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Mark Sink has been making a living from fine art photography since 1978. He is well known for his imagery made with a toy plastic camera; the Diana. He excels at reverse technology, using collodion wet plate photography. His personal work is in numerous museum collections as well as solo and group gallery shows in the US, South America and Europe. He is currently represented by G. Ray Hawkins in California, Robin Rice in New York and Rule Gallery in Denver. As a photographer of fine art he worked with and documented noted artists lives and their work such as Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat.
Mark’s family heritage in photography runs deep and his research into his roots is ongoing . His great grandfather, photographer James L. Breese, was the founder, member and primary inspiration for the Camera Club of New York, which was one of the earliest groupings of fine art photographers in America. Even further back, Samuel Finley Breese Morse, (Breese’s uncle), was “the father of American photography” and inventor of the telegraph. It is with this legacy in mind that prompted Sink to form a monthly Salon of artists both on the Internet and in his living room.
Currently Mark serves on the exhibition committee at RedLine, a downtown city block of new gallery/multimedia studio work spaces that provides grants to selected emerging and mid career artists and exhibitions. Mr. Sink is founder and director of MOP (Month of Photography) in Denver, bi-annually coordinating all the regional galleries, museums and art spaces geared toward celebrating photography in mass.
When and how did you become interested in Photography?
Gosh .. started as a kid, i shot more than most kids with my Kodak Instamatic…then while studying art in college, it stuck as a career.
What gear do you mainly shoot with?
1860s Voigtlander lens and view camera .. vintage Dianas..Blad.. Pinhole ..Fuji Instant films .. Nikon D3 .. iPhone
What is your #1 source of inspiration?
Beauty … Woman.
As for people that inspired me ..It changes day to day .. Andy Warhol is a constant .. and ManRay .. but recently i am heading into collage so i am getting myself up to speed studying collage artists, buying lots of books and learning where the medium is at today.
Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, ending up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?
I am very lucky to make a frugal living off of my personal art work. I take on commercial jobs time to time to pay the bills. I always tell students to make money from anything but photography .. be careful as soon as you turn what you freely passionately love into commercial jobs… it will burn you and your art production out…promise.
What is your all time favorite genre to shoot?
Portraits and staged fantasy.
Do you have any upcoming shows or events you want our readers to know about?
I am doing lots of street art (wheat pasting) around town… and trading with photographers all over the world actually ..We have bill boards up in Switzerland .. i have street art work up in Russia, Japan, Germany ..on and on….its great fun.. you can check it out on my facebook page… its called the “Big Picture” and we are going to be publishing a book on it.
or click this link to the google map to find the locations of where the work is installed…
I’m crazy for street art these days. Its very exciting to see your work up around town in public places many last for years. The community really enjoys it. Its win win. I will be having a show at Robin Rice Gallery in NYC this fall/winter…
I just had a dozen or so shows come down from the Month of Photography last March .. I will be doing this again in March of 2013 and photographers should keep an eye out for this happening, because galleries go crazy looking for work ..its a great time to get your work up on some walls and shown in a gallery.
What is the one thing you feel makes your style or your work unique?
Going reverse tech when everyone is going for more mega pixels..I used only toy Diana cameras for 30 years (dreamy figure and staged fantasy) .. but now that the Lomography heads have surfaced and the Diana is very popular with Urban Outfitters and all that .. i have moved on to collodion wet plates, however, now that is becoming the rage ..so who knows… I may go further back to tracing images with a camera obscura maybe? .. I am starting to get into hand cut collage from old magazines.. it evolves.
if you could photograph anyone, (past/present/future), who would it be and why?
Rachel Ruysch (1600s) Evelyn Nesbit (1800s) …Kiki of Montparnasse ( 1920s) Marlyn Monroe (1950s ) Francesca Woodman (1970s). Today? a week with a cool happy hippie down to earth super model would be dreamy. I am inspired by the muses and strong women who have changed art history.
what’s your dream photo field trip?
Paris, London, Venice with local friends showing you hidden treasures.
what’s your post production process?
