Last nights party . . . . NYPH 08 Vernissage

Jeff Mermelstein

So last night saw the kick off spectaclulare for NYPH 08 that was dubbed Vernissage aka opening at the powerHouse arena. Because of contractual obligations you will have to get yourself on over to foto 8 here (my post should be up in a bit) for a full run down on proceedings from the team.

We were on our best behaviour and didn't badger too many of the stars on hand. Perhaps we were feeling a little shy and overwhelmed but we will put ourselves in as many faces as possible over the next few days much to my therapists chagrin. Any special requests anyone ?

Last minute addition to tonights proceedings

On top of all the official festivities regarding NYPH 08 in Dumbo tonight local gallery Farmani is hosting an opening reception for IPA: Best In Show - Portrait Edition, selections from the International Photography Awards 2004 thru 2007 Best of Show curators featuring work by photographers Paul Elledge, Julia Fullerton-Batton, Nadav Kander, Joyce Tenneson and Lauren Greenfield to name a few.

7.00pm - 9.00pm

Farmani Gallery

111 Front Street, Gallery 212

Last nights party . . . . PDN

We managed to get ourselves to last nights PDN Photo Annual Party (see winners gallery here) thanks to Anthony Georgis who brought us along as his + 1 for the evening, he was even sweet enough to have them make a name badge for me (above). Anthony was in town from Portland Oregon for the event and was a winner in the web section. It was a stellar event with an open bar and buffet; held for the second time at Bowery hotspot Capitale. As always it seemed to be over before it even got going, where does the time go ?

Anthony Georgis


We have to say the highlight of the evening was a chance last minute encounter with Chip Simons, yes the Chip Simons ! Those of you who were enraptured by his tale over on A Photo Editor will be happy to hear that he did make it to New York in one piece after all and is alive and well. Didn't get a chance to ask if he was working yet or not but no worries how about those cool fashions man, way to go Chip !

Chip Simons

There was as always an A-list crowd in attendance, spotted amongst the masses were: photo editors Laurie Kratochvil, Brenda Milis: Mens Health, Chris Ehrmann: Blender, Paul Moakley: Newsweek, Michelle Egizano: Spin, Katy Howe and Erica Beckman: Fortune Small Business, Jennifer Miller, David Carthas: The New York Times Magazine, photo reps Patrick Casey: Marge Casey, Bill Stockland: Stockland Martel, John Kenney: John Kenney &, Laura Reid & Jesi Bevi: Redux Pictures, Christina Cahill and Marcia Kebbon Orchard Represents, Megan Ziegler-Haynes: director of photography Photoshelter, Rachel Hulin: blogger Shoot! The Blog, photographers Lyndon Wade, Jonathan Torgovnik, Chris Mueller, Shannon Fagan, Benjamin Lowy, David S.Holloway, Vincent Laforet, Doug Menuez, Adam Krause, Dean Kaufman, Eric Weeks with wife and muse Stacy Renee Morrison, Shane Lavalette, Chase 'turn that frown upside down' Jarvis, Chris Buck, Russ Quakenbush, Michelle Pedone, gallerists Jen Bekman and Bill Hunt: Hasted Hunt, Darius Himes, Michael Costuros: Founder CCO Livebooks, Allegra Wilde: photo consultant and Eric Miles: director rare books and auctions Photo-eye.

Vincent Laforet

Chase Jarvis

Jonathan Torgovnik

Michelle Pedone

Chris Buck

Shannon Fagan

Eric Weeks

And in case you were wondering about the contents of the canvas tote gift bag ?


1- Photoserve :) pen

1- Nikon torch

3- AAA batteries for torch

1- PDN Photoplus Expo luggage tag

1- Copy Rare Birds by Amanda de Cadanet

1- Copy PDN May 2008 issue

Promotional literature from PDN, Photoshelter, Modernage and Livebooks

Guest blogging

I am excited to announce that I have been asked by the good folk over at Foto 8 to contribute to their daily blog coverage here of the New York Photo Festival. The promise of an access all areas press pass, free gargle and some loot was just too good to pass up.

So with that we will be on the ground in Dumbo for the 5 day duration and will partake in as much of the fun and frivolity as we can handle. Expect my daily report on all the happenings over there at Foto 8 with a little something something over here on the Jackanory. Hopefully we wont be all photod out by the end of this thing, might have to check myself into photo rehab when all is said and done. Anyways don't forget to say hello if you are out and about.

Lets get the party started

Well if you have been living under a rock you might be unaware of the photo fest happening in New York City next week. Yes the big one is finally here the inaugural New York Photo Festival: The Future of Contemporary Photography aka NYPH 08 and it kicks off in Dumbo on Wednesday the 14th and runs through Sunday the 18th.

What can we expect ? Who knows as this is the events first outing but it seems the essential ingredients are all in the pot. I won't bore you with all the details but go here for the schedule. Its not exactly free either so go here for the pricing structure and here to purchase tickets. It looks like $45 should get you into just about everything including the opening party on the 14th so that's not so bad over the 5 days although be sure to check the fine print as some of the events are limited by capacity.

The evenings are going to pretty jammed with happenings, some of which haven't made it on to the main calender. 'Various Photographs' the exhibit curated by Tim Barber of Tiny Vices is also holding an opening reception on the 14th from 7.00pm to 10.00pm at 70 Front Street. Good news is this event is free and open to the public. Expect this to be a mob scene, you have been warned.


