Friday, January 6, 2012

Photography Class at Durham JCC

The Jewish Community Center in Durham recently announced its spring 2012 courses. Here's their blurb on Donn's upcoming photography course:

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographer Donn Young is world-renowned for his work. He loves to share his skill with anyone who wants to learn how to take better pictures. Students must provide their own cameras, but may consult with the instructor before class if they need advice on what to purchase. Look for Donn’s photo exhibit in the atrium for examples of his work. Pre-registration required.


Dates: Thursdays during session 1

Time: 7-9pm

Ages: Adult
Cost: Member - $50; Potential Member - $75

Contact: Sue Klapper at 354-4949

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

John Acorn: "Armed & Extremely Creative"


Inside John Acorn's studio
Photo by Donn Young
for
Artsee magazine

A recent article on John Acorn in Artsee magazine, written by Katie, photographed by Donn.

More online: 



The Price of Pork, Endeavors Magazine

Photo by Donn Young for Endeavors magazine
Donn covered North Carolina pork farms for a recent story by Susan Hardy for Endeavors magazine. Hardy's story examines the waste management issues at hand for more than 2,400 pork farms in North Carolina.

It's nearly impossible to live in North Carolina and not partake in some of the, well, culture of swine. We're a BBQ capital, and we rank second for pork livestock production in the U.S. And yet the industry and its waste have been at the heart of controversy and court battles in the state for years.

Shortly after his assignment for Endeavors, Donn reported over dinner that there are more pigs than humans in the eastern part of North Carolina. A fact, you may imagine, that I have not fact-checked, but have contemplated ... That's a lot of pigs, and also a lot of waste. A challenge for our communities to balance.

Hardy's story examines the complexities of the issues at hand: the difficulties and the risks that farmers and communities face.

An excerpt:




Your father grew hogs. Maybe his father did, too. Or maybe they grew tobacco, back when it was subsidized. Either way, farming’s what you know. So you’re a hog farmer.
But this isn’t your grandfather’s farm. He owned the hogs he raised; yours belong to a corporation. The corporation told you how to build your barn and how to raise the animals. It owns the feed, the trucks, the veterinary supplies.
What do you own? The waste. You have three thousand hogs, each one producing several times the waste that a human being does ...