I do very little post production. I like to get it right in the camera. The more post production one does the more fake it becomes. I scan everything and store it chronologically.
if you had unlimited resources to purchase any type of camera, what would it be and why?
Probably a Nikon D3x to play with for fun and commercial and filming… For my art more 1860s Wetplate cameras and lenses..I love the old medium format Rolli’s i got from my dad .. I use my great grandfather’s cameras everyday.. I have enough cameras and equipment to hand down to my children’s children’s children. Which by the way none of the beautiful timeless equipment that lasts forever will be digital… digital equipment has a very very short life span, one will not hand down digital cameras … but I believe that the camera really doesn’t matter because it’s the concept that counts..
who are your favorite photographers and why?
ManRay .. Warhol, John Baldessari, Rodchenko..Josef Sudek… they were fine artists.
what has been the shining moment of your career thus far? (or, describe your “big break”)
Probably meeting Warhol. Or getting my first show in NYC gave me belief in myself and work.
do you have any tips/tricks or advice for amateur photo nerds who are looking to shoot full time or students who are just starting out?
Get involved with a photography community. Start a Salon. Enter competitions like critical mass… The things closest to you are the most rewarding. Shoot every day ..shoot everything..make a piece of art with idle hands ..think of everything you do as art …think of a painter who works on his canvas every day work on your images passionately like that . Most importantly do it for the love of doing it first not for the money. Always have a generous heart. I believe in karma payback.
what’s the soundtrack to your life and/or your favorite music to listen to while editing?
Right now i am listening to Paper Bird..we have been photographing them. I’ll usually shuffle a wide range from death metal to juno… i love female vocalists.
what’s your favorite hang (when shooting or not)?
In my everything bed/office/dinner table/tv /love making/work station (bedroom)…. where i am typing now with my puppy, kitties and girlfriend around me.
best chow (meal/snack) to get you ready for a shoot? or best way to celebrate a brilliant capture?
Z Cuisine is a French bistro on the corner that trades me amazing organic meals for art… or my favorite amazing Mexican taco stand where you have to speak Spanish to order.
will you share with us one of your favorite shots? why is this your fave?
Nymphs #1 Nudes stacked, Limited edition Silver Print Made with the Diana Camera, Created 1998,Modified, 1/17/06 Negative drum scanned , Photoshop CS Denver Co. US
Nymphs of the Danube (it started my Greek tragedy staged series) and recent Ambrotype images on blue glass.
Maria (below) I shot yesterday.
Maria blue glass ©MarkSink
your favorite photo by another photographer?
Hmmm that’s so difficult.. it changes day to day … hour by hour .. minute by minute.
Today we found out model Nettie R Harris is coming to visit and she was just photographed by Ryan McGinley – I love the image of Nettie with the hawk.
Nettie ©Ryan Mcginley
Probably my more long term fave is Gertrude Käsebier’s photo of Evelyn Nesbit…
Nesbit ©Kasebier
…next minute it will be another. It all depends on the mood I’m in.
has your passion for photography changed at all since turning “pro”?
I am happy to say my passion and search is still high. I gauge it by the dancing in the darkroom. The excitement that rushes over you when a great image appears… i start dancing and singing.
do you have a favorite / lucky item of clothing, outfit or uniform that you like to wear when shooting an important assignment or project?
My comfy Clark shoes.. with wetplate i have a rubber glove on all the time. The neighbors wonder whats going on.
are you a photography nerd or a camera gangsta?
photo nerd …gangsta when i get a few drinks in me.
what’s your sign? (we’re conducting a poll)
Aquarius on the cusp with Capricorn
who would you like to see interviewed by photopolus next?
Someone on the other side of the world.
Shannon above Lani Nymph Series 1998 Denver, CO. USA
©MarkSink
If you are a photographer and would like to be featured as a future/potential Art Star on our blog, email us!
info@photopolus.com or ange@angefitzgerald.com, subject: Art Star.
*please include your website and examples of your work
____
Seasons of Crisis, Faces of Hope Photography Campaign
The Seasons of Crisis, Faces of Hope competition wants you to capture an extraordinary moment in time. The image should spread awareness of people in crisis, as well as present the message; even in life’s darkest moments, a glimmer of hope always exists. Photos will be chosen based on the participants ability to clearly carry out this message. The top 15 photos will be on display in our traveling exhibition beginning Nov. 2011 and running through Sept. 2012. Prizes will be awarded based on the following categories: Professional, Amateur and Kids.