I am pleased to say I will have one picture in the festival as part of Portraiture: An Exhibition by Getty Images one of the many satellite shows that will circumvent the main pavilions, full list here. There will be an artists reception on Thursday the 15th at 81 Front Street from 6.00pm - 8.00pm.

Also that evening there will be a giant book signing extravaganza over at the powerHouse arena from 9.00pm - 10.00pm. An hour seems like a ludicrously short amount of time considering the line up: Lili Almog, Roger Ballen, Juliana Beasley, Harry Benson, Kevin Bubriski, Julia Calfee, Vivian Cherry, Livia Corona, Valdir Cruz, Lalla Essaydi, Larry Fink, Brian Finke, Ron Galella, Stephen Gill, Arlene Gottfried, Christopher Griffith, John Gruen, Alice Harris, David Alan Harvey, Henry Horenstein, Ellen Jong, Leora Kahn, Seth Kushner & Anthony LaSala, Christopher LaMarca, Wassink Lundgren, Jeff Mermelstein, Slava Mogutin, Rachel Papo, Martin Parr, Nigel Parry, Mark Peterson, Thomas Roma, Steve Schapiro, Joachim Schmid, Jamel Shabazz, The Snorri Bros., Michael Spano, Peter Sutherland, Linda Troeller, Victor Vazquez, Veronique Vial, Nathaniel Welch, and David Yellen.

If you entered the festivals New York Photo Awards and haven't heard anything from the organizers yet you will have to try again next year. Looks like they have gone ahead and whittled down all the entrants into manageable groups. Full list of those nominees in the running here. And a ticket to the awards show on the Friday night gets you access to yet another party at the powerHouse arena right after.

Speaking of competitions/parties PDN are getting in on the weeks acivities as they will be hosting their annual Photo Annual party on Tuesday the 13th. Yeah sorry there too if you hadn't heard from them by now you didn't make the grade here either. This event is by invitation only and there is always a pretty strict door policy so if you didn't get the heads up you might want to save yourself any velvet rope embarrassment. In case you were wondering though its at the same venue as last year.


Dumbo residents VII Photo Agency have stretched their involvement and added another on site event to the offerings with a 3 day seminar 16th thru 18th including keynote speakers, show and tells with all the main players incl. Greenfield, Kratochvil, Ladefoged, Morris & Nachtwey, book signings, portfolio reviews etc etc. The price of this event is separate to the cost of admission to the main festival. Full details here.

Fuck I am worn out already just try to get my head around all the possibilities and permutations. I think my liver is just as concerned considering all the opportunities for liquid refreshment. Fingers crossed for some fine Spring weather especially with the organizers expecting 100,000 over the four days. Have a feeling most of the gatherings will be pretty chock a block so the streets might be the best bet for a little extra curricular mingling. Hopefully the event lives up to its potential and wont turn in to too much of a circle jerk. The Jackanory will be in situ throughout to keep an eye on proceedings, more to come on that Monday.

Event reminder

If you are going to treat yourself to one photo event this week I strongly recommend getting along to Aperture tonight for Parsons The New School of Design Artists Lecture series featuring the great Stefan Ruiz. As an added bonus the venerable George Pitts will be in charge of proceedings.


I have been a long time fan of Ruiz and his work. The man is a massive talent that can do it all: portrait, landscape, celebrity, music, fashion, travel, advertising, editorial; and is without out a doubt one of the names atop any photo editors / art buyers wish list.


Ruiz was born in San Francisco, and studied painting and sculpture. He took up photography while in West Africa, documenting Islams influence on traditional West African art. He also taught art at San Quentin State Prison and was the Creative Director for Colors magazine from 2003-2004. You name a magazine and Stefan has shot for them. He has also brought his skill set to some memorable advertising campaigns for Caterpillar, Camper, Diesel and Air France.


I have only had the pleasure of meeting him once and his terrific book 'People' is a personal favorite. Its a mix of everything, straddling all the genres he effortlessly moves between. And I love the text in the back giving a little personal background to all the pics. What is obviously apparent in the book is that not only is Ruiz a great photographer but he is also very aware of his subjects and in particularly the fragility of the human condition.


Rumor has it he is a little nervous over tonights presentation; so come along and show your support. I am sure we are in for a real treat, a chance to see someone truly aspirational and inspirational.


Hopefully I can be as cool and talented as Ruiz when I grow up.

Coming Attractions: this week / next week

Its really starting to heat up here in NYC and in an attempt to help you navigate the way and keep that calendar in order heres a heads up on some of the coming attractions. This is whats on my radar:

Thursday April 10

The AIPAD Photography Show New York

Opening today thru Sunday April 13

Park Avenue Armory
67th Street & Park Avenue

Show hours will be:
Thursday - 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday - 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday - 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The admission is $25 daily and $35 for the run-of-show, and includes a show catalogue. No advance purchase is required. Tickets will be available at the door.

More than 75 of the world's leading fine art photography galleries will present a wide range of museum quality work by contemporary, modern and 19th century masters at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. The 28th edition of The AIPAD Photography Show New York will open with a Gala Preview on April 9 to benefit the John Szarkowski Fund, an endowment for photography acquisitions at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The AIPAD Photography Show New York is the longest running and foremost exhibition of fine art photography.

