Cathaleen Curtiss, Visual Media Consultant

Award winning photojournalist, editor and director of photography with broad experience in online media as well as traditional print publications.

As a photojournalist I have documented events from Super Bowls to Superpower Summits, covering three presidential administrations. In 1990 I was named, Photographer of the Year by the White House News Photographers Association.

As Vice President of Global Photography at AOL, I built and managed a staff of visual content editors based in VA, NY and Bangalore. While at AOL, I oversaw the direction, development and implementation of AOL Visions and Pixcetera.com.

I am currently a Visual Media Consultant and Coordinator of Entrepreneurship at Daemen College.

The photos in this blog were taken and edited on my iPhone. I call them "iphonotos". It is my belief, that the best camera is the one you have with you. Vision is more than seeing its taking the time to feel.

My photojournalist roots are the foundation for creating and sharing. I hope you enjoy them.

I am learning to listen to a favorite saying from my grandmother
"You can waste a lifetime worrying about tomorrow."

03-14-2011

Curtiss Sugar Bush: telling your family story

It is almost springtime! The clocks have been changed and my Dad has tapped the Maple Trees. For me the beginning of syrup season always symbols the end of winter. This is a great opportunity to share with you photos from my trip home last spring to see my family and document (of course shot on my iPhone) the Curtiss Sugar Bush in operation.

My favorite photo from the trip is not one that I shot (it was made on an iPhone). It is of me with my dad, Stanley Curtiss the “CEO” of Curtiss Sugar Bush. I loved my short visit home and the opportunity to see my dad with three and four generations of Curtiss’ working side by side. It is a lot of work for them but the love and laughter shared in that steamy sugarhouse lasts a lifetime. If only the iPhone could capture the sweet smell of syrup steam.

With my father, Stanley Curtiss in the Sugarhouse in 2010. photo by Mickey Osterreicher

It was also great fun to “document” the entire process on my iPhone. Continuing my theory that the best camera is the one you have with you. This was a slightly bigger challenge because of the lighting conditions. The Syrup operation goes all through the night so once the sun goes down there is limited light sources. Plus the steam was playing tricks on the iPhone focus and exposure.

Remind yourself when you are enjoying family events or traditions to take out your camera or your phone and record a family photo story. Look for overall photos that help establish the environment or place the event. For example a photo of the driveway of your home. You know that feeling you get when you return after a long vacation. Think about relationships, not just smiling at the camera, but the interaction or feeling of isolation that happens when you are all together. Then look for the details . . . a photo of Grandma’s fruit salad or the rocking chair that everyone has sat in for 50 years . . . the “product” shot. Mostly just have fun and make photos, I am sure you will be glad you did when you are able to share the story with others who couldn’t be there. One word of advice… EDIT yourself, don’t be that person who makes people look at a thousnd bad family snapshots. So enjoy my family story, “Curtiss Sugar Bush”.