Contest will run from Monday, Sept. 5, 2011 through Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.
For more information contact Amy Koshy at akoshy@contactcrisisline.org.
Just a quick reminder that 214Trans4m by Daniel Kusner and Bryan Amann opens TONIGHT at the Magnolia Gallery from 8pm-11pm. We hope to see you there! -Scott & Nicole
The Magnolia Gallery presents
214 TRANS4M
FOTOS BY: DANIEL KUSNER + BRYAN AMANN
When transgender models strike poses beside landmarks in Texas’ most conservative metroplex, the results can be exquisitely photogenic yet ideologically conflicting. But the creative team of Daniel Kusner and Brian Amann hasn’t shied away from the challenge. “214 Trans4m,” is a collaborative a photo series that aims to capture Dallas’ history, architecture and stereotypes, all while straddling the invisible divide that separates the feminine and masculine. Kusner and Amann construct each image as if they’re producing a small movie. Each project involves casting characters, choosing wardrobe, scouting locations, styling and building props.
Some regard Dallas (now that George and Laura Bush are our neighbors) as the Lone Star State’s cradle for reactionaries and traditionalists. Where men are men, and women are women. But Big D is too big to surrender to such narrow definitions. Like places of interest for the average visiting tourist, “214 Trans4m” invites Dallasites to look at their own city — but in a different light.
Some images from the Kusner+Amann portfolio include:
• “Dallas in Wonderland” featuring local drag artist Jenna Skyy becomes Lewis Carroll’s “Alice,” kneeling beside the painted X on Elm Street and pointing toward the Texas Schoolbook Depository. True to her character, “Alice” incorporates mathematics to gauge the magic bullet’s path on the spot where a commander-in-chief’s head was ripped apart by a sniper.
• “Breakfast at Neiman’s” features doe-eyed goddess Chaselyn Wade becomes a modern version of “Holly Golightly,” a down-at-heel party gal who can taste an unsullied life while gazing into a downtown window display of Dallas’ poshest retailer.
• “Callas in Dallas,” features trans showgirl Erica Andrews emulating Maria Callas reenacting the day that the New York Metropolitan Opera fired, who then gave the performance of a lifetime as Medea at the State Fair Music Hall.
The title of this photo is “Memora-Beale-ia,” featuring local drag performer Richard D. Curtin who morphs into a daffy Edith Bouvier Beale dancing before the Kennedy Memorial to inspire our admiration for a forsaken structure whose design was approved by Edith’s famously tasteful cousin.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Daniel Kusner is a former editor of Dallas Voice and publisher of Spread magazine. He blogs at SnipersLoveNest.com. His fascination with drag artistry began when the KISS Army recruited him at the age of seven.
Bryan Amann’s photos have appeared in Elle Décor: Germany, Out Traveler and Dallas Voice. His work has been exhibited at Dallas City Hall, Baylor’ Chas. A Sammons Cancer Center, The African American Museum in Fair Park, The Trinity River Audubon Center. Amann’s photos can be seen at BryanAmann.com
WHO: Daniel Kusner and Bryan Amann
WHAT: “214 Trans4m”
WHERE: Magnolia Gallery, inside the Magnolia Theatre: 3699 McKinney Ave. Dallas. Texas.
WHEN: Sept. 8, 2011 to Oct. 12, 2011
PHONE: 214-683-9134
CURATORS: Nicole Cullum Horn and Scott Horn
WEB: magnoliagallerydallas.com
CREDIT: DANIEL KUSNER AND BRYAN AMANN.
Magnolia Gallery
inside the Magnolia Theatre
3699 McKinney Ave.
curated by Nicole Cullum Horn & Scott Horn
214-683-9134
magnoliagallery@gmail.com
magnoliagallerydallas.com
Alex Welsh is a documentary photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. His interest in photography lies in its ability to examine longstanding systemic problems in society and establish a dialogue with audiences to confront those issues. His clients include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Fader, Businessweek, Nike, FYLP Media and The Oakland Tribune.
