Photographer: Glen E. Friedman
GLEN E. FRIEDMAN’s FUCK YOU ALL show in San Francisco, with special guest Shepard Fairey from Burning Flags Press on Vimeo.
When I first got into photography I was inspired by two things. Punk rock and skateboarding. I quickly realized that the person who was taking some of my favorite photos of both was Glen E. Friedman. He’s one of my early influences and someone who I really respect.
Nikon D7000 first impressions
I’ve been considering updating my current DSLR so the weekend before last I rented the Nikon D7000 with the 24mm from Penn Camera to take it for a little test drive. I didn’t really intend to write a review of it, so I wasn’t taking careful notes and I only had it for two days. In general I was very impressed. The shutter seems much quieter than my D80 and the exposures seem way better. My D80 often over exposes scenes in my opinion. I’m often in low light situations, so finding a digital camera I can use with a fast lens and a high ISO has been my Holy Grail. I took a few images in a dark bar with the lens wide open (2.8) and the ISO set to 3200. They came out pretty well, definitely less noise than the D80.
I also wanted to try the video capabilities. I shot video once with a Canon 5D at work, but only in passing so I didn’t have much to compare it to. That being said, it was really easy to use and footage I took with it was nice. The only thing holding me back from getting this camera now is my impending wedding. I already promised no new toys until after. I’m thinking of registering at B&H Photo at this point.
“If it smells like the street…”
Bruce Gilden “Head On”, presented by British Journal of Photography from Olivier Laurent on Vimeo.
I’ve never really been much of a fan of Bruce Gilden. The way he works kind of turns me off, getting up in people’s personal space and popping a flash in their face. He does make some good work though and it’s probably my own inability to do what he does that makes me not like it. Anyway, I came across this the other day and it made me re-think him a little. I totally agree with most of what he says about being a photographer and pushing through those times when you think everything you do sucks and how you only make a few really great pictures. The interaction with the woman he photographed in front of the shop is actually very sweet.
Stolen Dennis Hopper Polaroid
Dennis Hopper, Original Polaroid by Jason Lee
Last Friday art collective THIS had an opening for a new show. During the opening a one-of-a-kind Polaroid of Dennis Hopper taken by Jason Lee was stolen off the wall. Lee is offering a $25,000 reward for it’s return so you have any info call THIS Los Angeles at (323) 747-5301 or e-mail this@thislosangeles.com. This is a real shame and I’m sure this photo has an enormous amount of personal value to Jason. Probably more than it’s monetary worth. I hope it gets returned soon.
Cameras are Tools…Really Pretty Tools
Henri Cartier-Bresson's first Leica. Photo via Flickr
Garry Winogrand's Leica M4. Photo via www.cameraquest.com
Elliot Erwitt's Black Leica M3. Photo via Eyenn/Flickr
We all know that a camera is a tool and don’t make the photographer. It’s all about how someone sees and chooses what to take a picture of. Still, it’s interesting to see the camera used by photographers you admire. What I like especially about these is that they clearly were used and treated as tools not delicate collectors pieces. I’d love to see more examples like these. If anyone has seen any let me know.
Women Street Photographers
Vivian Maier
Recently, I gave a presentation to my co-workers as part of a continuing series of talks about art, design and what interests and inspires us. Mine was on photography of course. It was an overview of what I do as a Photographer/Artist and included some examples of photographers who’s work I am influenced by. As I went through the list of names of the street photographers that I was discussing, it struck me that there were no women. I had included several women in other categories, but none in the street category.
I started to dig through my photo history knowledge. We definitely discussed women photographers starting with the early days of photography to the present in all my photo history classes. Julia Margaret Cameron, Gertrude Käsebier, Margaret Bourke-White, Berenice Abbott, Hilla Becher, Nan Goldin, Dorothea Lange, Annie Leibovitz, Sally Mann, Cindy Sherman, Francesca Woodman, Mary Ellen Mark, Diane Arbus, Lee Miller and Tina Modotti are ones I could think of, but there are many more.
AP and Shepard Fairey Settle Lawsuit
L: Manny Garcia/AP R: Shepard Fairey
The Associated Press and Shepard Fairey have settled their lawsuits regarding Fairey’s usage of an AP photo for his famous Hope piece. Even as a photographer I was a little torn on this issue when I heard about it. Clearly the Hope work is based on the photo, but it has been altered and the medium changed. That would seem to make it fall under fair useage rights. Still if I was Manny Garcia, the photographer, I’d be pretty angry that I wasn’t given credit. Neither side seems to be conceding their point of view, but rather have come to an “agree to disagree ” understanding that no doubt cost someone some cash. I’m wondering it Garcia is actually being compensated in the settlement or if it’s just the AP. He dropped his personal suit a while ago. Read more from the AP and Fairey.
Vivian Maier: Lost Street Photographer
Vivian Maier’s story has been floating around the internet for a couple of months, but has really blown up over the last two weeks. It’s pretty amazing. I’ve been trying to put together a post about women street photographers recently so this came along just in time. More on that later. In the meantime check out the video and look at more of her work here. There is also a Kickstarter project to fund a documentary about her and her work.
RIP: Fujifilm Neopan 1600
- I read a rumor about this a couple of months ago, but this post on Tokyo Camera Style seems to confirm it. Fujifilm is discontinuing Neopan 1600. It filled a nice niche between 400 pushed to 800 and 3200 speed. Alas, it seems that the demand for such a niche was too small for Fujifilm to continue making it. I still have about 4 rolls in my fridge. I’ll be rationing it out carefully.
Photographer: Krisanne Johnson
Krisanne Johnson is a photographer I met through mutual friends a couple of years ago. This image is from her series of photos called “I love you real fast”, which is about women from Swaziland dealing with AIDS. She recently got funding to finish the project from backers on Kickstarter. Check out her site to see more of her work.
