Happy Halloween !

Don't ask. :)

Polaroid Multiple Exposure

Richard Avedon @ Palm Springs Art Museum

Currently @ Palm Springs Art Museum is "Richard Avedon: Fashion, Stage, and Screen" in the Annenberg Wing until Jan 30, 2011.

His engaging and emotionally moving photographic images featured theatrical gestures, poses, and expressions combined with an attention to mise-en-scène. The dramatic elements in this work link his fashion photography to his interest in stage and cinema in New York and Hollywood. These photographs capture his enthusiasm for people engaged in roles that mesmerized and fascinated him, and they tell us as much about the relationship between performance and the body as they do about the people in them.

Palm Springs Art Museum
101 Museum Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262-5659

The Rat Pack

Reel Art Press is releasing a limited edition book titled "The Rat Pack" with text by Shawn Levy and a wealth of photographs from Dennis Stock, David Sutton, Gene Trindal, Bob Willoughby, Sid Avery among others.

Limited to 2,250 with prices starting at $650.($550 if you pre-order here)

Mash-Ups: Merging Photography w/ New Media for Social Change (10/10)

Venice Arts Gallery hosts a conversation with Neal Baer, M.D., Showrunner & Executive Producer of Law & Order: SVU. Drawing on the work of Venice Arts and other organizations, photographers, and writers, Dr. Baer will give a visual exploration of how photography and new media are acting as compelling advocacy tools for community storytelling and social change.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Venice Arts Gallery
1702 Lincoln Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291

At The Hour Of Our Death

In the series Sarah Sudhoff creates large-scale color photographs of stained fabrics from trauma scenes and discusses the invisibility of death in our culture.

Postmodern Suicide : The Intersection of Peter Saville Factory Records and Joy Division (10/28)

A special guest lecture and discussion in graphic design history on the influence of Peter Saville and Factory Records on postmodern design, along with an examination of the music and ideas that made this design phenomenon possible. The focus will lurch from Situationism in France in the late 1960s, protopunk and punk rock in the '70s, to the post-punk and new wave era of Joy Division, The Durutti Column, Cabaret Voltaire, New Order, and Happy Mondays.

Free and open to the public. Held over at Art Center at the LA Times Media Center. All info here.

Oct 28, 2010 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Art Center
1700 Lida St
Pasadena, CA 91103

Deanna Templeton "Scratch My Name On Your Arm" (10/30)

The two opening receptions are Saturday, October 30 and Saturday, November 6 from 6 to 8pm.

Kopeikin Gallery
2766 La Cienega Blvd (just north of Washington)
Los Angeles, California 90034

"Exposed at Tate Modern" videos

Tate Museum posted up this video of Philip-Lorca DiCorcia talking about his "Head" series done in 2000. This is part of "Exposed At Tate" series done in conjunction with their "Exposed : Voyeurism, Surveillance & the Camera" exhibition which just ended earlier this month at Tate Modern.








You can check their YouTube channel for Richard Gordon, Sandra Phillips, Mark Ruwedel, Shai Kremer, Mitch Epstein and others.

Josef Hoflehner "Sublime" (10/28)

I'm just an average professional photographer - nothing special about that. I have made my living from photography for about 30 years now and I'm still keen to carry on. I really can't tell you in words what else draws me to it. I make most of my project on vested interest and try to make the photographs in a peculiar style. I see this more pragmatically. - Josef Hoflehner

Opening Reception Thusday, October 28, 2010 6-9 p.m.
October 28 - December 30, 2010

Stephen Cohen Gallery
7358 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles CA 90036

Secrets: A photography show (10/29)

From October 29 to November 14, Gallery Space at Space 15 Twenty is pleased to present Secrets, a group photography exhibition. Curated by Skye Parrott and Alec Friedman of Dossier Journal, the show is comprised of 39 photographers’ visual responses when asked to tell a secret. As of Dossier’s inception in May 2008, the biannual arts and culture magazine has been themed around not having a theme, making this guiding question a unique curatorial exercise. “We really didn't know how it would turn out,” says Parrott, “and I think the end result was much more layered than we'd even anticipated.”