Gala Benefit Preview:
The AIPAD Photography Show New York will present a Gala Benefit Preview on Wednesday, April 9, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The evening will benefit the John Szarkowski Fund, an endowment for photography acquisitions at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The fund was established to honor John Szarkowski, one of the most influential curators in photography and a photographer in his own right. Ticket information is as follows:

Benefactor 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ($7,500, 5 tickets)
Patron 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ($1,500, 1 ticket)
Sponsor 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ($500, 1 ticket)
Friend 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ($100, 1 ticket)

To purchase tickets online, please click here. Or, for more information, please contact The Museum of Modern Art, 212/708-9680 or specialevents@moma.org.



Benefit Auction: Celebrating 15 Years of BLIND SPOT info here

Hosted by David Zwirner

533 West 19th Street NYC
bet 10th and 11th avenues

Live & Silent Auctions of Original Artwork

6.00 - 7.00pm: Exclusive Champagne Preview - $ 100.00 Donation

7.00 - 9.00pm: Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction - $ 25.00 Suggested Donation

8.00pm: Live Auction

Benefit Committee: Jen Bekman, Debra Bosniak, Stephen Frailey, Darius Himes, Rhiannon Kubicka, Molly Logan, Peter MacGill, Robert Ransick, Yancey Richardson, Anna Walker Skillman, Rick Wester

Participating Artists includes a veritable whos who: Edward Burtynsky, Roe Ethridge, Jason Fulford, Paul Graham, Katy Grannan, Todd Hido, Ari Marcopoulos, Richard Misrach, Matthew Monteith, Jack Pierson, Stephen Shore, Alec Soth, Larry Sultan, Brian Ulrich and many many more.



powerHouse Books and Mansion New York are pleased to announce the launch of:

Brian Finke - Flight Attendants

The powerHouse Library

starting at 10pm

Mansion New York
530 West 28th Street
between 10th and 11th Avenues


Monday April 14

Photo © Victoria Hely-Hutchinson

School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents 'Mentors'

6.00 - 8.00pm

Visual Arts Gallery

601 West 26th Street
15th Floor
bet 11th and 12th ave

An exhibition of works by nearly 80 photography students inspired by their year-long mentorship with key figures in the arts community. Drawn from the ranks of New York City’s best-known photographers, curators, art directors, publishers, art dealers, critics and writers, SVA’s mentors are paired with students based upon their field of expertise and the student’s area of concentration. The 2007 – 2008 program mentors include Rolling Stone director of photography Jodi Peckman, photography critic Vince Aletti, illustrator Maira Kalman, gallerist Edwynn Houk, fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, and photographers Lorna Simpson, Tina Barney, and Gregory Crewdson, among others.

The Mentors program at SVA was established in 1992 to introduce new talent to the New York City arts community and to cultivate relationships between established and emerging artists. Stephen Frailey, chair of the BFA Photography Department and curator of the exhibition, explains, “Our mentors come from the forefront of their fields and the advice they can offer our students is invaluable. It inspires them to take their work to a new level and to grow as professional artists.”

At the School of Visual Arts, undergraduate students are offered a full range of options in the study of photography: commercial, fine art, fashion and documentary. The department is equipped with state-of-the-art technical facilities; a faculty of nearly 100 members, including not only working photographers but photo editors, critics, publishers and photography dealers; and a curriculum that integrates photographic genres, identities and ambitions, removing the traditional barriers between “art photography” and “commercial photography.” SVA’s diversity in curriculum and the faculty’s wealth of professional experience offer students the freedom and support to explore different directions in photography.

School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City is an established leader and innovator in the education of artists. >From its inception in 1947, the faculty has been comprised of professionals working in the arts and art-related fields. SVA provides an environment that nurtures creativity, inventiveness and experimentation, enabling students to develop a strong sense of identity and a clear direction of purpose.


Tuesday April 15


Parsons The New School for Design Artists Lecture: Stefan Ruiz - one of my most favorite photographers I strongly recommend attending plus George Pitts will be providing the introduction

6.30 p.m.

Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor

As part of the ongoing lecture series hosted by Aperture and presented by the department of photography, Parsons The New School for Design, Stefan Ruiz will discuss the work from his recently published monograph, People (Chris Boot, 2006), which gathers striking portraits of Mexican soap stars, Cuban mental asylum residents, Texan cowgirls, and Rwandan refugees. Ruiz’s subjects reveal themselves and their vulnerability through his raw and edgy vision. While serving as Creative Director for COLORS magazine from 2002 to 2004, Ruiz also taught art at San Quentin State Prison. His work has been exhibited at the Havana Biennale, 2003; PhotoEspaña, Madrid, 2003; and an exhibition of the Televisa Studios series is now traveling around Europe.

Bits and pieces

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to read the 'London Calling' post, it is proving to be quite popular on both sides of the pond. Special appreciation to those who commented and gave it the special link juice; Peter Marshall at >Re: Photo, Don Giannatti at It's what I do, Silas Dominey at Farang Hat, Elizabeth Weinberg at Burnt Sienna , Jeremy Leslie at magCulture, Joerg at Conscientious and Rob over at A Photo Editor.

I had some interesting happenings lined up for this week and was looking forward to reporting the goings on. Unfortunately some of the events are no more. Tonights Camera Club of New York lecture with Tierney Gearon has been canceled due to other commercial considerations on her part. I was also thrilled to have been invited to a gathering of the clandestine (joking) Nutopia Forum slated for Thursday night but that has also been postponed due the commercial obligations of founder and host Platon. Looks like it was going to be quite the night and I was really up for observing the inner workings. Hopefully we will get the nod next time out.

