Some inspiration

I am heading out of town for a few days and will be taking a break from the blog. With all the carry on in the comments over at APE the last couple of days I thought I would try and leave a little inspiration in my wake.

If you get a chance to down tools go see Glass a portrait of Philip in 12 parts a magical documentary made to celebrate the famed composers 70th birthday. I saw it this past weekend and I have to say it offered a most compellingly revealing view into the inner workings of this most prolific of people. His daily accomplishments alone put most of us to shame; what this man gets done and what he has achieved is truly mind boggling. It's inspirational and yet totally overwhelming; makes you wonder about your own contribution to your art, to humanity and what sacrifices may have to be made along the road.

And if this documentary isn't playing at a theater near you and you have never witnessed any of the Qatsi trilogy (which Philip scored) Koyannisqatsi: Life out of balance, Powaqqatsi: Life in transformation and Naqoyqatsi: Life as war treat your self to Netflix you may never view your own work the same again. I am forever grateful to my father, I have a lasting memory of him making us watch Koyaanisqatsi as kids, my initial reluctance quickly sudsided and I remember being in total awe of its visual power. Thanks Dad I will always be indebted, the experience has had a lasting effect.

Clap your hands for Ovation

Big up to cable network Ovation TV for bringing us 'Framed' a special week long photography event starting tonight, channel 83 here in Manhattan, check your local provider elsewhere.

There is some interesting programming in the mix but the highlight is undoubtedly the airing of the critically acclaimed BBC 4 series 'The Genius of Photography' which is still showing in the UK. The six part series will be shown in its entirety over two nights starting Monday @ 8.00pm est. This is a real treat because sometimes we are time lagged here in the US and access to such a gem can be much delayed.

Please find some sneak peeks below, hopefully this won't cause any further difficulties with the blog as it seems to have been crashing a bit recently when using Firefox. Let me know if anyone is experiencing such joys.

Another fine Hetherington

Well as it turns out I am not the only photographer Hetherington. I am aware of at least two more (un-related) and am really bummed that I will not be able to meet one of them this coming weekend as an assignment takes me out of town.

The Alice Austen House Museum on Staten Island is hosting a reception for Tim Hetherington to coincide with his 'No Condition Is Permanent: Photographs From Liberia 2003 - 2007' show this Sunday September the 30th from 1:00pm till 9:00pm. The show which is currently up at the museum will be running through December 30. This will be followed at 5:30pm by a special showing of his documentary 'Liberia: An Uncivil War' at the historic St.George Theatre.

Tim Hetherington's raw, emotional, sometimes beautiful photographs force us to pay attention to Liberia, a nation often portrayed as being in a state of mindless chaos. By documenting the fall of Charles Taylor in 2003, the election of Ellen Johnson in late 2005, and the early work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Hetherington attempts to inflict some order to conflicting events. By capturing personal lives, irrevocably changed by war, he insists we care. But he does not try to explain; instead his images ask the question of how democracy can take hold in a country ravaged by violence.

Tim was born in 1970 just a short ferry ride from me across the Irish sea in Liverpool. Heres hoping hes not a Toffee. But more seriously I have come upon his thought provoking work many times. He is a truly gifted story teller whos work has won him numerous awards and accolades. Tim is based in West Africa and as well as documenting many of the continents struggles he has found the time to run photography workshops for young semi-professional African photographers; providing them an opportunity to enhance existing skills while also helping develop visual literacy as manifested in photojournalism and documentary practice.

Testino revealing Testino

Keeping up with the this weeks fashion beat; courtesy of CNN go here to see and here to read about the inner workings of one of the worlds top fashion shooters, Mario Testino as he reveals himself. Its all terribly glamorous, just the way you imagine it should be, travel, fashion shows, go-sees, supermodels, top designers, studios, sets, royalty and he doesn't even seem to break a sweat as he traverses the globe mixing commerce and art or should that be art and commerce. Watch him and his team go through the motions from concept to execution on a Versace campaign. Will he use models or celebrities or both, how about a celebrity guest starring with models ? Genius ! I won't spoil the ending so plug in and stay tuned as one segment rolls into another and this is in turn followed by the final climactic third act, watch the video and you will know what I mean.

Contender for book of the year 2007 # 5

Although it was published in 2006 I have finally just got my hands on a copy of Tierney Gearons 'Daddy, where are you ?' published by SteidlDangin (Dangin being Pascal Dangin ace retoucher to the stars and founder of Box Ltd). Although technically not a 2007 release it is new for me and I think an appropriate inclusion.

Having recently seen the documentary 'The Mother Project' go here, here and here it is a real joy to see the pictures in the printed form. I have to say the design, layout and printing, no doubt as a result of Monsieur Dangins involvement, are exceptional. The pictures are beautiful and revealing, disturbing and manipulative, staged and spontaneous, sad and joyous. Tierney is tackling some tricky personal issues with this work and may be seen by some to be exploiting her mother and her physical/mental condition but there is no denying some of the shots are priceless. 5b4 has an extensive review here.

If you missed the documentary on the telly it is being released on DVD by Zeitgeist Films in September. I saw it and was totally enthralled, it is a magical companion piece to the book. Go on treat yourself.

Reminder

Photo © Tierney Gearon

'The Mother Project' a documentary on photographer Tierney Gearon gets another showing tonight at 6:15pm on the Sundance Channel.

Mommy dearest

Photos © Tierney Gearon

I am sorry to say that I only caught the last 20 minutes of the documentary 'The Mother Project' on photographer Tierney Gearon which had its TV premiere on the Sundance Channel last night.

Gearon is one of my favorite photographers with her editorial and personal work equally compelling. You may remember that her photographs of her young children caused quite a scandal in the UK when they were exhibited @ the Saatchi Gallery a couple of years back. The London police demanded that the photographs be removed and the Brit tabloids whipped the whole thing into a frenzy. Common sense prevailed in the end and no charges were ever filed.

The film documents Tierney over the course of 3 years as she assembles her new body of work. This time she turn the camera on her mother who lives alone in a small town in upstate New York.

'Their relationship is complicated - her mother has suffered from mental illness for much of her adult life. Throughout the process of making these photographs, Tierney has struggled to understand how her mother lives now, as well as coming to grips with how her illness affected Tierney as a young girl. By extension the process of taking the photographs also reflects Tierneys struggle to be a good parent to her own children. Tierney describes her pictures as a form of therapy - a means of healing herself. the truth is never what it seems in Tierneys world, however; the erie tableaus at the heart of her work always hide a deeper meaning just beyond the edges of the photographs.'

The film is scheduled to be re-broadcast on the Sundance Channel on Monday May 21st @ 6.15pm and I urge everyone to make the time or set the Tivo. The little I saw was truly captivating and utterly revealing of a photographer, her art, her process, her person.

Pelicula 64 managed to catch it in its entirety, you can read his thoughts here.

The picture above is one of my favorite Gearon portraits, its actress Diane Keaton for the New Tork Times magazine, it ran sometime last year.

Things to do . . . . go to the films

The Film Forum in New York has an interesting double bill kicking off this Wednesday May 9 and running for two weeks through May 22. The program is made up of two documentaries 'Looking For An Icon' an examination of four iconic press images (above), and 'The Day You'll Love Me' a deconstruction of Freddy Alborta's picture of Che Guevara's cadaver (below) and how it has contributed to Che's myth.

For more info and show times go here.