David Armstrong

Hisham Bharoocha

Cass Bird

Angela Boatwright

Robin Broadbent

Samantha Casolari
Alexandra Catiere

Cody Chandler

Rachel Chandler

Chris Chenier

Todd Cole

Tony Cox

Jessica Craig-Martin

Sam Falls

Seth Fluker

Alec Friedman

Jason Fulford

Marcelo Gomes

Julia Hetta

Richard Kern

Andreas Laszlo Konrath

Jeremy Liebman

Nicholas Lorden

Pamela Love

Dan Martensen

Sophie Morner

Santiago Mostyn

Skye Parrott

Virginia Rolston Parrott
Marc Pilaro

Pedro Ramos

Reka Reisinger

Ola Rindal

David Benjamin Sherry

Jordan Sullivan

Peter Sutherland

Martynka Wawrzyniak

Weston Wells

Io Tillett Wright

Should be an interesting exhibit. I recognized a few names, and one used to rent from PIX before she moved to New York a few years back. An opening reception for Secrets will take place on October 29th, from 7 to 10pm. Gallery Space will be also offering a printed portfolio to accompany the exhibit, with poetic explanatory text by Emma Straub.

Space 15Twenty
1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Tuesday Briefs

Shit, nowadays, everyone is a photographer, you got a 5D and a Flickr account, you good to go kid. Literally. With 14 year old paparazzi and however many thousands of images being uploaded a day to Flickr, I can't help but to think that words and in-depth stories have been replaced by pictures and 140 character constant updates and that our lazy "my brain stops working at 2:30 so I have a 5 Hour Energy" society could care less. - Will Steacy

+ This Saturday, LACMA presents Conversation and Screening: David LaChapelle and Josh Azzarella @ 2 pm

Artists David LaChapelle and Josh Azzarella will discuss themes of celebrity, memory and mourning in a conversation moderated by Edward Robinson, associate curator of photography. Includes a screening of Azzarella's Untitled #100 (Fantasia) (2007-9, 12:06 min.), a haunting investigation of Michael Jackson's iconic music video Thriller (1983).

Free. No reservation needed. Event held at Bing Theater @ LACMA.

+ This Wed 7-9 pm, Lomography Gallery Store LA is throwing a party to reveal their newest camera which is a MYSTERY

+ LAist "Laurel Canyon Residents Celebrate 'Photo Day'"
+ PDN "Chris McCaw’s Crazy DIY Large-Format Cameras"
+ APE "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act"
+ Rob Galbraith "Adobe posts Photoshop Lightroom 3.3 and Camera Raw 6.3 release candidates"

Taking Liberties (11/5)

For our San Francisco readers, check out the Taking Liberties group show coming up in November with photographers Timothy Archibald, Erik Almås and Michael Tompert.

Opening reception November 5, 2010 6:30-9 pm

Liveworm Gallery
1345 Grant Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133

Pictures Of My Mother

My mother always took great care in putting herself together, even when sightseeing on a hot summer day. My parents attended a dinner on this trip and I remember her dressing in a beautiful emerald green cocktail dress with long silk gloves. Years later, my mother would still talk about this dinner party. But it was not about the exotic, delicious food that was served, or the beautiful home the party took place in. What my mother remarked on was the fact that all the wives on guest list, with the exception of herself, worked—one in politics, one in medicine, and another, a professor.

My mother never realized her dream of having a career, and I often wondered if my father somehow stood in her way. But, as much as it made it easier to think that was true, there is too much evidence to the contrary. For instance, the next time my parents traveled to our nation’s capital —a business trip for my father and one of the last trips my mother and father would take as a married couple. They returned with a gift which my father had picked out himself, and found great joy in giving to me. It was a pink t-shirt with gleaming gold letters that read: “A Woman’s Place is in the House. And in the Senate.”

I wonder if it was my mother who somehow got in the way of herself. - kkisthnewblack

I stumbled upon this tumblr called "Pictures of My Mother" where folks are encouraged to send in photos and memories of their mothers. I'm sure like me, you'll find yourself lost in there for a while.....

Cali Thornhill DeWitt "This Natural World"

This is one of the exhibitions I missed when I posted up for openings for last Saturday. Runs till Nov. 13th @ The Family Backroom Gallery on Fairfax.

