this is crazy - two french photo students submitted their photo essay to a french newspaper contest and won. when they went to collect the prize, they announced that the whole thing was staged, and they had completely fooled the judges. the photographers said, "they had wanted to make a 'powerful artistic gesture' attacking the 'voyeurism' and gullibility of parts of the press."
check it out.
the images are beautiful - the texture and emotion combined make a great photo, but as my good friend and fellow photog marisa just pointed out to me, "the only way you know any image is not staged is if the artist tells you so the only point they're making is artists lie... people make staged essays that convey emotions too."
if the purpose was to fool the audience, they should've just taken the prize. what do you think?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Tennis pro portraits
I really enjoyed these portraits of tennis pros in Life's online magazine. Technically speaking, they aren't the best - I'm not a fan of the lighting and it comes off as slightly student-ish rather than pro photos I would expect to see in Life. However, I do like the energy and goofy behaviour of the subjects. Courtside, we see them as very focused and strong and professional and it's fun to see a lighter side of them off-court. It also goes to show how important the relationship is between the photographer and subject - in these images, the viewer can see the sense of comradery and collaboration - and trust - through the playful demeanor of the subject.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Cutest cameras ever!
My sister just sent me links to the cutest cameras ever!
The Fuji Instax Mini 7S takes credit card sized polaroid photographs and requires specialized film for this camera and it looks like it's only available in Japan?
The other is the Demekin Pocket Fisheye Camera which looks like a 1960s underwater device (It's not. Unless you put it in a water-tight casing). It costs Aussie$65 and also requires a film that is relatively obscure these days.
The Fuji Instax Mini 7S takes credit card sized polaroid photographs and requires specialized film for this camera and it looks like it's only available in Japan?
The other is the Demekin Pocket Fisheye Camera which looks like a 1960s underwater device (It's not. Unless you put it in a water-tight casing). It costs Aussie$65 and also requires a film that is relatively obscure these days.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Busy month
Wow - I didn't even realise it's been more than a month since my last posting. Whoops. Busy bee. Here's what I've been up to:
1) Artomatic
I'm one of the two Steering Committee co-chairs (in other words, executive planning committee) for this year's event. We've got about 1100 visual artists and probably a good 500 or so performing artists participating in this year's 5 week event. It's been like having a second full-time job (and my paying job is very demanding) and I admit that it's been a balancing act, and one that has been challenging to manage at times.
I've learned a ton about arts events planning and management, artist management, working with arts organization executive leadership... from logistics to marketing to security to public art... These are experiences and lessons I'll absolutely carry with me for a long time.
I'm excited to be showing some new photographs (I have 8 in mind, but most likely will be showing 4 or 5) and hope to have a really cool looking exhibit. Check it out on the 7th floor!
2) artdc.org's 12' x 12' show
At the last minute I felt that I should participate in this quirky local exhibit. All artists could buy a foot of space in which to hang their artwork, which couldn't be any larger than 12' x 12'. I admit that I was in a bit of a panic, trying to find existing prints to exhibit, and then figure out how to frame them. I ended up buying Ikea frames that were 3" too small (did I mention I'm horrible with numbers), and then at the ring of the buzzer, got some discounted frames at Plaza Arts, who were really nice and totally hooked me up. I'm hanging two black and white prints that were made back in 2002, and are the first set of photos I took with my medium-format camera.
The show is up until June 6, and the main opening is on May 16 in conjunction with Hyattsville Arts Festival.
3) First gallery rejection
I'm usually very thin-skinned to the point where I don't always share my photographs even with my friends but earlier this year I submitted an RFP to Flashpoint Gallery in DC. I did it for the experience, I even went to the workshop, and of course hoped that my project would be accepted by the judging panel. Eh. Didn't quite pan out. I'm not really upset which was surprising. What I was surprised by was that my project revolved around DC's creative community, and Flashpoint's mission - and it's panel of locally based arts people (I'm not going to call them arts professionals because I have some reservations about some of their qualifications)I'll probably contact the gallery director to get feedback on my proposal, and I'm still going to pursue the project and see how it turns out.