When and how did you become interested in Photography?
I became interested in photojournalism when I went to see Sebastio Salgado speak at Berkley about his work on Famine in the Sahel. At the time I was a History major in college, but I was drawn to photojournalism as a way to be on the front line of the world’s contemporary social issues
What gear do you mainly shoot with?
I really only shoot with a Canon 5d, I used to shoot some film but have lost interest in doing so. Don’t hate.
What is your #1 source of inspiration?
I don’t really have a number one source of inspiration, there are so many great documentary photographers whose work I love, but also my family and friends, hip hop, my bike, public radio, people I meet through my work, movies, anything really.
Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, ending up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?
No.
What is your all time favorite genre to shoot?
Documentary.
What is the one thing you feel makes your style or your work unique?
I don’t really know if I have a unique style, and in terms of the work itself I’m not really sure what makes it unique yet, I think that is something I am constantly trying to figure out. The struggle with documentary work is to tell a new story within the framework of a story that has already been told a million ways.
if you could photograph anyone, (past/present/future), who would it be and why?
My mom used to sing opera, I would love to go back in time and photograph her in her 20’s when was singing. Although I think she sees it as another lifetime, hearing her stories about when she was my age is deeply inspiring in a way nothing else can be.
what’s your dream photo field trip?
I just had a really good one visiting San Francisco for a month. Can’t be beat.
what’s your post production process?
Not much, just put them on my computer and do some light toning. Boom baby.
if you had unlimited resources to purchase any type of camera, what would it be and why?
One that I could live in rent free forever.
who are your favorite photographers and why?
I go through phases, right now I love Peter Van Agtmael, Malick Sidibe, Eli Reed and Justin Maxon.
what has been the shining moment of your career thus far?
I don’t really have one shining moment, I cared about my work in Hunters Point very much, it changed my life in many ways, so I would say that has been my favorite so far.
do you have any tips/tricks or advice for amateur photo nerds who are looking to shoot full time or students who are just starting out?
I think the best advice I received was that great photography isn’t really about photography at all.
what’s the soundtrack to your life and/or your favorite music to listen to while editing?
I listen to a lot of rap and hip-hop. There. I said it.
what’s your favorite hang (when shooting or not)?
Working or not working, a dance party.
best chow (meal/snack) to get you ready for a shoot? or best way to celebrate a brilliant capture?
I’m a fan of eating while I take pictures.
will you share with us one of your favorite shots?
This is one of my favorite shots because it was just a really great dance party. It was in the Westpoint projects at the reception of a young man who was killed. Some of the kids were playing music out of the car, a song came on, and spontaneously everyone started dancing. I remember being really happy when I took the picture.
Hunters Point, 'We Out Here'
your favorite photo by another photographer?
I love this photo by Christian Hansen, I think its fantastically dreamlike and surreal, and I think Christian is one of the only contemporary photographers who has the ability to communicate in this way.
©ChristianHansen
has your passion for photography changed at all since turning “pro”?
I don’t think its really changed, I think my approach has become more realistic. I also don’t know if I would consider myself a ‘pro’
do you have a favorite / lucky item of clothing, outfit or uniform that you like to wear when shooting an important assignment or project?
I have a lucky camera strap, if I lost my camera, I would be more bummed on losing the strap.
are you a photography nerd or a camera gangsta?
I can’t psychoanalyze myself that deeply.
what’s your sign?
Leo
who would you like to see interviewed by photopolus next?
A child watches as the playground at the Alice Griffith 'Double Rock' projects burns to the ground after being set on fire. Although it his highly suspected that the arson was done by young residents of the projects, police never discovered the culprit. Double Rock is slated for redevelopment in 2011, and residents must stay in 'good standing' with the housing authority and the developer Lennar to be eligible for a unit in the new development.Hunters Point is the last predominantly African-American neighborhood in San Francisco. Out of all major cities in the United States, San Francisco is currently experiencing the fastest out-migration of African-Americans; who currently make up only 6 percent of the population compared to 14 percent in the past several decades. With the Mayor and the Housing Authority fast-tracking the 'revitalization' of the southeastern neighborhood of the city, the remaining poor living in the public housing sprawls on the bay may see a community they have lived in for the past 60 years become too expensive for them to stay in.At the heart of gentrification, Hunters Point is plagued with many of the same issues as poor black communities all over the United States. This project not only examines issues such as violence, poverty, and criminalization, but also the strength, perseverance, and hope of the youth in the neighborhood.