THIS Los Angeles visits Alex Prager

Went gallery hopping last night and hit about six galleries - Gallery 1988, Known Gallery, M+B, Family Backroom Gallery, New Image Art, and Corey Helford. Interesting enough, I ran into a twitter follower... or maybe a blog follower ... turns out he was working on a book project so we had some discussions. At M+B, I noticed in their backroom a large white framed image of Alex Prager's work - the image you see above.

After getting home, I started researching for Sunday's post (I tend to work late) and lo, behold, stumbled upon This Los Angeles' video interview w/Alex Prager !

Holger Keifel "BOX: The Face of Boxing"

“I don’t style. I document. I want an honest face.” - Holger Keifel

New Yorker - Fighters' Faces in Holger Keifel "BOX"

Canon Zeiss Lens @ PIX

Walked into PIX and lo behold, the Zeiss lens for Canon mount are in and ready for rent ! Pricing are the following for one day rental. They're beautiful :)

18mm f/3.5 $45
21mm f/2.8 $45
28mm f/2 $40
35mm f/2 $35
50mm f/2 Macro $45
50mm f/1.4 $35
85mm f/1.4 $45
100mm f/2 $60

Questions ? Call rentals over at 323-936-8488 or hit them up : rental@pixcamera.com

PIX
211 S. La Brea
Los Angeles CA 90036

Saturday Events

Quick rundown on events tomorrow ...

+ Over at Annenberg Space for Photography, their latest exhibition "Extreme Exposure" - celebrates five photographers who thrive in enviornments that few dare to explore braving dangerous conditions in order to capture rarely seen moments in the life of our planet. Clyde Butcher, Paul Nicklen, Michael Nichols and Donna and Stephen O'Meara. Opens Saturday 11 am.

+ Maria Piscopo has two sessions at Calumet Hollywood : Getting Your Photographic Business Started (10 am - 1 pm) and Marketing in Today’s Economy (2-5 pm) . Each $45. Spaces still available

+ Hugh Holland "Locals Only " opening reception @ M+B in WeHo. An exhibition of color photographs by Hugh Holland that capture the Los Angeles skateboard revolution during the mid-Seventies from an insider’s perspective. 6-8 pm. Author signing and reception.

+ Michal Chelbin "The Black Eye" opening reception @ M+B in WeHo. The show looks at young Eastern European wrestlers revealing the disunity between fantasy and reality. . 6-8 pm. Author signing and reception.

+ Ann Fishbein "The Secret Lives of Stiffs" opening reception @ Track 16 Gallery in Santa Monica, CA. 6-9 pm.

Mannequins can be headless or missing a limb, but we humans are undiscouraged by these limitations. At times, we walk past these working stiffs without a second glance–their presence is so familiar that we don't question their odd existence. But sometimes a mannequin's outstretched hand, its fingertips seemingly reaching for some kind of connection, give us pause. We search for signs of humanity behind their blank-vessel expressions."

+ ASPP West Coast Chapter SILENT AUCTION for The National Wildlife Federation @ Wildfire Studios in Miracle Mile. 6:30 - 10 pm

+ THE STUDIO'S 2nd Annual Halloween Party. Local photo studio throwing a halloween bash over on 6442 Santa Monica Blvd. Studio Suite #202. Costumes are a MUST :) 8 am to 3 pm. RSVP via their Facebook page.

Etch A Sketch iPad case

Yes, officially licensed from Ohio Arts and available here. Dang, all I need now is an iPad !

Hugh Holland "Locals Only" / Michal Chelbin "The Black Eye" (10/23)

Hugh Holland

“It (skateboarding) spread like wildfire all over Southern California. I know it happened in other parts of the world too, but California felt like the center of it all.”


Michal Chelbin

"There are subjects that I don't need to exchange a single word with. They just know how to be photographed, they understand the camera and me, even if we speak different languages. Then there are those that require a number of hours of what I call 'attrition' of the subject, which is the time that passes until he or she reaches a sort of inner calm that enables the 'moment' to take place. It's said about Diane Arbus that everyone she photographed - whether it was a dwarf or transvestite or just a regular magazine portrait of an actor or businessman - they all projected the same expression, her expression. The moment I look for is also a moment of devotion, in which the subject somehow takes off a mask. He peels off a layer, bares his self. Sometimes it doesn't happen that quickly. An entire relationship develops in the time that the peeling back occurs."



