with my good friend, Kristiana!  She makes beautiful jewelry that you can buy on her website www.SilverTrailer.com

More photos I took during our Big Sur adventure can be found on my Big Sur blog post.

I hope you take the time to get out and explore, ladies!

"Bingo Culture" Series Image Selected By The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards For the 3rd Annual Julia Margaret Cameron Award To Be Shown In Paris in 2013

I woke up to a nice surprise yesterday morning.

Each morning, I sip my coffee and scan my emails on my phone. Not thinking much about it (or anything really at this time in the morning), I opened up an email announcing results to the 3rd Annual Julia Margaret Cameron Award by the Worldwide Photography Gala Awards.  As I read the email, I completely forgot that I entered this contest back in December.  I browsed the names of the selected winners and then I thought I saw my name.  There had to be something in my eyes so I put my phone down, rubbed my eyes hard and drank more coffee before I looked again.  Just to be sure, I clicked on the link to the selected winners and there was my image, "Christmas Bingo In Colorado" selected as 5th place in the Documentary and Editorial category!  Shortly after that, I realized that because I am a finalist, my work will be shown in Paris in 2013!  I am completely honored.  Although I have circled the country for three years in my car, I have never been to Europe, so perhaps this is a good excuse to go.

Just last week, I was informed that this image was also selected by juror Holly Andres to be included in the Portraits exhibit at the Black Box gallery in Portland, Oregon.  If you are in the area, the show will run from June 1st through the 22nd. I'm so thrilled to be a part of it.

Little did I know that what began as a curiosity of the game of bingo and the urge to document the players and culture, that ultimately, it would be so well received.  

If you are new to my blog, here's a little background with my statement on this ongoing project: 

"... While traveling in Maine, I discovered a Bingo hall and it provoked a curiosity about a subculture that I was aware of but hadn't given any thought towards.  What I discovered was a community of dedicated players who travel to the same place, set up in the same spot, and bring along the same good luck charms with the hopes that this will be the day they win big.  It’s a place where hope and despair come hand in hand throughout the night as the mind lets go of everything but what numbers are being called. Each location I encountered would bring in a true sense of community, each with their unique set of personalities and characters.  As I continued my travels and visits to Bingo Halls across America, I realized I was looking at a cultural phenomenon that will be lost to future generations."

To see more images from my "Bingo Culture" series, click HERE 

To see the images that were selected by the Worldwide Gala Awards for the 3rd Annual Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, click HERE

I am grateful to be able to share with you, all of the wonderful people I meet each time I enter a bingo hall.  They have been nothing but supportive and appreciative of my efforts to document the game they love so much, because we both know it's about so much more.

Where are you going?

When someone learns of my plans to live in my van and travel around the USA, the first question I get is, "where are you going to go?"  My answer is "I don't know" or "everywhere!"  I wish I could be more specific but I really never know.  I tend to have a general direction on where I will go and depending on the weather and circumstances, it determines the next day and so on.

I admit that it's not the best way to travel, but it's worked for me so far.  I would like to see Marfa, TX and perhaps make it out to the salt flats but other than that, it's a blank canvas.  I am assuming I will travel with the weather so that usually means I will head North during the hot months and South in the Fall.  I always enjoy being on the East coast in late summer.

I will be making goals along the way and sharing photographs, including portraits of people I meet on the road.  If you know of a place I shouldn't miss, please let me know.

You can always follow me here:
Instagram - user name is alisontravels
Facebook
Twitter - @alisontravels
Photos

Also, to help fund the trip, I am thinking of publishing small books in limited numbers to sell with portraits and travel photos. Once that is completed I update that here.

Thank you for your support!

Thanksgiving Week And Black Friday

As you know, I came home only to leave once again.  I needed to get back out of the house on Tuesday so Max and I have been staying with two close friends and their baby, Alexa.

For once in a long time, I have been relaxing and doing nothing, really.  I've taken Max to the dog park every day so he can run around and get a workout and that always makes me smile.

Last year I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas alone so it was a treat to be able to spend it with a friend this year.  Since we are both "non cooks," we found a place that sold turkey take out meals so we bought two to go and sat on the couch and stuffed ourselves.

So, today is the biggest shopping day of the year.  Shopping is the last thing I would like to do.  I couldn't even imagine getting up early like so many do to get a deal on something they really didn't need to begin with.  After living out of my car for the past three years for six months at a time, I don't really get attached to things like I used to.  Don't get me wrong, I love my camera, computer and phone but I don't have a need to jump out and fight the crowds to spend money that I really should save.

