Picture Stories by Stephen Alvarez

Alam Kuh panorama

Shockingly little time to write this week, so I'm just putting up this panorama shot at 15,500 feet on Alam Kuh from my assignment to Iran last year. Look at all that snow in June, here in Tennessee flowers are blooming in January. No snow in sight.

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN

Hell Hole, West Virginia

Almost 2 years ago I hung over this 150' pit in West Virgina as part of a survey team looking at how White Nose Syndrome was effecting hibernating bats. The incredible thing about this photo is not the guy hanging in in space or even the bat flying around but the capture date. It was February and there were bats flying around in the cold and snow.

The disease seemed to be spreading south and the great fear is that it will infect the large bat colonies that we have in the southern cumberland plateau. So far we haven't seen great mortality in Tennessee, but this winter is when the disease would seriously hit. Fingers are crossed here.

Stephen Alvarez

Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga A.M.

In Chattanooga this morning loading in for more portraits...

Stephen Alvarez

There were lots of bad things about being an American in Iran

above a wedding near Shahmirzad, Iran

There were lots of bad things about being an American photojournalist in Iran last year. Primarily I had no freedom of movement. I could not go where I wanted to go, I could not do what I wanted to do. I really couldn't even talk to the people I wanted to. For the month I was there I was only alone in the bathroom and even then...?

Climbing in Iran: 15,000 on Alam-Kuh

Spindrift surrounds us at 15,000 feet on Iran's Alam-Kuh. Last year's trip to Iran was full of surprises. Big mountains, difficult government, but as with most places in the world, wonderful people.

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN

Works in Progress

 

One of my favorite days in January is works in progress day at NG. It is day the freelance photographers gather in the NG auditorium or a closed session to show something they have worked on in the past year. I've seen some astounding personal work there and getting ready for it is always intimidating. My contribution this year is above. 

Stephen Alvarez

Washington, DC

Soggy morning, headed to the NG Seminar

Soggy morning here in Nashville. Headed to DC for the NG seminar. Always happy to go see my fellow photographers.

Stephen Alvarez
Nashville, TN

Just bought my first ipad photo app, Gerd Ludwig: the Long Shadow of Chernobyl will the ipad replace photo books?

I've been reluctant to purchase an Ipad. Mostly I saw them as an answer to a problem I don't have. However, I have to show clients some work later this month and it is the portfolio of choice these days. Much to my delight I read about Gerd Ludwig's new App "The Long Shadow of Chernobyl" on ThePhotoSociety. So same day I picked up my Ipad, I bought my first photo book replacement. It is a great App. Lots of pictures, interviews and information. I'd still like Gerd to publish a traditional print book, but until then I am happy to have his app with me.

So my question is "Is the Ipad going to replace traditional photo books?" 

Stephen Alvarez

I just finished reading The Gun by C.J. Chivers

above, art therapy by a returned Lord's Resistance Army abductee, Kitgum, Uganda

I just finished C.J. Chivers' 2010 addition of THE GUN . It is an extended history of the AK-47 by a pulitzer prize winning New York Times corespondent. It is a fascinating study not just of a weapon but of small arms proliferation during and after the cold war. From my reporting in Africa I knew there were a lot of AKs in circulation, but I had no idea of the total number until reading this book. 

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN

reviewing pictures for my PhotoSociety page

I've just been reviewing some photos for my PhotoSociety page. Its been fun to go back and review some of my iconic images and try to decide what to put up in the page's slide show. Take a spin through the member pages. There is some incredible work by wonderful photographers. 

Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN