Quote of the Week

U.S. 91, leaving Blackfoot, Idaho. Copyright © Robert Frank

From an article in the NYT art section commemorating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Robert Frank's The Americans :

Still, Mr. Frank’s picture of a man at the wheel taken from the passenger seat of the car, “U.S. 91, Leaving Blackfoot, Idaho,” might well double for a portrait of the characters in “On the Road.” He was quick, however, to dismiss that association, remembering the men simply as “hitchhikers I picked up,” adding, “We were going to Butte, I think.”

Mr. Frank referred several times to the lessons he gained from just such opportune moments: “to find your way by intuition, not by intelligence, but intuition.”

Feature - Lou Mora

Lou Mora is a portrait and lifestyle photographer based here in So. Cal. I'd like to feature a project from the personal section of his website in which he uses a simple, but beautiful technique. Kudos to whoever can guess how he achieves this.

Hint: It's not Photoshop.

Holly Andres at DNJ Gallery

The Lost Mitten. © Holly Andres

Holly Andres's fairy tale-esque adolescent female tableaus promise to be compose one of the better shows in LA this season. The official opening will be on January 17th, but the works will be on view starting this Saturday at DNJ Gallery.

Conversation and Booksigning with Catherine Opie and Lari Pittman

I you can roll out of bed by noon tomorrow, MOCA is hosting a conversation between these two artists to celebrate the release of their new books. If you are curious as to how shooting shocking things might get you a spot in the Whitney Biennial, this one's for you.

source

Saturday: Open Group Show curated by David Pagel

David Pagel, art critic for the L.A. Times curates an Open Group show with work chosen from an open call for submissions on view at Gallery 825 from December 13th through January 16th under the umbrella of the Los Angeles Art Association.

Opening reception Saturday night, December 13 from 6-9pm.

Opening Tomorrow - Tim Barber Curated "TV Books"

Tim Barber of Tiny Vices fame and champion of the snapshot aesthetic curates "TV Books Exhibition and Catalog Viewing" at Space 15Twenty. Opening reception (PBR's anyone?) tomorrow, Friday the 12th from 6-9pm.

The Gallery Space @ 15Twenty
1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028

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The Ten Most Expensive Photos of All Time

This is not my post, but I thought it an interesting one to link to.

The Ten Most Expensive Photographs of All Time.

The death of the newspaper still photographer

Vincent Laforet's talk last night at APA-LA was quite interesting. It's always nice to hear the stories behind shots first hand.

I thought I'd share something he spoke about last night that honestly, left a bad taste in my mouth. He said that with the advent of HD video capabilities, he couldn't see anyone in the future who shoots for newspapers shooting still images. It just doesn't make sense when you are there to cover an event and need to get the shot and you can now shoot HD video that allows you to pull any frame at 72 dpi and 2000 pixels wide, which is plenty of quality for online or newsprint. The exception, he said, would be sports photographers.

Sad.

Photographer Quote of the Week

Copyright Torbjørn Rødland

From an excellent interview on Shane Lavalette's blog

Torbjørn Rødland:

I accept that my imagination is limited: I cannot design a chair, but show me ten and I know which one is right for me. I suspect this is a typical photographer’s handicap.

USC Avance Photography Exhibition - Opening Sat., 7-10pm

The kids...are coming up from behind. I'm curious to see what's "broken" about their view.

@ Five Thirty Three
533 S. Los Angeles St.
7-10pm

New Community (let's hope...) - Too Much Chocolate

Jake Stangel has launched a new hub for all of us emerging photographers to get to know one another, give and ask for advice, or just vent when necessary. Hopefully, the discussion forum section of Too Much Chocolate will catch on and be a valuable virtual zone for all of us. Also included on the site will be interviews with gatekeepers who's take on things I'm sure we're curious about and a rotating curatorial "tag you're it" gallery feauturing an emerging photographer's work each week. I encourage you to go sign up.

Copyright Sam Abell

Longtime (1967) National Geographic shooter, Sam Abell will be speaking at A&I Thursday from 7:30 - 9pm. The event is put on by Julia Dean Workshops and will be followed by a booksigning.

PDF here.

Also, an interesting interview with PDN over having one of his photographs stolen appropriated by Richard Prince here.

Vincent Laforet plus happy hour = don't miss

© Vincent Laforet

I'd advise buying your ticket soon. I'm very curious to hear him speak after following his Olympics coverage on the Time blog.

If you are curious about what the new 5D MKII's HD video capabilities are, you should watch his short film.