On a related note, my favorite saying at the moment is quoted one by Steve Lazarides during an interview with The Art Newspaper:
1) Artomatic
I'm one of the two Steering Committee co-chairs (in other words, executive planning committee) for this year's event. We've got about 1100 visual artists and probably a good 500 or so performing artists participating in this year's 5 week event. It's been like having a second full-time job (and my paying job is very demanding) and I admit that it's been a balancing act, and one that has been challenging to manage at times.
I've learned a ton about arts events planning and management, artist management, working with arts organization executive leadership... from logistics to marketing to security to public art... These are experiences and lessons I'll absolutely carry with me for a long time.
I'm excited to be showing some new photographs (I have 8 in mind, but most likely will be showing 4 or 5) and hope to have a really cool looking exhibit. Check it out on the 7th floor!
2) artdc.org's 12' x 12' show
At the last minute I felt that I should participate in this quirky local exhibit. All artists could buy a foot of space in which to hang their artwork, which couldn't be any larger than 12' x 12'. I admit that I was in a bit of a panic, trying to find existing prints to exhibit, and then figure out how to frame them. I ended up buying Ikea frames that were 3" too small (did I mention I'm horrible with numbers), and then at the ring of the buzzer, got some discounted frames at Plaza Arts, who were really nice and totally hooked me up. I'm hanging two black and white prints that were made back in 2002, and are the first set of photos I took with my medium-format camera.
The show is up until June 6, and the main opening is on May 16 in conjunction with Hyattsville Arts Festival.
3) First gallery rejection
I'm usually very thin-skinned to the point where I don't always share my photographs even with my friends but earlier this year I submitted an RFP to Flashpoint Gallery in DC. I did it for the experience, I even went to the workshop, and of course hoped that my project would be accepted by the judging panel. Eh. Didn't quite pan out. I'm not really upset which was surprising. What I was surprised by was that my project revolved around DC's creative community, and Flashpoint's mission - and it's panel of locally based arts people (I'm not going to call them arts professionals because I have some reservations about some of their qualifications)I'll probably contact the gallery director to get feedback on my proposal, and I'm still going to pursue the project and see how it turns out.
On a related note, my favorite saying at the moment is quoted one by Steve Lazarides during an interview with The Art Newspaper:
It’s hard to know who the tastemakers are. Is it three people sitting in a room deciding what’s going to last a long time or is it the five million who go and look at a video online?
Friday, April 3, 2009
bananas = cleared debt?
This is so ridiculous and funny that I had to share... Tony Mendoza, faculty member of Ohio State University's MFA program, sent a contact strip of himself in response to creditor/debt collection letters. Consequently, Mendoza never heard from them again.
His series, Stories, is good fun. Particularly #11. Check it out here.
Image © Tony Mendoza
Monday, March 30, 2009
picturing the recession
The New York Times requests your deep and dirty photos of how the recession is affecting us folks. You can check it out here.
Just know that NYT reserves the right to "..use your submission in all manner and media of NYTimes.com and that we shall have the right to authorize third parties to do so".
Just know that NYT reserves the right to "..use your submission in all manner and media of NYTimes.com and that we shall have the right to authorize third parties to do so".
Thursday, March 26, 2009
quote of the day
quote of the day
take that, republican haters.
source:
The Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help the arts, but more is still needed
By Robert Lynch
Posted online: 18.3.09 | From Issue 200 (March 2009)
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/article.asp?id=17094
“governments which support the arts on average see a return on investment of $7 in taxes for every $1 that the government appropriates.”
take that, republican haters.
source:
The Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help the arts, but more is still needed
By Robert Lynch
Posted online: 18.3.09 | From Issue 200 (March 2009)
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/article.asp?id=17094
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