Speedy, a young man from the Oakdale projects, admires his chain in the afternoon light while sitting in a van with his friends on Navy Road. In 2007, the city of San Francisco created its first ever gang injunction against the 'Oakdale Mob,' listing over 20 young men allegedly involved in gang activity on the block. Today, most of the kids on the block, like Speedy, are under the age of 18, many of who don't live there anymore but come to see their friends.
©AlexWelsh
If you are a photographer and would like to be featured as a future/potential Art Star on our blog, email us!
info@photopolus.com or ange@angefitzgerald.com, subject: Art Star.
*please include your website and examples of your work
____
Nick Pironio (1982) is a fine art documentary photographer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to arriving in North Carolina, he worked as a photographer at the Hanover Evening Sun, The Monroe Evening News and the Fayetteville Observer. After his time at the Observer, Nick had a short stint as the photographer for the John Edwards Presidential Campaign. Since then Nick has worked on projects such as documenting a developing denim company, Raleigh Denim and a series of Urban Chicken portraits.
When and how did you become interested in Photography?
When I was a senior in high school one of my best friends got me a job at a camera shop and I was allowed to take home and use any camera in the shop and process my own film. I was able to make a lot of mistakes and just learn on a daily basis.
What gear do you mainly shoot with?
For my projects I shoot with my Rolleiflex or Hasselblad 500c. When I’m just out and about I use my Leica m6 or Konica Hexar AF. Polaroids I use a Land 180 and for clients needing same or next day I use a Canon 5d MKII. I like to think of cameras as different flavors of the same tool, so it depends on what I’m in the mood for or what the job calls for.
What is your #1 source of inspiration?
Art, right now the work of Austrian painter Egon Schiele. I’ve spent quite some time studying his portraits. I’m interested in raw emotion.
Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, ending up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?
I make sure to schedule my projects as much as I can and if I have an assignment or a shoot for a client I usually just reschedule the project. That way the project is always on the calendar and always on my mind. As long as there is money in my pockets then I’m out documenting something.
What is your all time favorite genre to shoot (portraiture, conceptual, documentary, commercial, etc..)?
Right now its documentary portraiture, but I also like to do street photography. You could say documentary portraiture is my passion and street is my hobby.
What is the one thing you feel makes your style or your work unique?
I have been told by an editor that I have an ability to get up close and personal quickly with my subjects. It’s something I’ve always been able to do.
if you could photograph anyone, (past/present/future), who would it be and why?
It would have to be Tarek al-Tayyib Mohamed Bouazizi . The street vendor who set himself on fire in protest and became the catalyst for the Tunisian revolution. His one selfless act has sparked so much to happen in such a short amount of time.
what’s your dream photo field trip?
I plan on getting lost in South America for a while. What would make it a dream is if I was paid to do so.
what’s your post production process?
If its B&W I develop it myself (color I take to a lab) and then scan the negatives with an Epson v750 . If I find a great image I rescan the negative on a liquid mount for the interwebs. Then I take the negative to my darkroom and print. For digital I shoot>ingest>caption>edit/tone>deliver media>archive.
if you had unlimited resources to purchase any type of camera, what would it be and why?
One day I’ll shoot 4×5 (I haven’t researched it much so I don’t know which 4×5 I would get), but for now I just need an endless supply of film and chemicals.
who are your favorite photographers and why?
Some of these people I know and the rest I would like to get to know:
Cary Conover His street style is amazing and inspires.
Jody Rogac her portrait work is full of beauty.
Doug Dubois I just started looking at his work, but its very appealing to me.
Peter Hoffman his portraits and projects motivate me to go out and create.
