The Mobile World Congress ended earlier this week. It was four days of telecommunication bigwigs trying to out-do each other, and the dust has finally settled. Now that all the cell-phone caravans are packing up and leaving Barcelona, we can finally clear our heads and look at all the smartphone toys we have to look forward to in the coming year. There was allot of flash and pizaz, but at the end of the day we can tell who was innovating and who was a snake-oil-salesman.

YPI KIDS was formed in 2006 by C. Paul Denckla. The first showcase of Project: Tomorrow took place in 2007. There were 9 participants in the 2007 project. These kids ranged from 10 years old to 18 years old. The project was conducted in partnership with Maine Children's Cancer Program.This project focused on children that had cancer or were in remission. The 2008 project on the other hand focused on children whose parents had cancer. In 2009 there was no project.

I am a photographer and a photography writer and through this trait I meet several interesting people and have been fortunate to work on several inspiring projects. But I have never come across anything as special as YPI KIDS. Have you ever wondered about the point where your profession becomes passion? Or when photography become more than just photography? That happens, and it has probably happened to all of us - an image that we shot meant so much to someone else. The point where a photograph becomes an object of endearment is the point when photography becomes more than just photography, more than a profession or an art, it becomes an important factor in someone's life. In my previous article about YPI KIDS I gave a brief introduction of what they did. Moving forward, this article will analyze the projects sponsored by YPI KIDS to enable kids "at-risk" or suffering from cancer photograph precious moments.

This is the last part (part 3) of the interview series with Mass GTUG Co-founder Monika Adamczyk. In the interview with Amvona, Monika highlighted her views on Google Wave, her involvement with Mass GTUG, CrisisCamp and MacoTech Inc. and she presented her views on the future of the web. For those interested Massachusetts Google Technology User Group (Mass GTUG) is open to anyone interested in Google Technologies. Like the name suggests it is a User group for Google technology enthusiasts.

Youtube opened up it's channel to the Copenhagen climate debate this year. Following that many corporations and individuals have made use of the Youtube channels. Like every year tomorrow is the President's State of the Union Address. What's unique about this years address is that it will broadcast live on Youtube and ordinary citizens will have any opportunity to ask follow up questions to President Obama.

Now that Polaroid has appointed Lady Gaga as its Creative Director, it is set on making some other grand changes to it's brand and products. On the product side, Polaroid is bringing back the instant camera in two ways, which are sure to bring excitement to the photography market.  First, Polaroid is bringing back the instant film that was discontinued in 2008. 

We used to think that the world was going crazy over Social Media. But it's not just people on Earth, now outer space is getting dominated by Social Media too. NASA in a Press Release this morning revealed details of this new Tweet from Outer Space. NASA Astronauts aboard ISS received a special software upgrade this week that allows them to browse the World Wide Web and send Tweets.

Clean Tech seems to be taking over the world by a storm. Today, President Barack Obama announced that his administration will be giving out $2.3 billion in tax credits to companies in the private sector working on manufacturing clean tech products and clean energy across the country. Wisconsin based 7 companies will receive $21 million in tax breaks. The President aims to increase jobs in the country by promoting the Clean Energy initiative.

This is the last part of our Interview series with British Photographer Richard Hull. Richard is a brilliant photographer. He is a thinker and is very gifted. He has managed to come a far way in the past year or so that I have known him. He is not only a talented photographer but a very gifted engineer and an amazing race car designer. He uses all 3 of his skills in his photographic work. When asked what was his current profession he stated that, 'I currently work in the R&D department for a Formula 1 team part-time, while completing a doctorate (PhD) in automotive transmission modeling - the order I listed them tells you something about where my priorities lie. I think my background and interest in engineering is often visible in the photos I take - detail shots of machines and mechanisms, buildings, vehicles, bridges. It's no coincidence that good engineering is usually aesthetically pleasing.'

This is part 2 of the interview series with British Photographer Richard Hull. As stated in the previous post this interview will be published in a series of 4 entries on the Amvona Blog. I just found out that today is also Richards birthday. So here's wishing Richard a very happy birthday from every one at Amvona. I first met Richard in London in 2008. At that time I wasn't familiar with his photographic skills but knew that he was an avid car lover. A friend of mine always raved about his work but somehow I couldn't really build the connection between an engineer and photography. I met him in New York earlier this year where a bunch of us went up to the Empire State building and I saw Richard take some amazing photographs. I have been following his work ever since. Not only are his photographic skills admirable but the precision with which he composes his pictures is also remarkable. He puts life into the simplest of objects and each of his photographs tells a story. His photograph of yellow cabs in New York, taken from the top of the Empire State building is one of my favorites. 

Yesterday, I interviewed British Photographer Richard Hull to highlight his experience of photographing the vivid U.S. landscape, his interest in photography, his favorite photographs and to get some tips on taking amazing photos. Richard is an upcoming, self-taught British photographer and has had his work published in car magazines and guide books. His work has also been used in some advertising and he has an online portfolio to share with the world.  It was amazing to see America from a British photographers lens.

LeWeb - the biggest European Internet conference with over 2000 participants from 46 countries launched in Paris today. The conference will continue till tomorrow 12/10/2009. Today, around 11:00AM EST Marissa Mayer, VP Search Products and User Experience at Google was interviewed by Michael Arrington, Editor, Tech Crunch. We are following the conference live and are bringing to you up to date comments of industry professionals on the future of the web. This post covers the interview with Marrisa Mayer and her views on various Google products.

The conference is being streamed live on the LeWeb homepage through ustream tv. Marrisa Mayer talked about various Google projects and products that will be launched in the new year. Discussion included issues like: the future of news on the web, Google Chrome as a browser, Google phone, Google Goggles, Google Wave, Google Search, The living story etc. She talked about how the web changes the whole journalism model and connects people to each other.

Living in Boston has it's advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it is the second most expensive place to rent an apartment after San Francisco. On the other hand, I can take a two dollar train ride and hear John Hodgman speak... for free.

The White House released the official portrait of the presidential family today, and guess who the photographer was... None other than our favorite down-on-her-luck pro, Annie Leibovitz.

Any documentary nuts out there? Well now we can appease our photography and documentary nerd cravings at the same time with a bio piece about iconic architectural photographer Julius Shulman.