Good Morning Lowcountry

Shooter

Photographer Brownie Harris, based in Wilmington, N.C., is one of those shooters who seems to do it all. That includes portraits of luminaries such as John F. Kennedy Jr., magazine and book covers, pro bono documentary photography projects for charities such as Darkness to Light and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, calendar work, corporate work and celebrity portraits including the last professional photo taken of American journalist David Brinkley.

Two years ago, an exhibition of Harris' work, "American Icons: A 30-Year Retrospective," visited the Market Pavilion Hotel in Charleston.

A fine arts graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Harris had to drive cabs and paint lofts in New York for a little while before finally landing a photography job.

We mention all this because Harris will speak tonight at 7 at the Charleston Center for Photography, 654 King St., about how he approaches and handles his subjects, how he finds an area of visual interest in a subject and how he tells a story with a photo.

Harris is also a lighting expert, so we assume he will talk about that. Oh, and he'll show photos of "Luminaries of Our Time."

If you're a shutterbug, try the Kodak Challenges some time.

No longer associated with Eastman Kodak, the challenges are at pbase.com. Go to www.pbase.com/kodak_challenge/rules for the rules on how to submit photos and how to vote.

Challenge topics are subject-oriented (death, food, people at work, natural forms, body parts, etc) ... or technical (light and shadow, framed, shades of grey, uncommon angle, diagonal composition, etc.)

Challenge galleries are linked. There's also an exhibition gallery for those who don't want to compete but just want to show off. Since the rules are complicated, there's also an Idiot's Guide to the Kodak Challenge. And there's a talk forum so shutterbugs can gab.

Watchdog

If you haven't found it already, GMLc recommends the new Watchdog page at http://www.charleston.net/news/watchdog/. It is The P&C's online site for investigative reporting. The site also has space for your inquiries, information and tips.

D.I.Y., an interactive do-your-own-digging feature offers online databases about people, governments and organizations.

At Blow the Whistle, you can send us any dirt about fraud, waste or abuse of the public trust you have seen. Watchdog also wants to see your smoking gun photos, videos or documents.

Get involved at www.charleston.net/watchdog.

GMLc

Call 937-5564. Write gmlc@postandcourier.com. Comment at www.charleston.net/news/gmlc.