Photo ABCs

U is for Underwater

Damion Berger uses the skills of a street photographer and takes them, of all places, underwater! His series, In The Deep End, is the most amazing portfolio I have seen in a very long time! Just click on "slide show" after the website opens.

And read the series statement. After two paragraphs which sound like the prose of a museum curator, he gets down to the details of how the photos were made and reveals some fascinating story-telling secrets.©Damion Berger, used with permission

His other portfolio, RSVP, shows a master at work in what I think of as three-dimensional composition. He places his candid (and mostly very wealthy) subjects in their environment with the skill of a landscape photographer. His timing and often ironic and witty backgrounds and juxtapositions recall Cartier-Bresson and Doisneau.©Damion Berger, used with permission

These two portfolios display consummate mastery of photography.

You won't be disappointed.

The showcase of his photos on display in galleries and homes will also give new ideas and inspiration to those involved in the presentation and selling of fine-art photography.

 

Thanks to Mike at The Online Photographer blog for this recommendation.

A is for Art

"Though a living cannot be made at art, art makes living worth while... it brings life to life."

John Sloan

John Sloan was an original member of The Eight, a.k.a. the Ashcan School of Art in the early 1900s. He was a friend and student of Robert Henri. He is remembered for his atmospheric studies of daily life in New York City. Although a renowned artist throughout his life, his first big sale was during his late 50s, and he was never able to make a living through the sale of his art. His paintings now hang in museums aroung the country. Recent auction prices for his lesser-known paintings range from $2,000 to $100,000 or more.

Sixth Avenue Elevated at Third Street, John Sloan, 1928.

V is for Vermeer!

Four days remain to see A Lady Writing, by Vermeer, at the Norton Simon Museum of Art in Pasadena. Don't miss it!

 

H is for Harry Benson!

It was my pleasure to attend a slide show by Harry Benson recently at San Diego's  Museum of Photographic Arts. Harry Benson, born in Scotland, "arrived with the Beatles" to the United States in 1964. He photographed for LIFE Magazine from 1970 to 2000, and now shoots for Vanity Fair and others.

He photographed the Beatles, every president from Eisenhower to George W. Bush, photographed to scene at Robert Kennedy's assassination, photographed the construction of the Berlin Wall and its demolition.

Just a few highlights of slide show include:

His favorite image: the Beatles having a pillowfight.

His most difficult portrait subject: Bobby Fischer. He got Fisher to open up to him by taking a walk with him and discussing Fischer's admiration for Joe Namath. He gave Fischer a picture he had taken of Namath.

Most dangerous assignments: (among many): race riots in Watts and in the South.

Tips on photographing the famous: "these people don't want to pass this way unnoticed and unrecorded," so they will cooperate to a large extent. However, he says "never give the details of tomorrow's shoot" because it's likely that an uncooperative spouse will nix the idea! 

Photographing Ronald Reagan: he was very gracious and easy to photograph. And his "funny stories were actually really funny!" 

How he photographed Robert Kennedy's assassination scene: as much as he was stunned, he told himself to "keep shooting" because "that's what I'm there to do."

The state of photojournalism today: "It should be better but it's worse." He decried all of the "fake photographs" prevalent in magazines-- like a Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum!

What a good photograph should be: "A glimpse in time, then it's gone!"

If you ever get the chance to see Harry Benson speak, don't miss it! His incredible images can be seen at his simple and elegant website: Herry Benson.