Trent Parke and Minutes to Midnight is my inspiration to get lost in South America for a while.
what has been the shining moment of your career thus far? (or, describe your “big break”)
I don’t think its happened yet. Maybe it has (time will tell), but right now I feel like the peak of that mountain is still covered by clouds.
do you have any tips/tricks or advice for amateur photo nerds who are looking to shoot fulltime or students who are just starting out?
One thing I’ve learned that should be helpful to other photographers, is once you find your style you have to focus that style into projects/essays and into the type of work you want to do (commercial, editorial, art whatever) otherwise you just have a bunch of singles scattered around that don’t make sense. Yeah you take beautiful pictures but why? This advice really only helps the photographer that is out there everyday shooting, but for no defined reason.
what’s the soundtrack to your life and/or your favorite music to listen to while editing?
Depends on the day. When I need energy I play something like Justice. If I’m trying to slow down I play Grateful Dead. Right now (at this very moment) I’m listening to Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons.
what’s your favorite hang (when shooting or not)?
My neighbor’s house, there is always food and people just hanging out. They remind me to slow down and rest.
best chow (meal/snack) to get you ready for a shoot? or best way to celebrate a brilliant capture?
Ha! I’m a sucker for a Jersey Mike’s sub especially when there isn’t time to cook. After a shoot, during an edit or generally all the time is hummus and pita.
will you share with us one of your favorite shots?
I currently like Patrick Bradley in my Urban Chickens project but my favorite changes daily.
your favorite photo by another photographer?
Right now its this one (number 9 in Doug Dubois’ Family Photos 1999-2006). Its just a great captured moment, something I’m always looking for.
has your passion for photography changed at all since turning “pro”?
My passion for photography has grown. To be able to photograph everyday is an amazing thing. I’m glad I am able to do so.
do you have a favorite / lucky item of clothing, outfit or uniform that you like to wear when shooting an important assignment or project?
I don’t have anything lucky, but for some reason all my cameras have that thin Domke strap on them so I guess I like those.
are you a photography nerd or a camera gangsta?
I have no clue.
what’s your sign?
Aries
who would you like to see interviewed by photopolus next?
©NickPironio
If you are a photographer and would like to be featured as a future/potential Art Star on our blog, email us!
info@photopolus.com or ange@angefitzgerald.com, subject: Art Star.
*please include your website and examples of your work
____
Chloé Gassian was born, grew up and still lives in Paris, France. Raised in a environment full of images and music, she studied Graphic Design for four years and developed a passion for Typography and layout. Upon completing her studies as a Graphic Designer, she decided to finish with 2 complimentary years of photography at the university of Gobelins in Paris “l’école de l’image in Paris”. She is now a freelance photographer consolidating graphic design with photography.
When and how did you become interested in Photography?
My father is a photographer, so I learned to love the craft in my childhood. I can’t really remember when the interest came, it’s always been there. For me it’s something natural, obvious.
What gear do you mainly shoot with?
I shoot with a Canon 5D, a Canon EOS 1. And a Olympus Stylus Epic in my pocket.
What is your #1 source of inspiration?
There are many kinds of art which inspire me…video, graphic design, working with other artists, and obviously light!
Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, ending up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?
I’m just beginning so I am still able to manage my work with my personal projects.
What is your all time favorite genre to shoot (portraiture, conceptual, documentary, commercial, etc..)?
I’m pleased when I go into shooting sessions with a real idea in my head, a concept. Most of the time I work within a series, and I search for a narrative link between images. I love shooting people, but it’s paradoxical especially because in my work, faces are frequently hidden…
Do you have any upcoming shows or events you want our readers to know about?
I’m currently working with a french band on their visuals, and I plan on traveling to Colombia for a few weeks. I hope to be posting some interesting things on the Diary of my website.
What is the one thing you feel makes your style or your work unique?
I always try to have a conceptual idea and attempt to put a touch of madness and absurdity in my images.
if you could photograph anyone, (past/present/future), who would it be and why?
I would loved to photograph Boris Vian (a french polymath mostly known for his novels) because of his amazing universe.
what’s your dream photo field trip?
