Showing posts with label commercial photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commercial photography. Show all posts
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Beatrice Jansen
Via Mrs.Deane I came across the work of newcomer Beatrice Jansen. Take a look at her work via her lovely site: www.beatricejansen.com. My favorite is the "Momentarily" series. Very "The Ice Storm". I also like the "Nature Illusions" series.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Fabulous Helmut Newton
I am currently reading the latest Jhumpa Lahiri collection of short stories and while discussing it with my friend Andrea, I came to the conclusion that honesty is probably the most important quality for an artist and the creative process.
Which leads me to (the late) Helmut Newton. I always liked and often loved the work of Helmut Newton, I do not find his work offensive. As time has passed I think his portrayal of women seems much kinder than what we are fed today and even his critics might have to concede to that.
What I like about the work is the audacity and the honesty.
Mr. Newton photographed what he was interested in, what he knew - and did so without apology and with much frankness.
I recently watched Helmut Newton: Frames from the Edge which I recommend and today I read James Danzinger interview with Mr. Newton (to be found on Mr. Danzinger's excellent blog The Year in Pictures), which is well worth reading. It is a revealing exchange and to me shows a man of great heart.
Mr. Newton's imagery no doubt informed my visual repertoire as his imagery was ever present while I was growing up in Germany & France. Along with the recently deceased Yves Saint Laurent, and contrary to frequent criticism, Mr. Newton helped me develop a sense of a modern & strong woman.
Vintage YSL - reminder of the famous 'woman in
smoking' image in French Vogue 1975 ©Nina Corvallo
Which leads me to (the late) Helmut Newton. I always liked and often loved the work of Helmut Newton, I do not find his work offensive. As time has passed I think his portrayal of women seems much kinder than what we are fed today and even his critics might have to concede to that.
What I like about the work is the audacity and the honesty.
Mr. Newton photographed what he was interested in, what he knew - and did so without apology and with much frankness.
I recently watched Helmut Newton: Frames from the Edge which I recommend and today I read James Danzinger interview with Mr. Newton (to be found on Mr. Danzinger's excellent blog The Year in Pictures), which is well worth reading. It is a revealing exchange and to me shows a man of great heart.
Mr. Newton's imagery no doubt informed my visual repertoire as his imagery was ever present while I was growing up in Germany & France. Along with the recently deceased Yves Saint Laurent, and contrary to frequent criticism, Mr. Newton helped me develop a sense of a modern & strong woman.
Vintage YSL - reminder of the famous 'woman in
smoking' image in French Vogue 1975 ©Nina Corvallo
Friday, June 6, 2008
Paul Fusco @ Danzinger
Opening Today:
Paul Fusco
RFK Funeral Train - Rediscovered
June 6 - July 31, 2008
@ Danzinger Projects
521 West 26th Street
New York, NY
A book titled Paul Fusco: RFK (a follow up/ new edition to the well received 2003 RFK Funeral Train publication) with these photographs & others will be released late this summer by Aperture.
Paul Fusco
RFK Funeral Train - Rediscovered
June 6 - July 31, 2008
@ Danzinger Projects
521 West 26th Street
New York, NY
A book titled Paul Fusco: RFK (a follow up/ new edition to the well received 2003 RFK Funeral Train publication) with these photographs & others will be released late this summer by Aperture.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Orphan Works Bill - Update & Call for Action
Head over to Carolyn E. Wright's site PhotoAttorney.com (not a bad blog to keep in rotation) to find out more (via A Photo Editor)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Tema Stauffer
I always liked the work of the talented Tema Stauffer. There is so much narrative in her work and it makes you want to know the whole story behind the images. Tema's blog let's you follow her creative journey. Take a look at her pictures and words: www.palmaire.blogspot.com
Friday, May 9, 2008
More Diana Scherer
Here are some of my favorite images by the talented Diana Scherer:
"Kudde" ©Diana Scherer
Works from the series "Still-Life"' ©Diana Scherer
Diana was kind enough to let me use these images on my blog and she also directly expressed that it is important to know that no animals were purposefully killed for her work. She also mentioned that viewers have very strong reactions to her work.
This made me think about what exactly it is that touches a nerve with people when they view her work. As I mentioned previously I liked the work, was affected by it and because of my own personal ethics in regard to animal welfare I was concerned with the provenance of the animal bodies.
However I suspect that her frank examination of life and death is what generates such a strong reaction in most people. Diana said while she deals with tragedy & death, her work is really about life. I very much agree. In western society death is the topic hardest to discuss, even though death obviously is a part of life.
Another body of work that came to mind was Amy Stein's celebrated "Domesticated" series. My understanding is that Ms.Stein used taxidermied animals for her imagery, but her use of dead animals caused no negative reactions.
Diana's work is beautiful and direct - there is no room for misunderstanding of what she is depicting - and I think this can be difficult for some.
Most people buy their meats in supermarkets and never think of where it came from. When death is shown in movies or on TV it is 'sanitized' and even the news shield the viewers. In the US news for example it is rare to see footage of dead or injured whether they are US citizens or other nationals. While I agree that portrayal of violence should be curbed, I do not think there is enough intelligent discourse regarding death.
"Kudde" ©Diana Scherer
Works from the series "Still-Life"' ©Diana Scherer
Diana was kind enough to let me use these images on my blog and she also directly expressed that it is important to know that no animals were purposefully killed for her work. She also mentioned that viewers have very strong reactions to her work.
This made me think about what exactly it is that touches a nerve with people when they view her work. As I mentioned previously I liked the work, was affected by it and because of my own personal ethics in regard to animal welfare I was concerned with the provenance of the animal bodies.
However I suspect that her frank examination of life and death is what generates such a strong reaction in most people. Diana said while she deals with tragedy & death, her work is really about life. I very much agree. In western society death is the topic hardest to discuss, even though death obviously is a part of life.
Another body of work that came to mind was Amy Stein's celebrated "Domesticated" series. My understanding is that Ms.Stein used taxidermied animals for her imagery, but her use of dead animals caused no negative reactions.
Diana's work is beautiful and direct - there is no room for misunderstanding of what she is depicting - and I think this can be difficult for some.
Most people buy their meats in supermarkets and never think of where it came from. When death is shown in movies or on TV it is 'sanitized' and even the news shield the viewers. In the US news for example it is rare to see footage of dead or injured whether they are US citizens or other nationals. While I agree that portrayal of violence should be curbed, I do not think there is enough intelligent discourse regarding death.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Pixel Perfect
This week's New Yorker has a piece titled "Pixel Perfect: Pascal Dangin's virtual reality" written by Lauren Collins. If you know anything about the contemporary process of photography the article will not illuminate you; except towards the end of the article Pascal Dangin shares the theory that the hunger for Paparazzi imagery in part is a response to what he does.
Mr. Dangin retouches and creates beings that really do not resemble any of us and he thinks that perhaps the public thus craves the other extreme: candid shots that make celebrities probably look worse than they do in actual life.
I have been thinking a lot about how I am more and more tired of only seeing super polished images commercially. I still love the work of Mert & Marcus, however now most commercial work tries to emulate them and it is becoming boring.
Mr. Dangin retouches and creates beings that really do not resemble any of us and he thinks that perhaps the public thus craves the other extreme: candid shots that make celebrities probably look worse than they do in actual life.
I have been thinking a lot about how I am more and more tired of only seeing super polished images commercially. I still love the work of Mert & Marcus, however now most commercial work tries to emulate them and it is becoming boring.
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