Seth Shimkonis Photographer

New Blog is up!

2008-10-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

the new blog link is: http://www.sethshimkonis.com/blog. Check it out now. This blog is no longer in use.

Thanks,

Seth

New Blog coming before Peru

2008-10-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

If you plan to check here for updates and photos while I'm in Peru, please redirect your RSS feeds, your bookmarks and web browsers to my new blog coming soon. The blog link will no longer take you to this blog but to my new and improved blog with bigger photos (you know, because I'm a photographer). So if you have this page book marked, I will post the the blog link in a future post.

Thanks!

Seth

Only 18 days left until I leave for Peru!

Cameras, laptops, and equipment donations needed

2008-09-08T07:03:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone. Thanks for stopping to see what is going on. Please take a minute to read the brief statement about why I'm heading to New Hope Children's Home in November for six months to teach hands on photography lessons to the children at the home and how you might be able to help. Thanks!

In January of 2008, I was part of a mission team from Liberti Church located, in Philadelphia and visited an orphanage in Arequipa, Peru. The orphanage is named New Hope Children’s Home. During the trip, we spent time with children by hosting activities such as arts and crafts, playing soccer, and creating positive social environments for interaction. During the time we spent with them, the children became very curious about our digital camera equipment. They started taking photographs, and many took a liking to this profession of mine.

After returning home, the children’s enthusiasm for learning how to take pictures re-mained on my mind. As a professional photographer with a heart and general concern for these children, I feel called to return and offer a hands on education and to provide the necessary equipment they otherwise would not have the ability to use. The purpose of this next mission will focus on showing these children that there are many avenues of opportunity in the world and through exposure and education to this area of interest we have the ability to offer the idea of an alternative future to what they now know.

The kids at New Hope deserve an opportunity to further explore and develop their un-tapped talents in photography. They live at the orphanage on a full-time basis where they are provided for spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Many of the children have been abandoned, abused, and have no other home or family to rely on other than the other children at the orphan-age. All have heart breaking and compelling stories, some of which seem unimaginable. Michael, an 8 year old boy was found sleeping on the back of a city bus. Maria, who was found abandoned, had resorted to begging and searching through dumpsters to provide food for herself and her two younger brothers. These are only two brief stories of the many children who live at the orphanage.

On November 11th, 2008, I will be returning to New Hope Children’s Home for six months. My goal is to give these children the opportunity to learn about photography and the equipment necessary to do so. However, I am unable to do this alone and wish to ask you for your involvement in this mission to the New Hope children. I am asking you to kindly consider donating any digital point and shoot cameras, DSLR cameras, or old laptops that are collecting dust. In our present day society, outdated equipment can be often times seen as expendable or obsolete objects, however, to the children at New Hope, they are seen as the tools that could be used to find a better future.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please find a humble list of needed equipment below.

Equipment needed

4 Point and Shoot Cameras
- At least 5 mega pixels
-Canon, Nikon, Sony, Casio, etc.
-Media cards for cameras (compact flash , smart media, or proprietary media for specific
camera)
-Instruction Manuals for cameras
-Cables and battery chargers for the specific cameras

2 Digital SLR Cameras
-Canon 10D, 20D, 30D, Rebel, etc.
-Nikon D200, D100, D70, D50, Etc
-Any Lenses, 50mm, Any zoom lenses that comes with the camera
-Cables, battery chargers, and batteries

2 Laptops
-Dell or Apple
-Must be able to run photoshop
-AC power adaptor / Battery
-Instruction Manuals
-Media reader
-2 External USB Hard drives for Storage / 160GB or more

Camera bags and Laptop cases for Protection

Due to international shipping expenses and saftey concerns in Peru, all donations will be securely transported personally by myself or other members returning to the Home in October, November, or December of 2008. All donations are tax deductible and will be issued a receipt by the 501c3 organization Macedonia World Baptist Missions, which funds New Hope Children’s Home. If you would like to read more about New Home, our original missions trip, or Liberti Church, you can find more info on the websites listed below. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me directly.

Seth’s phone: 267.471.657
Seth’s email: seth@sethshimkonis.com
Seth’s website: www.sethshimkonis.com
New Hope Children’s Home: www.peruhope.org
Original trip blog: www.liberti4peru.blogspot.com
Liberti Church: www.liberti.org

Sincerely,
Seth Shimkonis

Friday Evening Boredem

2007-12-21T21:50:00.000-08:00

So, My friend Matt and I had just finished watching a movie on Friday evening, and we decided to have some fun with my two flashes. What you can't see is all the clutter in the room, but its there, with some lighting tricks and a bit of photoshop, here is the result of being bored on a friday evening.