APA/LA Holiday Happy Hour with Guest Speaker Vincent Laforet
Tuesday December 9, 2008
5:00pm - 7:00pm Happy Hour
7:00pm - 9:00pm Speaker
Helms DayLight Studio
3221 Hutchison Ave., Los Angeles 90034
*Parking is Located on the North Side of Venice Ave and Helms

Sat. - Opening recpeption, William Hundley @ Kinsey/DesForges

Opening reception for total weirdo (in the best possible sense; witness his flickr stream...) William Hundley's show entitled DRACO at Kinsey/DesForges in Culver City, which showcases his floating fabric forms.

I bet Rachel Hullin will wish she could be here for this one.

Saturday, 6pm

On view through Dec 20

Reminder - Matthew Barney this eve at LACMA

Friendly reminder of my earlier post on the Cremaster 3 screening this evening at LACMA. I'd recommend getting there a bit early in case. Not one to miss.

Christmas Gift Idea

A coworker just sent these to me. Seems like the perfect photograhy Christmas gift (if you can't afford to get someone the 5D MKII, that is).

You can get them here.

Excellent marketing with the polaroid frames...

The Fashion Photography Blog

I came across L.A.-based photographer, Melissa Rodwell's fashion photography blog this evening. She doesn't have a ton of posts under her belt but those she has written make me think this one will be very promising and a great resource for anyone interested in photography in general and especially those looking to really get a grasp on how the fashion photography industry operates in Los Angeles and elsewhere.

It's great to see someone giving back in this way and who is unafraid to share knowledge.

The Searchers, Sasha Bezzubov & Jessica Sucher @ Taylor de Cordoba

From the press release:

The Searchers is a series of large-scale photographs examining Western spiritual tourism in India.

(How very L.A.)

With The Searchers, the artists build on themes explored in their previous bodies of work, specifically Expats and Natives (Bezzubov and Sucher) and The Gringo Project (Bezzubov). These previous projects center around young Western travelers exploring developing countries and how the relationship to one’s host country relates to larger issues of race, class, and identity.

As a former expat myself, I'm curious. I'm also curious to see how two photographers make one photo. Does one focus and the other press the shutter?

November 1 – December 20, 2008

OPENING RECEPTION : Saturday November 1, 2008, 6pm - 8pm @ Taylor de Cordoba

PS. This is a perfect example of a gallery being careless and publishing too big of an image online. That second one would make for a nice wallpaper. I'm just saying...

Matthew Barney viewing at LACMA Thursday!!!

Alright so I am excited about this one, as I've been waiting since 2003, when I saw Cremaster 4 in NYC for another of his works to be shown in a city I'm in and this is the first time that has occurred. Don't miss this chance to catch these visually stunning pieces on Thursday (for free!).

View the trailer.

From LACMA:

Film Screening: Two Videos by Matthew Barney Thursday, November 20 7:30 pm

Cremaster 4 (1994) and Drawing Restraint 10 (2005) both demonstrate Matthew Barney's career-long interest in incorporating the materials and imagery of sports into his practice as an artist. This film screening is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Contemporary Projects 11: Hard Targets -Masculinity and Sport on view through January 18, 2009.Bing Theater Free, no reservations

Feature - Amanda Friedman

L.A. based photographer Amanda Friedman shoots beautiful night landscapes and has managed to turn her crative eye into editorial success also. I'll be interviewing her in the coming weeks to see what insight she has for us all.

Talk - A Picture You Already Know at LACMA.

Tomorrow (Thursday):

This debate explores the often unspoken issue of repetition (of visual forms and subject matter) in contemporary photography. Charlotte Cotton, curator and head of the Department of Photography, will discuss with Amy Adler, Alex Slade and Penelope Umbrico the conscious and unconscious ways in which individual photographers deal with repetition.

Free; tickets required. Brown Auditorium. 7 p.m.

I'll be there to try to challenge my view that repitition is often a cheap trick the art world loves to fall for. Damn those Bechers.

Smashbox Face Off - Thursday. RSVP now!

Thursday is the opening night for the Smashbox Studios annual Face Off show from, 8pm to midnight. You must rsvp today in order to attend. I'll be there and would be happy to meet any one else who is going.

rsvp@smashboxstudios.com

Congrats to Ryan Schude, who will be in the show with this beast of an image:

Vanity Fair Portraits at LACMA

Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008 opened yesterday at LACMA. This exhibition showcases decades of celebrity portraiture. Most of the prints are quite small and Liebowitz is represented up the wazoo but this is one to see, especially considering the museum is free after 5pm. I do wish, however, that the placards spoke a bit more about the photographers instead of their focus on the celebrities, but this is celebrity obsessed LA after all and I guess the curators knew this would be a big draw. My favorite image of the show is this one of Julianne Moore, which is printed big and lucious.