This Saturday over at M+B Gallery is a duo opening of Hugh Holland's "Locals Only" and Michal Chelbin "The Black Eye". Event runs from 6 - 8 pm on Oct 23, 2010

M+B
612 North Almont Drive
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Mistress Creative + Giant Artists exhibition (10/21)

Just got emailed about this event. MistressCreative + Giant Artists having an opening reception tonight over in Venice exploring photography and design.

Aaron Ruell, Blake E. Marquis, Jeremy & Claire Weiss, Kevin Lyons and Travis Millard



This is part of the Venice Art Crawl going on tonight...plus Giant Artists will have a few copies of their new book available at the opening.

Opening : Oct 21 6-10 pm

Mistress Creative
1501 Main St. Suite #201
Venice, CA 90291

Smashbox FACE/OFF !

w00t ! Time for Smashbox's FACE/OFF competition and this year they've added a motion category ! The submission deadline is November 26, 2010 and the opening bash is on Dec 9th at Smashbox Studio - WeHo. No word who the judges are but I'm assuming they'll announce it later. Okay y'all, get cracking !




Ryan Rogers “Loneliness.”, the winner of 2009 FACE/OFF

Open Show : Los Angeles (10/21)

"Thank you for Your Call" series by Shawn Nee


"Enduring Grace" series by Michael Kirchoff


"East Los Angeles" series by Steve Saldivar


"Closed on Sunday" series by Mark Indig

All four photographers will be speaking and doing a quick Q&A on Thursday at Open Show held over at Translight Photography Center over in the Brewery. 7:30 - 9:30 pm.

*Starter drinks and food are provided, but Open Show is potluck style, so please bring your favorite beverage, finger food or donation.

Translight Photography Center
618 Moulton Ave Ste#E
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Cindy Sherman "Nobody's Here But Me" / David LaChapelle "Portrait of a Photographer"

Tomorrow Thursday (Oct 21, 2010), Ovation TV will be screening the one hour program at 7 am / 11 am / 3 pm

Photographer and artist Cindy Sherman uses her self-portraits to highlight stereotypes of women that exist in film and magazines. In an extended interview, she talks about her artistic inspiration, the evolution of her photographic style, and what her photography is meant to accomplish.

Right after Cindy Sherman will be David LaChapelle "Portrait of a Photographer" one hour documentary at 8 am / 12 pm / 4 pm / 11 pm as well Thursday (Oct 28) 12 pm / 4 pm / 11 pm and Sunday (Oct 31) 9 am.

Herb Ritts : Twenty-Five Years (10/21)

For me, the most important thing I learned was just honing my eye. I think I had a good eye. I'd go down to the end of my street, to a garage that had a certain feeling about it, or a particular light; I'd take a picture of a friend who needed a head shot. That's how I learned, instead of having school assignments and learning camera techniques. I think a lot of the time these days people are so concerned about having the right camera and the right film and the right lenses and all the special effects that go along with it, even the computer, that they're missing the key element. That element is developing a style that's yours and experimenting with it in until you eventually discover what makes sense to you especially.

Opening reception : this Thursday (Oct 21, 2010) 7-9 pm

Fahey/Klein Gallery
148 N La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Tuesday Briefs

+ PhotoCrew "How To Make Traveling as a Photo Assistant A Snap"
+ LAT "A creative retreat in the digital age"

+ Speaking of LAT, today at 11 am, you'll be able to chat with Mark Boster on photographing Yosemite online here. Mark documented the four seasons of Yosemite and recently had it published in the Travel section of the Los Angeles Times. You can see the gallery here.

+ Open Show is this Thursday at Translight Photography Center. Open Show is a new free monthly social mixer-type thing where photographers and filmmakers gather to present their works and discuss. Some more details here. Goes from 7:30-9:30 pm.