However, the money I spend will be on handmade goods.  A good place to shop is etsy.  All items on this site are either handmade or vintage.  If you didn't know already, I have a little shop where I am currently selling my photograph art boxes.  Speaking of my art boxes...through Sunday, everything in my shop is 25% off when you enter code FACEBOOK25 at checkout.  So, that's handmade art for about $20 bucks each!  I have a few upcoming shows I will tell you about soon.  I hope you enjoy the weekend and spend it with loved ones.  That's all that really matters.

Handmade iphone Photography Photo Art Boxes

I tend to get bored easily.  I am not one of the many people that can grab a book and sit on a beach and read all day.  I am excited to report that I have read two more books from beginning to end to complete my, "5 books from start to finish" goal this year.

Another goal of mine that wasn't on the list was to put together art boxes from the photographs I've been taking with my iphone on this journey.  I am happy to say that I completed this goal.  Sometimes I get ideas in my head that I have to follow through and complete before I obsess too much about them.  This project was one of those ideas.

Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE to take photographs with the other cameras I have and will continue to upload portraits, events and landscapes to my photography site, but there is something about the iphone hipstamatic app that I just love.

I had these 4x4 photographs printed on archival paper and I mounted them on 4x4 wood blocks after I hand sanded them and applied primer  with several coats of paint in either black or white.  After I mounted the photograph on the finished block, I then applied several layers of non toxic clear matte finish to give the boxes a nice texture and durability.  I am pleased on how they turned out.

Since these are my first round of boxes, I have them up for sale on etsy in my shop that you can see here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AlisonTravels

Each box is signed on the back and I also put where the photograph was taken.  Many of the photographs are featured in an iphone photography slide show I put together that you can view HERE.

I will continue to write about my travels but wanted to mention what I've been up to.  I look forward to sharing more photographs of my adventures here soon.

Alison Turner Photography Website www.AlisonTurnerPhoto.com

As you might know, I have a list of goals for the year that I outlined on my 39 goals for my 39th year blog.  One that wasn't on the list but I made a goal for myself is to put my photographs on a site where you can view and easily purchase.  Goal completed! You can find this site by clicking HERE or by simply typing:

www.AlisonTurnerPhoto.com

Many of the photographs on the site are from this road trip the people I've come across during this trip.  I will be adding more as I go along and it will always be a work in progress but it's a nice way to be able to put everything in one place.

You can browse photographs by clicking on "galleries" from the top menu. If there is a photograph you like, click directly on the photo and from there, you will have options to buy prints once you click on the green "buy" button.  If you don't see that button, the image is not for sale.  There are also options to download images once you click on "buy."  Once you go through the steps, it will take you to an online check out and the printing is done through a photoshelter partner.  I've received feedback on the printing and to my delight, the quality is great!  If there are photographs on my blog that you would like to purchase, please let me know and I will put them on this site.

Max and I will get back to the travel blogging but wanted to let you know about a goal completed!  We look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you!

Day One: Twentynine Palms and Big Bear Lake

We have started the journey!

It seems that this time around, I am not as planned as years past. I had no idea where I was going to head until the day before I left.  I like it that way.  I plan to continue to travel that way for months. You never know who you will meet, what they might say, what you may find, or how you may feel on any given day.

Last Saturday as I was packing to head out, I received a copy of Photographer’s Forum in the mail.  I am not a subscriber so I don’t know how I received it, but alas...there it was.  Since I didn’t have any plans that night it was a welcome surprise.  I decided to relax with Max and flip through the pages.

As I was browsing through the magazine, I stumbled upon the work by Candacy Taylor (also featured on the cover).  I was instantly drawn to the photographs and as soon as I read her story about the book she created, I was hooked.  For the past seven years she interviewed fifty-nine diner waitresses in fourty-three cities.  Not just any diner, or any woman for that matter, but a combination of factors that achieved her criteria.  After all of the miles and interviews, her book, “Counter Culture” was born.

I instantly connected to her work.  The fact is, I am finally starting a project that I have thought about for a long time.  My goal on this trip is to meet, photograph and interview women about what they do for a living.  From truck drivers, coal miners, tattoo artists, National Park Rangers, firefighters, artists, construction workers and everything in between.  Her book was right up my alley.

That night, I wrote her an email to introduce myself and told her a little about what I wanted to accomplish on this trip. Needless to say, she wrote back and my initial Northern route turned to East.  On my first day out, we met at her home in Twentynine palms.  It was over one hundred degrees so she agreed to meet at the house so Max could take a break from the weather as well.  

We chatted on and on about various subjects and just like that, three hours went by.  Max and I said our good bye’s and headed out to find a camping spot.  My initial plan was to stay in Joshua Tree but the temperature was too hot for Max, so with a tip from Candacy, we headed to Big Bear Lake.