Oh and a big shout out to reader who gave me the 'what up' in the street last night; not once but twice. No idea who you are man but obviously the self portrait with artist series is working wonders for my visibility.

Things to do this week . . . . New York

If you want a more extensive list of all the happenings in the photo world be sure to check out State of the Art's weekly 'Where to Go and What to See' segment here. On 'The Jackanory' we are going to continue with our things to do postings but as opposed to trying to cover everything I am keen to feature the goings on that particularly tickle my fancy. So heres this weeks musts for me.

Thursday January 17


Manhattan Noon: Photographs by Gus Powell

The midday meanderings of New Yorkers on their lunch breaks, famously captured by Frank O'Hara in his 1964 collection Lunch Poems, are the subject of Manhattan Noon, the first large-scale New York presentation of the recent photographs of Gus Powell. The exhibition features some 30 color images, taken by Powell during his lunch hour, that capture the city's inhabitants in, as O'Hara wrote, "the noisy splintered glare of a Manhattan noon."

The Museum of The City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue @ 103rd Street
New York, NY 10029

6.00PM - 8.00PM

*Space is limited so be sure to RSVP to 212 534 1672, x 3322 or rsvp@mcny.org*



'Young Blood' By Erika Larsen

Erika working as a contributing photographer for Field and Stream has been documenting the landscape of hunting and fishing since her first assignment for the magazine in 2004. For the past year, Larsen has been traveling the country capturing the hunting experiences of children on camera. Her first photo essay for F&S, "How We Hunt" garnered her a National Magazine Award nomination.

If hunters are a dying breed, no one told these kids. That was the message Erika Larsen returned with after more than a year of photographing young hunters all over the country. In the face of studies that cite fading interest among youth in traditional outdoor sports, Field & Stream dispatched Larsen during last year's hunting season to get beyond the numbers. Her goal, she says, was to capture the intense connection that kids have with the natural world, to tap into their raw enthusiasm, and to get at the pure, unfettered joy of the hunt. "These kids were all hunting for the experience of it," says Larsen. "To them, anything they shoot is a trophy. They weren't looking to make it into the record books; they were just excited to be out there." Courtesy Field and Stream

Redux Gallery

116 E. 16th St bet Union Sq. East & Irving Place
12th Floor

6.30pm - 8.30pm

*Be sure to give yourself extra time as the last time I was by there was only one elevator working in the building*

Things to do this week . . . . New York

Well here we go again ! Looks like there is plenty happening around town again as we come out from our holiday slumber. Here are a few tasty treats that may tickle your fancy.

Wednesday 9 January


The fabulous Katy Grannan brings us not one but two openings and receptions this week.

First up is 'Another Woman Who Died in Her Sleep'

Greenberg Van Doren Gallery
730 Fifth Ave @ 57th Street

6.00 - 8.00pm


Thursday 10 January


Katy Grannan 'Lady Into Fox'

Salon 94 Freemans
1 Freeman Alley

6.00 - 8.00pm

In the new works, Grannan explores the uneasy relationship between fixed photographic portraiture and her subjects’ mercurial identities. The photographs are replete with ambiguity and contradiction: they are evidence of an invented, unknowable self, confronting inescapable photographic description. Her subjects are “new pioneers,” three northern Californians who struggle to define themselves under the scrutiny of relentless sunlight. California serves as both a literal and metaphorical backdrop for Grannan’s photographs. It is a mythical destination and a real end-point where sunshine illuminates both the abject and the joyful.

Lady into Fox features Gail and Dale, two middle-aged transsexuals and best friends whose experience in the world is mediated by romantic escapism and willful delusion. Grannan thoroughly embraces her subjects’ vision of themselves, their interpretation of femininity, and the pleasure they derive from gender mimicry and performance. The photographs, however, also describe the pair’s solitary interior lives and their deeper existential need to be visible.

Another Woman Who Died in her Sleep follows Nicole, an elusive and complicated woman with whom Grannan worked for nearly three years. Grannan’s shifting photographic approach mirrors Nicole’s ever-changing persona, her defiance, and her near self-annihilation. Here, Grannan questions photography’s ability to describe a complex individual with a single photographic “truth.” Courtesy Salon 94

Domingo Milella

Tracy Williams Ltd
313 West 4th Street bet Bank & West 12th Street

Reception with the artist: 6.00 - 8.00pm

This is Domingo's first solo New York exhibition. A recent graduate from SVA, Milella has spent a little time in his past working with yours truly before going on to greater things working for two of the all time greats, Massimo Vitali and Thomas Struth. Sure to be a big star in his own right don't forget where you read it first.

Milella’s perspective offers us a fresh interpretation of the changing face of our surroundings to day. Close by or far off borders, nations, megalopolis, are the subject of a geography at the edge of importance and function. Using an 8 x 10 camera, Milella captures these contradictory panoramas subtly noting the struggle for place between man and nature in contemporary society. His photographs have a certain impartiality allowing the viewer to interpret the image and draw their own conclusion. Nature seeps through these photographs as vegetation merges with trash in Cuautepec, Discarica, Mexico City. Unfinished rooftops and building debris pile up as the sun pierces the hot landscape in Naucalpan, Mexico City.

