Mrs. Obama's social schedule shaping up for G20

Over at my friend, Tom Buell's blog, Global Pittsburgh , there is an article on where some of the G-20 activities will take place.
These include Phipps Conservatory, Theresa Heinz farm, Rosemont, CAPA school downtown and the Warhol Museum.

Anyone needing a photographer to cover these events should contact me ASAP!

G-20 Partnership website content is improving

What started as an idea for disseminating information for the G-20 summit, has grown to include more information for the public as details start to unfold about the summit. Bill Flanagan also writes in a weekly eNewsletter about latest developments regarding this event. To get more information be sure to bookmark this website for the place to get up to date information:
Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership

Photograph is of J. Christopher Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Investors.

Working on another photo show proposal for G20

I'll be submitting a proposal to the Pittsburgh Int. Airport in a couple of weeks proposing a G20 photo exhibit of ASMP Pittsburgh photographers. There is not a better way to show off Pittsburgh to the world than large photographs hanging for all travelers to see at the airport. Stay tuned for more news!

Photo exhibit at Airport for G20!

Well right now it is only a plan and a proposal, but if things go well, visitors will be able to see wonderful Pittsburgh in all it's glory through photographs hanging at Pittsburgh International Airport during the G20 and through January of 2010.

I'm putting together a proposal this week for a photo show featuring the best photographers in Pittsburgh from the Pittsburgh American Society of Media Photographers(ASMP). With their help and cooperation, the show promises to be an amazing look at our city people, places, and entertainment. Proposal is due August 1st, so stay tuned for any developments and hopefully some good news on this amazing project!

Trade Unions to get involved in G-20 Summit

Information HERE

WDUQ posts audio transcript of first brain storm session

Here is a sound recording of the first brain storming session for the Pittsburgh G20 held at Point Park University last Friday afternoon. I'm looking forward to attending tomorrow's event at Robert Morris University.

If you listen to the transcript about half way through, you will hear my ideas for a photo exhibit at the Convention Center that features Pittsburgh photographs. I think this will be a great way for many out of town visitors to view Pittsburgh because of the limited time they will actually have here in the city.

The public speaks...Pittsburgh G20

It was estimated that approximately 200 Pittsburgher's from all walks of life gathered at Point Park University today to start discussing what the G20 means for Pittsburgh and how Pittsburgh can best show off the assets of this great community. Ideas flowed fast and furious, some detailed, some just broad strokes and others just a little "out there". However, there were some great ideas fielded and many things to be considered before hosting this important summit. I did note that many of the ideas, though interesting, did not fully grasp the enormity of this event and how buttoned down the city will be in order to keep Pittsburgh secure and safe. Of course, there is a very small window of time that the G20 will actually be in town, and most of that time will be spent in closed sessions working. Contrary to what many might think, this will NOT be a working vacation for the media or delegates.

There were also many ideas for presenting Pittsburgh as a "Green" community and I think that is a positive. Anything to dull perceptions of our city as a smoky steel town should be implemented with gusto.

I attended the meeting trying to get a handle on who is actually in charge of pulling this all together and left with more questions than answers. Even the Mayor who was in attendance admitted there were more things he didn't know about the demands of the event than what he did. One thing is certain...there is precious little time to waste if Pittsburgh wants to put our best foot forward to the world media.

I presented just a very rough idea of what I would like to do... I am hoping to curate an exhibit of photography that shows off Pittsburgh to the world at an exhibit at the Convention Center.

I am anxious to get everyone from graphic designers, printers, labs, and PR people involved in this and have a number of ideas on how this could be done. At this time I'm holding some things close to the vest because I simply do not know the proper channels where this proposal should be submitted to. I do know that I have plenty of experience doing this kind of thing and that my many industry connections would be helpful and indeed anxious to be involved with this project.

Of course my book, Pittsburgh: A Photographic Portrait would also make an awesome addition to any "bling bag" given to delegates and the media as a photographic record to take home with them! I welcome inquiries from whomever will be in charge of the hospitality!