+ This Wednesday is a double whammy with APA/LA's evening with Melvin Sokolsky as well as ASMP/LA's The Business of Fine Art w/ Thomas Werner. APA is from 6-9 in Culver City, ASMP is 7-10 in Santa Monica.

+ ASPP is holding a silent auction this Saturday to benefit the National Wildlife Federation "Gulf Oil Spill Restoration" over at Wildfire Studios in Miracle Mile region. Check out their Facebook page.



+ As always, check our calendar to see what else is going on around town.

Dark Side Of The Lens

I never set out to become anything in particular, only to live creatively and push the scope of my experience for adventure and for passion… The raw brutal cold coastlands for the right waveriders to challenge – this is where my heart beats hardest…

Most folk don’t even know who we are, and what we do or how we do it, let alone what they pay us for it. I never want to take this for granted so I try to keep motivation simple, real, and positive… If I only scrape a living, at least it’s a living where I’m scraping…. If there’s no future in it, this is a present worth remembering.- Mickey Smith

Surfer "Mickey Smith On His Latest Film"

Fresh in Rentals !

As you can tell we've updated our Nikon rental inventory with new goodies such as 70-200s,14-242, 24-70s, a few new D3X bodies and the D3S body as well as a few new Canon EF lens. So what about our older Nikon bodies ? Well, here's one up on Ebay. Questions ? Call rentals at 323-936-8488 or shoot them an email to rental@pixcamera.com

More rental news in a week or so....

she: in her teens and twenties

Jen Davis

Charlie White

she: in her teens and twenties examines the complex physical, psychological and emotional lives of young women in the United States. Featuring photographs from Jen Davis, Laurel Nakadate, Lise Sarfati, Charlie White

Currently on exhibit in San Diego @ San Diego State University Art Gallery. Lectures by the Artists are on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Room 412, School of Art, Design and Art History. Two have already passed and the final two are Jen Davis on Nov. 4th and Laurel Nakadate on Nov. 30th. Exhibition ends December 4th.


San Diego State University
School of Art, Design, and Art History
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA 92182

Dancing Around The World

This video makes me smile ^^. Enjoy your Sunday guys !

Anne Fishbein "The Secret Life of Stiffs" (10/23)

"Mannequins can be headless or missing a limb, but we humans are undiscouraged by these limitations. At times, we walk past these working stiffs without a second glance–their presence is so familiar that we don't question their odd existence. But sometimes a mannequin's outstretched hand, its fingertips seemingly reaching for some kind of connection, give us pause. We search for signs of humanity behind their blank-vessel expressions." - Anne Fishbein

Opening reception
Saturday, October 23, 6:00 - 9:00 P.M

Track 16 Gallery
2525 Michigan Avenue, Bldg C-1
Santa Monica, CA 90404


LINK
Secret Life of Stiffs

APA/LA "An Evening With Melvin Sokolsky" (10/20)

"Throughout history there was always a resistance to change. Many contemporary photographers believe that shooting film is the only true photographic medium. I do not believe there is a universal truth. Does a negative reveal more quality than a transparency? Are the inter-negatives for platinum prints less true or valid than the original negetive? All these questions bring to mind, that throughout art history classic protocol was considered more important than the impact of final image? It is my belief when a photographer makes a decision to release the shutter, the resulting image is only the truth of that specific photographer. Who is the arbiter of what is true or valid? Most of the great artists were rejected when they did not follow the accepted protocol of their time: Van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso; I could go on and on."

Next Wednesday, Oct the 20th, get a chance to spend the evening with Melvin Sokolsky as he talks about his work and the world of photography. Held at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, this event runs from 6 - 9 pm and is free for APA members. Non-members are $25 (but you can save $5 bucks if you pre-register online) All the details are here.


Smashbox Studios
8549 Higuera St
Culver City, CA 90232-2521

Leica-like Skin for your iPhone

Do I really need to say anything else ? Oh, how about $13 ?

ASMP/LA "The Business of Fine Art w/Thomas Werner" (10/20)

+Have you ever wondered why Andreas Gursky’s images of the Prada Store are considered fine art and sell for tens of thousands of dollars while your images are considered commercial photographs?

