What a great way to start August off (and 4 weddings in a row this month) with Melissa + Ryan getting hitched at The Allan House last Saturday. It was an inspiring couple, a beautiful day, and a whole lot of visual interest. See the slideshow below or click here for a larger version.
Daylight Magazine produced a great tribute and informative video on the life and legacy of photojournalist Helen Levitt:
Earlier in the month, there was an inspiring day of events with Mary Ellen Mark in Austin.
The new Austin Center of Photography brought Mark to town for their Icons of Photography lecture series (to be followed by Alec Soth in June).
The more interactive and introspective event was the Texas Monthly Talks interview I sat in on at the KLRU studios.
Mary Ellen repeatedly lamented on the current state of publications–how much of her work wouldn’t be possible for photographers to get assigned to today (such as essentially being granted by a magazine to cover prostitutes in Bombay for 3 months). She’s disappointed that magazines very rarely publish lasting images, reminiscing on Life magazine publishing W. Eugene Smith and Robert Capa images regularly. She believes most of today’s magazines aren’t interested in reality, they are interested in commercial illustrations, and are underestimating their audience. It was insightful hearing her articulate the difference between reality based reportage photography and illustrative photography. To stay faithful to reality, Mark often uses a Polaroid 20×24 camera with 2 assistants (since it weighs 235 pounds).
Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy: Los Angeles, Califorinia, USA 1978
ok, time to catch up on the many months of silence.
prepare yourself for a plethora of updates in the next day or so.
A great couple and a great location at the new Design Center of Austin.
Thanks to Katie Hayes for the support and some beautiful 2nd photographer imagery.
local jewelry designer, anne kiel, has also been keeping me well employed with new product and portrait photography for her latest line of silver jewelry. i was also recently recruited to design a fresh and clean new website for her.. check it at: www.annekiel.com
with inspiration from some of the great photojournalists we’ve been studying in the masters program, i’ve invested in some nice fixed lenses by canon. as opposed to zoom lenses, i have less flexibility in changing the composition in one location; but i gain a consistent view, an expected result, and tack-sharp images with a beautiful bokeh.
here is a recent shot on the college abroad assignment with my standard 50mm on f/1.2
and here’s one with my fixed wide angle 24mm on f/1.4
The final installment in this person-at-work series is Teather, who I spotted while driving across south Austin. She was amazingly friendly and genuine in spite of the fact that she was working as an advertisement.
Teather Pangarakis works as a human billboard for Liberty Tax Services. As a deaf woman, she mouthed to me with a smile, “My job sucks.”
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I recently launched a new site: photoprogress.org
It’s been a fun side project of mine for two weeks now–it serves as a daily blog, community, and forum for professional photographers.
It’s updated daily with portfolio samples, news, articles, videos, and anything else relevant to the professional photo world.
Have a look, register, and subscribe if you like it.
apologies for the long stint of being incommunicado.
i had some sudden extreme stomach pain early this week and found out in the emergency room that i had an inflamed appendix that needed to be removed. it was a very smooth and harmonious experience. i was out of the hospital in less than 24 hours and am now recovering for two weeks.
i’m enjoying finally having time to read again–currently working on paul krugman’s conscience of a liberal, and re-reading mary baker eddy’s miscellaneous writings.
it’s refreshing to have some time before the holidays for some meditative and introspective thought.
i’m blessed and grateful for the love and support of my family and friends.