As we approached the town, we had a much needed break in the weather.  I looked up a few campsites and found one at the base of the ski lift, called pine knot campground.  We set up camp, took a walk around the area and called it a night.  It was a very exciting first day for us.  

Who knows what will happen next?  It’s fun to say yes and even better when you meet someone that does the same. Thank you Candacy.


p.s.  If you know of any women in an "odd job" that you think should be profiled, please email me at alisontravels@gmail.com

And So We Begin Again... (The Big Road Trip, Part 3)

The countdown has begun.

It's time to pack what I think I need in my car and head out on the open road.  This will be my third year wandering this country, while it being my second in a tent.  I've seen most of the states and this time around will be different from the last few years.

Well, each time is always different but I am looking forward to sharing my adventure with you through photographs and perhaps a slide show every so often.  I have a few projects in mind for the journey and I look forward to sharing more of that as well.

I am looking forward to learning more about the towns and people we don't hear about in the news.  People that make this country great but who live a quiet life outside of a spotlight.  I will be camping in new areas, taking side trips to oddball attractions, visiting some friends along the way and for the most part, taking it day by day to see where the road takes me and my co-pilot, Max.

Many of my friends and family are asking me where I am headed.  The fact is, I don't really know.  I know I will try and follow the weather as best as I can since I will be in a tent and Max doesn't tend to be a fan of cold temperatures.  I look forward to meeting interesting people and introducing those people to you.  Here are a few pictures of fellow Americans I've met in the last few months and I am excited to introduce more to you in the upcoming months.

Thank you so much for all of your encouragement and support.  If you know of a spot or town that I shouldn't miss, I would love to hear about it.  I can always be reached at alisontravels@gmail.com

I look forward to sharing more soon!

Las Olas Surf School and La Playa

I blogged about what a wonderful experience I had when I decided to surf with a bunch of strangers in my "Stepping out of Comfort and Into Growth" blog.

Las Olas (Surf Safaris for Women) has a new blog in town!  You can learn more about the wonderful women behind the scenes on their new blog, La Playa (A Community Of Women Who Love To Surf).

Lucky for me, I was featured under their "Saluting Surf Sisters" tab with my story.  Thank you Bev for creating such a wonderful community where women can come together, learn to surf, make new friends and leave home with the belief that anything is possible.

To read my story and others in the Las Olas community, please click HERE.

Long Beach Creative Mixer

Lastnight I went to a creative mixer held by the Long Beach Creative team. This social event, produced by the LBCreative! Festivals & Events Team, serves as a showcase, meet & greet and networking opportunity for Long Beach-based artists, musicians, writers, crafters, dancers, poets, designers, film makers, performers and artistic individuals.

What a great place to connect with artists from the community!

As I arrived, I stumbled upon a performance of some belly dancers and as the night progressed, there were singers, rappers and artists everywhere giving their part to share their expression on a three part giant canvas to be auctioned off at an upcoming Haiti benefit this Sunday. If you are in the area, it should be a great way to lend a hand, have a good time and mingle with your neighbors.

Over 150 artists and dozens of businesses, non-profit organizations and creative individuals are collaborating and contributing to “Carnival de Corazón - My h(ART) goes out to Haiti, an artist response Haiti benefit and festival. 100% of proceeds benefiting the Ye´le Haiti Earthquake Fund

4:00pm - 9:00pm
Family-Friendly Event
Hancock University Art & Design Center
1638 Long Beach Blvd Long Beach, CA 90813

8:00pm - 1:00am
Extended Live Music
18+ Upstairs, 21+ downstairs
The Cellar (off of the Promenade)
201 East Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

A variety of highlights and entertainment include:

A silent art auction
A kid’s Corner showcasing art, crafts, poetry, literary projects, and other art-works
An exclusive CD compilation featuring local, independent bands and singer-songwriters
Fashion show
Food vendors
Free bike valet and bike safety checks
Live music by over 20 local bands, singer-songwriters and local DJ’s
Live painting, a public collaborative mural
On-site haircuts
On-Site T-shirt screen printing at both venues (bring t-shirts for $5 screen prints)
Performances and Showcases: Acro-yoga, contemporary & cultural performances, fire dancing and more.

If you would like to volunteer contact LBC411@gmail.com

For more information visit LBCreative.org

I would recommend getting involved with your local art community. It's a great way to get inspired, meet new friends and at the very least... try something new.

For a more in depth view of what the mixer is all about and the people behind it, please check out the article in the District Weekly by Greggory Moore (Click HERE to read)