Spooky Show at DRKRM gallery

In the spirit of Halloween, DRKRM Gallery is showing Seeing Things: Ghost Polaroids.

Opening reception Saturday October 25, 7pm -midnight

Two residents of an old house in the hills of Los Angeles began receiving ghostly messages in Polaroid photographs. The pair started taking photos inside the house in the hope of obtaining a picture of the entity they believed haunted the house.

After first capturing a ghostly image on film, the men discovered that if they asked questions about the entity and why it was inhabiting their house, words and messages appeared in response on their film. So far, more than 1000 photos have captured messages – photos taken not only by the residents but by paranormal researchers and other outsiders. A photographic expert at Polaroid has no explanation for the messages. An expert at California’s Brooks Institute of Photography can suggest an explanation, but it requires a lengthy set up process and hours of lab work.The ghost or spirit calls himself “WRIGHT”. He shows signs of erudition and intelligence, writing many of his messages in Latin.

The ghost first appeared on film in March 1992 after one of the residents kept hearing unexplained noises throughout the house. After a door opened mysteriously, he took a series of photos, several of which revealed a classic ghost-like shape, including dark shadows at the eyes and mouth. The messages began to appear on film in June 1992. The first was in response to a friend’s question about the ghost, “Is he here now?” The photo revealed a barely discernible “yes” in cloudy white shapes. After that, the writing became far more legible.

Calls for Entry

The Center for Fine Art Photography is currently holding two calls for entry, one jurored by Paula Tognarelli, Executive Director and Curator of the Griffin Museum of Photography and the other by Susan A. Zadeh, editor in chief and artistic director of EYEMAZING.

Carleton Watkins at the Getty

Dialog Among Giants, Carleton Watkins and the Rise of Photography in California is on view at the Getty through March 1, with 151 works by this pioneer of western landscape photography. Ansel Adams and Edward Weston learned much from Watkins. You can too.

A very nice write up by the Times can be found here.

Resource Magazine comes out west

Resource Magazine, which was previously dedicated to the photo industry in New York has gone national with their 4th issue, which you can pick up at Barnes & Noble here in LA. From what I gather, this is one to grab (or at least read in the store...I know you like sitting on that comfy B&N carpet).



Thanks, Eric

Melvin Sokolsky - How He Sees Things

In conjunction with his show at Fahey Klein, Melvin Sokolsky will be giving a talk sponsored by ASMP on October 20th. Anyone interested in Fashion or advertising photography should make a point to catch this one by one of the greats.

Contest - Deadline!

The deadline for this contest is Friday so get your acts together. The Los Angeles Art Association has put this call for entries for an open show together so if you live in Southern California and want to have your work seen by the LA Times art critic, David Pagel, jump to it.

Show - Jehad Nga, My Shadow My Opponent at M+B

Jehad Nga'a beautifully dark series about boxing in Kenya is currently on view at M+B gallery through the 18th.

Jehad Nga, Untitled No. 1821

Weekend Happenings

Fahey / Klein gallery is showing Melvin Sokolsky and Horst P Horst through tomorrow only so if you are into artistic fashion photography, head on over before it gets taken down.

Also this weekend, aside from the NELAarts walk in Huntington Park I posted about, there is another art walk, er, shuttled art night happening tonight as part of PasadenART Weekend .

Thanks to la.photo.assistant for the heads up.



Melvin Sokolsky, Parker Train 1962

Feature - Joshua Stearns

Joshua Stearns recently made the move to LA via Hawaii and previously San Francisco and shoots a lot of editorial. I've long been a fan of his portraiture can't stop coming back to this first image.

Tonight: Downtown Art Walk and Snap to Grid

If you've never been to the downtown artwalk, I recommend a trip to our odd central business district. It's the only night you can get that Manhattan vibe in LA, with the streets coming alive and cheap wine flowing. The art's not bad either.

Of interest tonight is the 5th annual Snap to Grid, put on by the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art. Test your eye and curating abilities at this un-juried photo-heavy show.

Feature - Laura Domela

So I thought this might be a bit of a stretch but technically, Portland is on the west coast. Even farther up the coast lies Alaska, where Laura Domela's new project, "Everyone My Brother Knows in Girdwood, Alaska" was shot.

If you are curious as to just exactly who Sarah Palin is governing up there, check it out and be sure to take a look at the landscape and arial sections of Laura's site, which are quite stunning.

