Two Videos

Hank Thomas Willis & Deborah Willis' Conversation at Aperture:


courtesy Aperture (Free Live Streaming by Ustream) --And thanks Deb for making Hank go to NYU ;)

And if you click here you will find a beautiful rendition of Frederic Chopin's Nocturne F, performed breathtakingly by Lee Mi-Young in Paris in November 2006.

Two Mis(c)has

Good stuff:
Mischa Richter. You can see his work at: www.mischarichter.com & www.esp-agency.com.
Misha De Ridder: You can see his beautiful landscapes here: www.mishaderidder.com.

A Conversation with Sonja Thomsen

I See the Universe in Sonja Thomsen's photography © Sonja Thomsen

The name Sonja means 'Wisdom' and Sonja Thomsen is wise.
Her works are at once distinct but also connect to one another, reflecting about life on a micro and macro level .
Head over to the Nymphoto Blog to read my interview with artist Sonja Thomsen.

J(Z)oe from Philadelphia

Today is Veteran's Day in the US and on the occasion Zoe Strauss shared some family pictures and an incredible story about her grandfather & a boy during WWII and about the world, told by her mother. A must read that you can find on Zoe Strauss' blog: www.zoestrauss.blogspot.com.
Also look out for Zoe Strauss' first book, aptly and simply titled "America". A show accompanying the book will open November 22, 2008 at Bruce Silverstein Gallery.
And keep checking in on www.zoestrauss.blogspot.com, it is one of the best blogs out there.

A Conversation with Jon Shireman

Jon Shireman is a master photographer.
I value knowledge of the history of photography and think every photographer should be well trained in the actual craft of photography. Even if in the end they choose to ignore all the rules and traditions. Few photographers I know are as well versed in photography as Jon. Fittingly I met Jon Shireman at Craig Cutler Studio many years ago, where I was able to see true knowledge of the medium at work.
Much of photographic culture is being lost in the digital age and sometimes it feels to me that I speak a language that is dying. People coming to photography post the digital revolution, who never studied alternative & traditional processes; and the many facets & applications of photography, speak a different language. And so the work of Jon Shireman is even more precious to me. Him and I can converse fluently in photography.




©Jon Shireman

NC: Tell us about yourself.

JS: I was born in suburban Chicago, your average middle class upbringing. I think it became obvious early on I was a bit of a black sheep in my family. My formal education in photography was minimal; I'm more astute at learning by doing. I started assisting early on in various Chicago catalog house or as I like to call them "sweat shops". It was a great way to learn the view camera and the basics of lighting. Once I moved to New York I was ready for refinement.

©Jon Shireman

NC: How did you discover photography?

JS: At a very young age I watched a documentary on PBS about a photographer whose name I don't recall. I remember being transfixed by the darkroom process. It was magical. Later on in college I had a professor who really opened my eyes to all the possibilities photography has to offer.

©Jon Shireman

NC: Where do you find inspiration?

JS: New York City is a major inspiration for me; I walk the city constantly. The people, architecture, trash, traffic, all have an effect on my creativity.

©Jon Shireman

NC: How do your projects come about?

JS: I have ideas that tend to coalesce over time. I envision these little bits and piece floating over my head, eventually they mix and match, combine and I have a new series of photographs. It's so satisfying to complete a project which can be in the works for years and to know it couldn't be any better because I've allowed the process to grow unfettered.

©Jon Shireman

NC: What's next?

JS: Asia, going to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Shanghai.

©Jon Shireman

NC: Thank you so much!

You can see more of Jon's work please visit his website: www.jonshireman.com.

Sunday This & That

My dear friend Hank and his mom Deb will be speaking at Aperture Tuesday night:

Hank Willis Thomas and Deborah Willis
Conversation
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 6:30 p.m.
Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor
New York, New York

The William Eggelston Retrospective opened at the Whitney Museum of American Art and I can't wait to see it. But I must, because I am saving it for when my parents visit. Tema Stauffer however has already seen it and you can read her take on it on her blog: www.palmaire.blogspot.com.

If you love horses check out Kelly Klein's new anthology of equine photography simply titled "Horse" - which includes work by Edward Steichen, Robert Mapplethorpe, Ellen von Unwerth, Roberto Dutesco & many more.