NOW Magazine
40 at 40: Photographing one of NOW’s most challenging covers
Photographer Michael Watier had a vision for his October 2014 Nuit Blanche cover, but when the unexpected happened he had to rethink it By Glenn Sumi and Fran Schechter
May 10, 2021
Original photos by Michael Watier
So far in the 40 at 40 anniversary series revisiting 40 memorable NOW cover stories from the past four decades, we’ve mostly caught up with the subjects of a story, or the original writers. But since the Contact Photography Festival is currently on, we decided to focus this week on the photography behind one of our most memorable covers.
Professional photographer Agueda Sanfiz is excited to be taking part in the documentary family photography exhibit called "Picture (I'm) Perfect" at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Tampa.
Isabelle Anderson 22 Part of an underwater VR scene Isabelle Anderson created for a Mozilla Hubs competition last fall, in coordination with RIT s Frameless Labs XR Symposium. She won second place.
Last fall, after being introduced to “The Key” an award-winning interactive VR experience about the plight of refugees Isabelle Anderson ’22 (New Media Design) was emotionally moved. So much so, she shifted her creative focus to use VR as a vehicle to provide education on important initiatives.
To Anderson, VR technology is a powerful tool to connect people and inspire empathy.
Isabelle Anderson
“Once I saw (‘The Key’) I was like, ‘This is what I want to do with my life. This is what I want to make. This is so impactful,’” said Anderson, a VR artist from Fairport, N.Y.
The Museum of Photographic Arts reopened to the public on Friday, April 16 with two exhibitions. After closing per COVID-19’s safety measures and orders, the museum will open its doors to welcome a new exhibition that celebrates the creative nature of young talent. Based on the collections of the Kiyosato Museum of Photograpic Arts the exhibit is called “Beginnings, Forever.” The exhibit
presents works by historic and emerging artists made before they were the age of 35 and explores talent through images by influential classic artists, postwar Japanese photographers, and contemporary image makers. All contemporary works derive from “Young Portfolio,” an annual competition by KMoPA, which seeks to build the confidence of promising young photographers with purchases of their work.
Memories at the Museum
Cost: Free
Take part in a discussion and virtual tour of several Balboa Park museums. Docents with the Memories at the Museum program engage people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and an accompanying family member or friend in discussions about the artwork to stimulate visual and verbal abilities, and to spark memory. Facilitators trained by the UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer s and Dementia Research Center. No obligation to participate in research. No cost to participate. Memories at the Museum alternates among three co-sponsoring museums that are all located in Balboa Park. This event is free of charge to participants. Virtual tours are held the first Tuesday of each month from 2 to 3 p.m. with one of several San Diego museums, including the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts, and the Timken Museum. Link to Zoom meeting will be provided with registration.