Milella’s photographs of industrial cities are not tyrannical. These are images filled with respect and complicity. Unsettling and passionate at once, Milella’s images speak volumes about the urban-human dilemma. However, a sense of hope reigns within his photographs even in the grimmest of settings. Nature’s power to evoke change in the urbanized jungle is brazenly evident. Courtesy Tracy Williams Ltd

Martin Schoeller 'New Work'

Hasted Hunt
529 West 20th Street, 4th Floor

Opening Reception 6.00pm - 8.00pm

In this show Marty brings us more BIG heads. Black & white and color work will be on display that has not been exhibited on the east coast before. Its a cornucopia of faces including celebrities, athletes, musicians, politicians, his family and the debut of his specially commissioned pictures of members from the Amazonian Pirahã tribe. Martin lugged all his gear into the jungle to capture the striking, mysterious faces of the rarely photographed Pirahã people, an indigenous hunter-gatherer tribe that lives primarily on the banks of the Maici River in Brazil. Currently numbered at approximately 360, the culture is in grave danger of extinction. These photographs were specially commissioned by "The New Yorker."



Dawoud Bey 'Class Pictures'

Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor

Press & Patron Preview: 6.00 - 7.00 p.m.

Opening Reception: 7.00 – 9.00 p.m.

For the past fifteen years, Dawoud Bey has made striking, large-scale color portraits of high school students across the United States, from a wide economic and social spectrum. Each portrait is accompanied by a brief autobiographical statement from the student. By turns poignant, funny, or harrowing, these revealing words often contradict our assumptions about youth in America. Bey’s unusually respectful and perceptive portraits transcend teenage stereotypes and establish him as one of the best portraitists at work today. Courtesy Aperture

An intriguing show comes at us courtesy of BBlessing and Table Bros

'Adolesence and the Virtues of Maturity' curated by Vincent Skeltis and Daniel Jackson

Featuring the work of Studio Von Birken, Andrew H.Shirley, Danielle levitt, Vincent Skeltis, Daniel Jackson, Justine Parsons and Brendan Donnelly.

BBlessing
181 Orchard Street

Rsvp recommended: rsvp@bblessing.com

8.00 - 11.00pm

Thursday night is certainly action packed I reckon you could do it all, but it won't leave much time for hanging around. I havent made my plan yet beut it could go something like this. Start with Milella then up to Hasted Hunt for Schoeller followed by Aperture a quick cab to the lower east side for Grannan et volia nicely in time f for 'Adolescence and the Virtues of maturity' around the corner on Orchard Street.

Things to do this week . . . . New York

While I missed out on most of the action around town last week others took up the slack. Amongst them was Pelicula 64 who managed to get out and about and posted his own report from the Misrach talk and signing at the Strand Bookstore here, well worth the read. Hey Sylvia hopefully you will be a little more considerate of the little people at your own gig.

I managed to hop an earlier flight back then scheduled on Friday and after a quick freshen up was able to get myself along to the J&L Books event at ICP. So glad I was able to finally get my copy of inspirator Darin Mickeys book 'Stuff I Got To remember Not To Forget' signed. I also ponied up for Ed Panars 'Golden Palms' it was the right thing to do after all seeing as they were both sitting side by side, didnt want Ed feeling left out of all the love, turns out he is a regular 'Jackanory' reader so big up. He has just updated his site well worth a peak, here.

Had a few words with J&L supremo and 'Jackanory' inspirator Jason Fulford (hope I didn't come across as to much of a bumbling fool). Also spotted in the crowd were photographers Gus Powell, Michael Schmelling, Jack Louth, Frank Camarda, Tracy Baran and Katherine Wolkoff, editor Catherine Talese and Jennifer Miller of Fred & Associates.

So enough of that, lets get on with some of the tasty treats that are on offer around town this week. Unfortunately most of the offerings are for Thursday so there are some tough choices to be made.

Monday December 3

Sylvia Plachy - Talk and Book Signing

7:00 p.m.

Free Admission

Barnes & Noble
Chelsea Branch
675 6th Avenue

Sylvia Plachy was the first photographer assigned to shoot the opening photograph of the essential Goings On About Town section of The New Yorker. Plachy will discuss key images from this exclusive assignment, which are featured in her latest Aperture book, 'Goings On About Town': Photographs for The New Yorker (co-published with The New Yorker, October 2007). Plachy explores the city’s dynamics from the inside out, revealing the vital and at times wacky creativity that energizes New York around the clock.

Tuesday December 4

Jessica Dimmock - Artist’s Talk

6:30 p.m.

Free Admission

Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th Floor

Jessica Dimmock is a graduate of the International Center of Photography's program in documentary photography and photojournalism. For her work on heroin addicts in the Flatiron district, she won numerous international awards, including the F Award for Concerned Photography, the Inge Morath Award for Female Photojournalism from Magnum, and the Marty Forsher Fellowship for Documentary Photography from Photo District News. Her work, The Ninth Floor, was exhibited in fall 2007 at Forma, the International Center of Photography in Milan, and her book of the same name was recently published in two editions by Contrasto. Her work has appeared in Aperture, the New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, Time, Fortune, New York Magazine, and Fader. Dimmock's work most often focuses on intimate settings, underground communities, personal struggles, and the human condition. Prior to pursuing documentary photography, Dimmock worked as a public school teacher in Brooklyn, where she is based.