I'm looking forward to pushing this idea forward, as I know this is an idea that shouldn't get bogged down with concerns like security and public inconvenience. Cost to do this project can be manageable, it just needs to be presented to the correct planning committee. I welcome any comments or suggestions on how I can move my proposal forward and I'm confident that this is a fantastic idea and that the city would get a big bang for the buck if it would like to pursue my idea.

The next public meeting for ideas will be held on Tuesday, June 23rd at Robert Morris University from noon to 1:30PM. Stay tuned to this blog for more info. Here is the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article by Dennis Roddy about his impressions.

New G-20 website by city government

Online today, Pittsburgh G20 Partnership website. The site is sponsored by the Pittsburgh G20 Partnership and has media inquiry contacts and dates listed for pubic input on how to make this summit a success for Pittsburgh and show our city in the best light possible. The first public meeting is this Friday at Point Park University from Noon to 1:30. Two more meetings are also scheduled to get ideas and input. Listings can be found on the website. Hopefully great photography can help show our Western PA in a great light!

These photos are from an offsite meeting event photographed at the Pittsburgh Westin Convention Center for corporate client Nortel.

New G-20 site on Visit Pittsburgh

This site by the Visit Pittsburgh organization includes a link for checking out what are going to be very scarce room reservations for the summit. Visit Pittsburgh HERE

Keeping it short today... I'm off to photograph an event and awards presentation for Nortel at the David Lawrence Convention Center. I'll be sure to post a few shots after the edit. Make it a good one!

2009 Carnegie Science Awards Program

In May I photographed the Carnegie Science Awards program at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh. Ed Begley, Jr. was the keynote speaker who made "going green" sound like a fun and most sensible thing for all of us to strive for. Ed certainly walks the talk when it comes to the environment and his thoughts are based not on politics and junk science, but of economic and social needs.

Not everyone thinks the G20 will be positive for Pittsburgh

Blogger Mike Boda writes of the inconveniences and potential rioting that would take place when the G20 is held here. While no doubt, there will be protests and anarchists who will be there just to "be there". A couple of days of closed streets and tightened security won't hurt us. After all, I didn't hear THAT much complaining when the City was shut down for a day just for a Steeler Superbowl Victory parade. I still think the positive images that the press will show the world is a great thing for Pittsburgh and I look forward to photographing as much of this as possible!

Here is a groundbreaking ceremony photographed for the German corporation, Siemans who has operations in the Pittsburgh area.

Senator Robert Dole (R) Kansas

Mr. Dole photographed in Pittsburgh at the David Lawrence Convention Center during a speech on the aging, sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. Looking forward to the Pittsburgh G20 Summit to photograph the many VIP's and executives that will participate in this historic event!

Global Pittsburgh-The Importance of the G20 in Pittsburgh

My good friend, Thomas Buell, Jr. wrote a great article on his blog today that tells why Pittsburgh hosting this event will be great
for the area and how it is Pittsburgh's chance to shine in front of the world community and world press corps. I predict that after the conference is over we won't be hearing quite so many snickering from the White House Press Pool about why Pittsburgh was chosen. Read his article here. After reading his blog check out his website, Global Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh to host G20 Summit!

The city of Pittsburgh is abuzz...We are hosting the historic G20 Summit on September 24th and 25th. Pittsburgh will be a wonderful host that will be excited to show off our sparkling city, technology and health care industries, green technology and buildings, and small town civic pride.

I will be using this blog to keep you abreast of local happenings and to make out of town visitors aware of photographic services that I will be offering during this exciting time. I will be posting relevant photos of events and executive portraiture that shows the depth and experience of my photography assignments. As photographer of my book: Pittsburgh: A Photographic Portrait I am in an unique position of knowing the city well and handling any location logistics that will come up during the summit for assignments.

Please visit MarkBolster.com to view portfolios and even get some travel information on our lovely city.

I look forward to your assignment requests and working with a diversified clientele during this historic event!

Stay tuned...Lots of good things are going to be happening on this blog in the next few months!
Mark Bolster