NELAart - Artwalk on Saturday

For those of you looking for something to do this weekend, NELAart is having an evening artwalk in the Highland Park area. I'll be heading over to check it out and to catch the Aaron Hobson show at Drkrm I previously posted about. Shoot me an email if you want to meet up.

From NELAart's website:

NELAart is based in Highland Park and consists of galleries and art organizations located in Northeast Los Angeles who are dedicated to increase the visibility of the thriving arts community in the area. Northeast Los Angeles has a long tradition in the arts. Many working artists now continue this tradition by making their homes and having their studios here. The neighborhood is also home to many galleries, alternative arts spaces and arts organizations. NELAart provides a resource to share information and ideas, and assist in promoting galleries and organizations. Please join us in celebrating the arts in Northeast Los Angeles.

Summary - Art Center talk

Rob Haggart summarizes his talk with Heidi Volpe last week at Art Center for those of you who couldn't make it out.

Show - Aaron Hobson

Aaron Hobson's detailed cinema inspired prints are on view at DRKRM Gallery through the 25th of October. Show info here.

Hobson's Cinemascapes was nominated for Best Fine Art series at the inaugural NYC Photo Festival and, most recently, was awarded Honorable mention in Fine Art as well as in the Deeper Perspectives category for the same work at the International Photography Awards (IPA Lucie Awards).

Check out the site to see the winners but be warned. You'll be there a while.

Charlotte Cotton Interviews Phillip-Lorca diCorcia

I just found this excellent interview on a post about the show on Ofer Wolberger's blog (His work is definitely worth checking out also).

Enjoy.

Show - Vernon Collection at LACMA

“Almost everything appealed to us,” Vernon said. “Except that we were not interested in the work of a photographer who could see nothing beautiful in the world.”

Imogen Cunningham (United States, 1883-1976), Magnolia Blossom, 1925

The amazing private collection of Marjorie and Leonard Vernon was collected in Los Angeles and will remain here as part of a new acquisition by LACMA (full disclosure, I work there) and I believe will be the second show organized by LACMA's new curator by way of DIA, Charlotte Cotton. If you missed her last effort, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, shame shame. Works by Weston, Steichen, Strand, and Adams, among others, will be on display.

Now, the Vanity Fair Portrait show is coming up at the end of the month so you could wait a bit and see them both together, or you could come twice, especially if you've not yet visited the newly opened BCAM.

The show opens October 5th and will run through February 1st.

LACMA is free after 5pm every day and all day on Columbus Day, Oct. 13. Closed on Wednesdays.

Quote of the Week

From the book, Image Makers, Image Takers by Anne-Celine Jaeger.

Martin Parr: “You usually have a hunch, but the great thing about photography is that it’s so unpredictable, so you never quite understand how and when a good photograph comes about.

But when editing, I do contact sheets, then machine prints and then select from that.”

And when asked what makes one image stand out more than another, is it emotional or an intellectual reaction he answers: “It must be intuitive. If it were intellectual, I’d be able to explain what happens. That’s why I’m a photographer. I express myself visually, not verbally.”

And yet still the art world demands written statements...

(Found on this great post on editing.)

Feature - Jay Reilly

So again, my primary interest is in fine art photography but I of course have an interest in commercial work and want this blog to cover LA (and CA...more on this in a bit) photography and so I'll be featuring all types of photographers. If you'd like to be considered, please send me a link to your work. I can't promise anything, but all work will be considered.

Jay Reilly is a commercial/editorial photographer based in Oceanside (I would like to be oceanside right now) and has a great blog for photographers interested in editorial that has the chuckle-inducing title, My Camera is Bigger than Yours

Jay has shot for Nike, Sony, Hyatt, and Conde Nast among others, so head over to his blog for insight. His most recent post is an interview with a MUA, for example, which I think will be of interest to many of you. He also includes lots of useful shooting tips and it is great to see a photographer who is unafraid to share so take advantage. Don't forget to check out his site for some really great lifestyle work. His colors pop.

Gallery Role Call

Photo by Thorir Vidar

I've tried to put together a list of photography focused galleries in CA. My main source was the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) and tried to include only those you can actually go see without having lot's a spare cash overflowing your pockets. Remember, I'm a newbie here so please let me know if I've missed any and I'll include them with these down on the right under gallery links. I hope there are more, especially ones specializing in contemporary...

Los Angeles

Stephen Cohen

David Gallery

Michael Dawson

Fahey/Klein

Peter Fetterman

Paul Kopeikin

Rose Gallery

Photographers Gallery

DRKRM

Bay Area

J.J. Brookings

Fraenkel

Robert Koch

Scott Nichols

Silverman Gallery

Weston Gallery

San Diego

Joseph Bellows