Wednesday December 5

The Society of Publication Designers presents REWIRING WIRED, a conversation with Scott Dadich, Creative Director & Bob Cohn, Executive Editor, moderated by Blender Creative Director Dirk Barnett.

7:00 - 8:30 PM; doors open at 6:30

Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, FIT
27th Street & Seventh Avenue, NYC

SPD Members, $10 in advance ($15 at the door)
Non-members, $15 in advance ($20 at the door)
Students with valid ID: $5
FIT Students & Faculty with valid ID: FREE

For 15 years, WIRED has chronicled the rise of digital culture and the impact of technology on science, business, and society. Along the way, the magazine has earned props for combining editorial excellence with design innovation, winning four National Magazine Awards for General Excellence, including two in the last three years. A pioneer in print design, the magazine that made the newsstand safe for neon inks is now known for ambitious photography, provocative typography -- and neon inks. Earlier this year, WIRED introduced a wholesale redesign, its first in five years. Join Scott, Bob, and moderator Dirk Barnett as they talk about the process of WIRED's reinvention, the challenges of photographing geeks, and the Law of Optical Volumes.


Thursday December 6

American Photo - The second annual Images of the Year Competition

A gallery show and party to celebrate the winners.

7.00pm - 10.00pm

At a rather large photo studio in the West 30's

*This event is by invitation only*



The Camera Club of New York, Lecture Series presents Jonathan Torgovnik

7:00pm
School of Visual Arts Amphitheater,
209 E. 23rd St. (2nd/3rd Aves.)

General admission $10,
$5 for other students with ID

Jonathan Torgovnik has traveled around this country and the world, camera in hand, in pursuit of visual stories about some of the more complicated issues facing people from all walks of life. On assignment in places near and far for such publications as Newsweek, Paris Match, the Sunday Times Magazine, Stern, and others, Torgovnik’s photographs spotlight life in our world through ordinary and not so ordinary people and places.

During his lecture Torgovnik will speak about Intended Consequences, an ongoing project focused on the plight of Rwandan women who were victims of rape during the 1994 genocide and the children who were the product of that horror.

He will also show work from his long-term project, Bollywood Dreams. Published as a monograph by Phaidon Press in 2003, Bollywood Dreams examines the culture and color of the cinema in India.

Additionally, Torgovnik will show other images made while on assignment for Newsweek.

Copies of Bollywood Dreams will be available for purchase. An informal book signing will follow the lecture.


Book signing: Born in the Bronx – A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop

Edited by Johan Kugelberg, photographs by Joe Conzo

Dashwood Books

6-8 pm

33 Bond Street
between Bowery and Lafayette

Hip hop today is considered amongst the most powerful pop-cultural references of the twentieth century but it’s true origins emerged from the spontaneous and progressive musical culture of the tough neighborhood’s of the Bronx in the 1970s. Johan Kugelberg has pulled together the scattered remains of this movement through the improvisational flyer artwork of Buddy Esquire and the photographs of Joe Conzo – the man the New York Times calls “the chronicler who took hip hop’s baby pictures”. Forward by Afrika Bambaataa.

Oh yeah Joe, Johan, Buddy and fuckin Afrika Bambaataa will all be present.


Reimagining Risk
American Power: Whats really at Risk?
Mitch Epstein with Brian Wallis

7:00pm

Donnell Auditorium
The Architectural League NY
20 west 53rd Street

Admission $ 10.00

A conversation between photographer Mitch Epstein and Brian Willis, chief curator of the International Center of Photography. Mitch Epsteins current project American Power, examines energy usage and the idea of excess in the United States. These pictures were made on forays to energy production sites and their environs. Epstein plays with the definition of American power, probing not just corporate power but the powers of nature, sexuality, consumption, and size.

Environmental risks aside, Epstein has discovered that in the United States, since 9/11, making art freely in public space, and artists themselves, are at risk due to governmental and corporate surveillance and security. Epstein will show images from American Power, and speak about cultural, environmental, and artistic risk.

American photography

As I have mentioned before my favorite awards bash to attend is the American Photography party, which as it turns out happened to be last night. I have been fortunate to have had images selected in three of the last four years. There was a particularly great mix of winning imagery this year straddling all genres and a distinguished panel chaired by Kathy Ryan is responsible for all the pickings. This time around two out takes from the East Bay Rats series I worked on for GQ made the cut (above).

The party is a top notch affair although they do charge a pricey admission ($50 this year) for the privilege of attending and admiring the successful entrants. But then the food and drink is free, right sort of kind of ? In fairness they did have the common sense to grant free entrance to the winning participants this year but you have paid to enter already right, its a huge number$ game whatever way you look at it as the ever frank BP can attest.

This is one of the events where everyone mingles freely its pretty relaxed and chill compared to some of the others where the photographer to editor ratio can be quite stifling. All the chatter of course concerned the anonymous 'A Photo Editor' and did I know who he/she is, although everyone had their own opinion: man, woman, gay, straight and were they perhaps present ?