+The world of fine art photography is transforming as rapidly as the commercial marketplace. Take advantage of this time of change to develop multiple revenue streams to support your business while at the same time keeping your vision fresh and alive.

+Creating and properly marketing a body of fine art work can be instrumental in achieving these goals.

+ What is a fine art photograph?

+ Where do you market your fine art work?

+ How do you reach that market, present your work, and create marketing materials and a Web site?

Thomas Werner, international commercial and fine art photographer, will share his experiences about these topics and much more. He will explain how to build a relationship with a gallery and what happens when you get an exhibition. He will also help you identify realistic goals in the fine art world and how to maximize results based on those expectations.

If you've ever been interested in understanding the world of fine art photography, or if you're interested in opening new avenues for your work, this is an event that you can't afford to miss.

This event is held over at the Writers Boot Camp over at Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica on Wednesday Oct 20th. It runs from 7-10 pm.

Fees : $5 (students) / $10 (ASMP members) / $15 (Affiliate Organizations) / $20 (non-member)

Please note that Werner is also doing a portfolio review on Thursday Oct 21st from 10 am to 2 pm. He'll be offering a one-on-one review lasting 20-30 min. . Bring 12-25 prints on CD or prints. You have to reserve - contact him at thomaswern@gmail.com

Asger Carlsen "Wrong"

....I like the idea of not being bound to calling my self a photographer. That is just the media I have chosen to work in. I work in photography-based material, but I also work in meat, foam, wood and dove, etc. My concentration in "Wrong" has been more about creating my ultimate hopes of experience. I realized with the first Wrong pictures that I created the satisfaction in seeing something I didn't understand and is removed from the normal. They are "manipulated" to create new narratives in the picture. So telling the obvious stories don’t challenge the mind in my opinion. I'm constantly on the look for the ambiguous in conversation or things I see doing my walk around the city... I guess it’s really about my strong need for entertaining myself and maybe reality is enough for me.- Asger Carlsen

Behance/AIGA Oct Meetup (10/13)

Come join us once again for the monthly Behance / AIGA LA Meetup! A casual evening where members of the Behance community and AIGA LA can gather and mingle over cocktails. Not a Behance member? No problem! Joining Behance is free.

This time we'll be at The Cat & Fiddle in Hollywood. A traditional British pub and restaurant. Enjoy great drinks, or try the fish and chips! The evening doesn't have to begin there. Try arriving early and taking a stroll over to Hennessey + Ingalls Art & Architecture Bookstore or Amoeba Music, all within a short walking distance.

To attend, RSVP through Eventbrite

Triple Shot of Eggleston

Can't get enough of him ? No worries, there's THREE exhibitions coming up for Mr. Eggleston.

First up on Oct 30th is the opening of "William Eggleston: American Photographer" @ Edward Cella Gallery in Miracle Mile. ...the exhibition of more than forty vintage photographs begins with several one-of-a- kind black-and-white, hand-developed photographs of the 1960s and also includes pristine examples of the vivid dye transfer work of the early 1970s. His Berlin Series will also be shown. Reception is 6-8 pm.

Independent curator and photographic historian, Carole Thompson for an overview of William Eggleston: American Photographer on November 6, 2010 at 4 pm @ the gallery. Free and open to the public.

Right across the street from Edward Cella Gallery is LACMA where on Oct 31st, the "William Eggleston: Democratic Camera—Photographs and Video, 1961-2008" exhibition opens.

This exhibition will include approximately two hundred photographs, the artist's little-known video work Stranded in Canton, his early black-and-white photographs of the sixties, and the vivid dye-transfer work of the early seventies, as seen in the Museum of Modern Art's landmark catalogue of 1976, William Eggleston's Guide.

BTW : William Eggleston in the Real World (2005) will be screening on Oct 31st at 1:30 pm. Perhaps you recognized the director, Michael Almereyda ? He'll be there to discuss the film. $7 general admission. $5 for students/members/senior @ Bing Theatre.

And finally over at DNJ Gallery on La Brea (just a few blocks north of PIX) on Nov. 13th 6-8 pm is the opening reception to "William Eggleston : On the Road". ... a compilation of over forty images, especially some dye transfer printing, from the two series “Democratic Forest” and “Graceland. ”