My new book, Fishtown Passing Through, Now available!

2007-12-14T21:26:00.001-08:00

Hello all Fishtowner's and those who love photographs. My new book, Fishtown Passing Through is now available for purchase in soft or hard cover. Just click on the image below and you can preview a few pages! Check it out!

Fishtown Passi...

By Seth Shimkonis

Book Preview

The Lutz Family!

2007-12-01T13:07:00.000-08:00

Today was a bitter cold day but despite the weather and lack of leaves on the trees, we were able to get some great shots. This was my favorite from the photographs we came back with. The only tree with some yellow leaves left in the park dear to the families heart, and in December, it made for a great background for some family portraits. Thanks guys!

Chris Melissa and Corban!

2007-11-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

Since things have been settling down I have been able to post things I've been up to in recent weeks. So to start on my catch up, two weeks ago Chris, Melissa, their son Corban and I headed out to center city to shoot some family portraits. Here are two photographs which I love from a bunch captured on our day together.

Afternoon with the Guys!

2007-11-17T22:03:00.000-08:00

Today was a pretty simple and laid back shoot, I only had to focus on Tom and his Groomsmen before the wedding as I was helping out a great friend of mine, Jeff with Blue i Pictures. Since I was helping Jeff on this wedding I wasn't required to shoot my face off, I came back with great photographs but this image is by far my favorite from my afternoon with the guys. They were hilarious and a great bunch of guys but kept it together for a few minutes while I set them up to capture their sweet brown tuxs and puma shoes in a way that a dress combo like that should be photographed, with style. Enjoy!

Huber Family!

2007-11-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

Today I had the pleasure of photographing my Pastor Steve and his family for a portrait. It was great, first we had to wrangle Lilly the youngest in to even wanting to be apart of the portrait. So with a little wrestling with her brother and sister she was ready to go. The first shot was a more fun family portrait, you know similar to what a daily life looks like. Then, we did something that says, "hey, we look good." And they did. Check out two of my selections! Thanks guys!

Alyson & Mark!

2007-10-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I photographed Mark and Alyson's wedding. They were wonderful to work with and loved having their photo taken. Here are three of my favorites from their wedding. I love the group photo, I think its kind of Soprano like.

Hayes Wedding

2007-03-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

Megan a beautiful bride with wonderful brides maids made this saturday simple and easy going. Matt and his Groomsmen were right at home joking around in front of the lens while they were getting ready. Meghan and Matt had a great Ceremony and that is all the time they booked me for.

Simply put, an awesome couple and I wish them the best.

2006-11-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

This is murphy and I after I got home from a wedding. We both wear black, well, Murph wears it everyday (Grub) and I only wear all black to weddings.

Graffiti on a Sunday

2006-10-29T17:21:00.000-08:00

As Murhphy (my dog) and I were walking along today, I realized how much line and color are in tagging (a name someone gives them self and writes it on certain things) and the item that gets tagged. So I decieded to focus my camera on the items I found that were tagged or had graffiti written on them. What I came out with you can see here.

I actually had a alot to say on this topic, but then acidentally erased it. Thats frustrating so, instead, just check out the photos.

Up and running

2006-10-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

Well, today I created my first blog.

I've done myspace and I wasn't too fond of the ads, and I have my own website (thanks for the html tip #9) which has my photos and info for my job. But I thought I might try blogging for these reasons:

my roomate does it: hes cool. I want to be cool too.

Its up to me what I put on here and I don't have to deal with raunchy ads.

It seems more personal, rather than trying to get a thousand friends I never really talk to (even though I used to know them in the past). Its sharing what I've been up to with those who I want to share it with. I know, I know, MYSPACE. But I did Myspace (plus, myspace is owned by Fox now).

I plan to purchase a point and shoot digital camera (also inspired by my roomate) and post random, personal, and family pictures that wouldn't go on my photo website.

Occasionally I'll post my mental ideas and thoughts that I want to share with others. and see what they say or don't say.

Update: I'm listing to Diana Ross - Stop, Look, Listen to your heart...hmmmmm...wait...I can't hear my heart!!! But I can feel it!!! Ok, so I'll Stop.....ok.....look......ok........listen, ok now I hear it. I'm off to bed.