As always its a heavy A-list photo crowd, spotted in the mix were photographers Eric McNatt, Nigel Parry, Michael Lavine, Michael Cogliantry, Christopher McLallen, Eric Ogden, Andy Ryan, Kevin Miyazaki, Q Sakamaki, Lauren Fleishman, Monte Isom, Cass Bird, Shannon Fagan, Joe Fornabaio and Rafael Fuchs, educator and erotic photographer George Pitts, photo editors a plenty; Freyda Tavin and Nara Nygoyen: Entertainment Weekly, Jeanne Graves: Best Life, Carolyn Rauch: Wired, Maisie Todd: ESPN The Magazine, Lauren Winfield: Fortune, Alison Unterreiner: Esquire, Kathy Ryan: New York Times Magazine, David Carthas: New York Times T Magazine, Erica Beckman and Katie Howe: Fortune Small Business and Lori Henzel: Bust, photo reps Laura Reid and Jasmine DeFoore: Redux Pictures, Nancy Iacoi, Marcia Kebbon and Christina Cahill: Orchard Represents, Suzanna Bransch: Bransch, Bill Hannigan: Vaughan Hannigan, stylist Jennifer Hitzges: Jed Root and the gallerist Jen Bekman who as it turns out thought that I was the Bitter Photographer for a while but now doesn't and I amn't, although I know alot of people who wish they were the BP.

Mrs H and I had a most enjoyable evening as its always a treat to be amongst so many of ones inspirators, and yes it does help the ego to be a winner.

Click here to see the winning images. Also go here to read an earlier post of mine regarding some of these competitions and my strategy.

A grand day out . . . . Collapsing Images

This past Saturday I took myself along to the Blindspot 'Collapsing Images' forum; whose intention was to give a voice to some of the issues surrounding photography and as a way of further exploring the role of photography in the media and popular culture. The event consisted of three different discussions and was held at the magnificent Celeste Bartos Forum at the New York Public Library. Molly Logan and Jen Brill of Fred & Associates (the new division of MS Logan Ltd photo reps) were heavily involved in putting the event and the panels together along with Dana Fancoti the editor of Blindspot; kudos to them all for having the vision and drive to make such an interesting event happen and to have it accessible to all.

I treated myself to the full package and have to say it was a most insightful way to spend an otherwise dreary gray day. First up was a most enjoyable conversation between Jack Pierson and Jerry Schatzberg. The focus was Jerry and his work both of which I was unfamiliar save a few images of Bob Dylan he took back in the 60's. Not only a wonderful photographer and an accomplished director but a colorful character who dated many famous beautiful women. Jack was an extremely eloquent and informed interviewer which made for an entertaining session. The auditorium was pretty empty but I was glad to have made the effort.

Next up was 'Money, Money, Money !' In an era when creativity and innovation have a price tag and the lines between art and commerce are increasingly blurred, how do artists negotiate this terrain? Are commercial entities like Prada, Apple and Louis Vuitton modern-day Medicis or are these corporations and their consigliere simply bandits brokering on the fame of the artist? Is art in the service of commerce or vice versa?

Not surprisingly there wasn't an empty seat in the house for this discussion given the pedigree of the panel (above); photographers Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Glen Luchford, Collier Schorr, creatives Doug Lloyd, Dennis Freedman, Andy Spade, writer and critic Vince Aletti and the moderator the wonderful Glenn O'Brien who kept the chatter moving along nicely. It was a real thrill to be in the presence of such an inspirational group and the conversation was lively and interesting although Aletti and Lloyd didn't really contribute too much.

One of the threads concerned the digital process and how the on set dynamics of advertising campaigns have become more about creating by committee as clients and creatives now huddle around the monitor as everyone throws in their opinion in real time capture by capture. I have some experience of this and can see the positives and negatives and it is a topic I have been meaning to post on for sometime.

Luchford had an amusing anecdote that pertained to a campaign he was shooting a few weeks back. Excited to hear someone behind the monitor loudly exclaiming in real time how "Amazing !" every shot was he later enquired as to who this vocal cheerleader was. Turns out she was the caterer !

Another packed house for the evening event where the topic was 'Truth and Authenticity in Photography' How does a photographer negotiate between "documenting" and "creating?” What is "truth" in photography? Other issues to address are the commodification of biography and the viewer/consumer’s visceral hunger for vicarious experience and search for authenticity via the artist.

This heavy weight panel consisted of photographers Mitch Epstein, Paul Graham, Katy Grannan, Danny Lyon, Tod Papageorge and moderator Elisabeth Sussman Curator of Photography at the Whitney Museum of American Art, who in my opinion did a weak job in her assigned role and the discussion became a bit labored and more like a Q&A at times. This was a real shame coming after the earlier forum where the participants chit chat flowed freely as if they were sitting around a table with no one else in the room.

Anyways Lyon appeared to be on another planet with his remarks although I have to admit he was pretty amusing at times but I cannot help but wonder whether he was being consciously disruptive or whether this is his natural state. Okay Danny we got the message you are from Queens and that you did everything first. Some insightful stuff from the others although I think I was hoping for a little more to be honest. Christian Patterson has his observations on proceedings here.

There was a verituble who's who of photographers and industry players in the audience throughout the day, spotted were; the T-bone himself Terry Richardson, Martina Hoogland Ivanow, Elinor Carruci, Frank Camarda, Ryan McGinley, Micheal Schmelling, Marianne Rafter, Cara Phillips, Ethan Hill, Ashley Macknica, Cass Bird, Gillian Laub, Katherine Wolkoff, Carrie Levy, Jason Fulford, Christian Patterson, Joseph Maida, Cristina Estedalla, Jeffrey Ladd and man about town Rafael Fuchs (thanks for the OJ), also spotted Meaghan Ziegler-Haynes the photo director of Photoshelter in town for the official launch of their 'Collection' who almost ended up with Philip-Lorca diCorcia in her lap at the beginning of the third session, Jennifer Miller of Fred & Associates and Darius Hines of Photo-Eye.

Things to do tonight . . . . Dumbo

Photograph © Simon Roberts

Tonight sees the launch of new Dumbo gallery Klompching with its inaugural opening of 'Motherland' a visual exploration of contemporary Russia by British photographer Simon Roberts. Roberts spent a year traveling through the country covering over 75,000 kilometers and in doing so has created one of the most comprehensive photographic accounts of this vast country by a Westerner. The resulting book published by Chris Boot is a real gem and a must have in any collection.

The gallery is owned and run by husband and wife team Debra Klomp and Darren Ching, he being the creative director of PDN and number one Birmingham City fan. They will feature the work of emerging talent alongside under recognized work by established photographers. In addition to exhibitions the gallery will have a full schedule of events including gallery talks, presentations, book launches and signings, check out their news page here for all the goings on.

Roberts will host a walk through the exhibition on November 1st where he will be in conversation with Darius Himes, editor of Photo-Eye, space is limited and will be restricted to the first 25 people to arrive, so start lining up now.

Heres to you KlompChing we wish you every success.

wooooooo woooooooo its expo time

Well its that time of year again with the Photoplus Expo almost upon us. All the craziness at the Javits Center runs Thursday 18 thru Saturday 20 here in NYC. To be honest its not really my cup of tea but I will totter along and have a look see at all the modern marvels; all the while doing my best to avoid coming home with a rain forest of useless literature under arm. The people watching is pretty good though with the whole gamut being represented and hopefully there will be some live glamour lighting displays with top glamour models to distract me from the future. Maybe the best thing is the abundance of off site parties and events, full list below including links and entry requirements.


Saturday 10/13/07

2007 International Photography Awards Best of Show Lucie Award Honorees Group Exhibition Cocktail Party
Splashlight Studios - 529 - 535 West 35th Street between 10th & 11th Aves.
***This event is open to the public at no charge - FREE !!!***
http://photoawards.com

Monday 10/15/07

Lucie Awards @ The Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center – SOLD OUT
The main 2007 honorees are Elliott Erwitt, Ralph Gibson, Phillip Jones Griffith, Kenro Izu, Heinz Kluetmeir, Eugene Richards, Lord Snowdon, Deborah Turbeville and Howard Zieff. Full list here.
http://www.lucieawards.com

Tuesday 10/16/07

ADC Photography Portfolio Review
From 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
The ADC Gallery - 106 West 29th St. between 6th & 7th Avenues.
**Please note: All seats for photographers have now been filled**
http://www.adcglobal.org

Bit late on this one but they are still looking for reviewers.

Thursday 10/18/07

PDN/Nikon Self-Promotion Awards party – by invitation only!
From 6 – 8 p.m.
Milk Studios – 450 West 15th Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues.


“PhotoShelter a Go Go 2 Party” – must RSVP here online!
Sponsored by PhotoShelter, Altpick, LiveBooks and Samy's Camera
From 7 – 11 p.m.
Lotus Space - 122 West 26th Street, between 6th & 7th Avenues.

Friday 10/19/07

PDN PIX Digital Imaging Awards party – by invitation only!
From 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Splashlight Studios - 529 - 535 West 35th Street between 10th & 11th Aves.


Digital Railroad Party with APA National – must RSVP here online!
From 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Sandbox Studio - 250 Hudson Street @ Broome Street, 11th floor

Townhall revisited

For those of you who weren't in attendance at the Photoshelter Photography 2.0 townhall event at the famed Filmore East nee Irving Plaza in New York you can catch up on all the goings on below. There is some interesting insight and discussion from photographers and photo editors and it may give some of you the chance to put some names to faces.

See photographer Chase Jarvis 'turn that frown upside down' as he gives away the secrets to his black box here.

Photo editor and buyer Catherine Talese provides perspective from her standpoint here.

And the illustrious panel gets their talk on here

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.

Weekend update

It was quite the scene at Bergdorf Goodman this past Thursday for the official launch of 'New York Look Book: A Gallery of Street Fashion' by Jake Chessum and Amy Larocca. The fifth floor of the store was jammed with revellers as Jake and Amy were upfront and central totally swamped signing copies for attendees. The best thing about the shindig was that many of the people included in the book were invited and were present to add extra colour to an already stylish crowd. Spotted in the mix were Nancy Jo Iacoi of Orchard Represents, Michael Norseng and Alison Unterreiner of Esquire, Phil South from the Small Darkroom who's digital wing Picturehouse was responsible for alot of work in the book and photographers Spencer Heyfron and Kevin Trageser. Many thanks to Jake for the invite it will be great to see what opportunities open up for him as a result of all this exposure. Stay tuned maybe there will be some lessons for us all.

How fortuitous it was that Begdorfs was only round the corner from 41 East 57th street as I was also able to get myself warmed up for the above by getting to a couple of the buildings gallery openings. First up was Simon Norfolks 'I Met A Stranger From An Antique Land at the Bonni Benrubi Gallery. The artist was in attendence and also spotted was frequent Norfolk commissioner Kathy Ryan photo director at The New York Times Magazine. Then it was down too the 6th floor and the opening of the La