I’d love to travel across the United States from east to west by car, a bit of a “cliche”, yes – but it would be amazing.
what’s your post production process?
For digital and film, I use Photoshop, using curves and colors layers.
if you had unlimited resources to purchase any type of camera, what would it be and why?
a few months ago I went to the mountains in the south of France for a photograph-taking walk. This was an incredible moment for me within the wilderness (or nearly…) and I had a Hasselblad loaned to me by my school.
It wasn’t the first time I used medium format but it was at this moment, in this geographic and personal situation that I truly appreciated the medium.
So I would buy a hasselblad.
who are your favorite photographers?
I don’t really have a favorite…I really like the work of Billy and Hells, and Søren Solkær Starbird.
But my favorite artists comes from the art video scene, the pictoral scene. I really admire Chris Cunningham,
Robert Longo…
what has been the shining moment of your career thus far?
Probably, one of the first times that my work was published full page in a magazine or book…
It’s great to see your photograph in the library. I will have one of my favorite photographs on a cover of a novel coming out in February, I’m very impatient to see the result.
do you have any tips/tricks or advice for amateur photo nerds who are looking to shoot full time or students who are just starting out?
I think that it is very important to take an active interest in other kinds of art, not exclusively photography…
what’s the soundtrack to your life and/or your favorite music to listen to while editing?
For now, while editing I listen to Rapunzel from Dave Matthews Band, the live one is the best.
And the Clash!
what’s your favorite hang (when shooting or not)?
My new apartment.
best chow (meal/snack) to get you ready for a shoot? or best way to celebrate a brilliant capture?
Noodles with pesto sauce are the best with red wine to celebrate!
will you share with us one of your favorite shots?
©ChloéGassian
This is my favorite because it embodies most of what I search for in creating a photograph.
Lines, perspectives, a touch of color and a strange situation.
your favorite photo by another photographer?
©RichardAvedon
I don’t really have a favorite one… The last one that impressed me a lot was Charlene van Tighem’s portrait by Richard Avedon from the series “In the American West“. I stood ‘stuck’ in front of a huge print of this image.
has your passion for photography changed at all since turning pro?
Not really, I don’t think that it could change… Only for the better I hope!
do you have a favorite / lucky item of clothing, outfit or uniform that you like to wear when shooting an important assignment or project?
I just need to be comfortable. The friend who assists me is very important too.
are you a photography nerd or a camera gangsta?
Probably more a nerd…
what’s your sign? (we’re conducting a poll)
I’m a crab. (cancer)
who would you like to see interviewed by photopolus next?
Salva López, a Spanish photographer. I don’t know him but I really like his work!
©Chloé Gassian
If you are a photographer and would like to be featured as a future/potential Art Star on our blog, email us!
info@photopolus.com or ange@angefitzgerald.com, subject: Art Star.
*please include your website and examples of your work
____
Born in Dallas, Texas on November 29, 1982, Nadyia enjoyed painting and photography as a child and young adult, and in high school, became interested in graphic design. She studied fine art photography and majored in graphic design at school and recently has started to explore video production, which she hopes to incorporate into her photography.
When and how did you become interested in Photography?
My father sparked my interest in photography when I was fairly young. He’s an amazing underwater photographer and taught me a lot about what I know now.
What gear do you mainly shoot with?
Canon 40D and Canon 5D, and on occasion, film.
What is your #1 source of inspiration?
This is hard to pinpoint because I draw inspiration from so many different things. But I guess with photography, it’s people. I try to bring to life what makes a person beautiful, sexy, or sometimes, vulnerable. Sometimes I like to shoot someone in a way no one else has, just for the purpose of making and exposing something different.
Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, ending up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?
Definitely. Sometimes my job gets incredibly busy and I just don’t have time to shoot my personal work. But it’s important to me that I have that outlet, so I try not to go too long without it.
What is your all time favorite genre to shoot (portraiture, conceptual, documentary, commercial, etc..)?
My favorite is definitely conceptual photography. I like to actually think and plan a shoot or even a specific shot. I love seeing ideas I have become real. I also love collaborating with other artists, models, etc and making something amazing.
Do you have any upcoming shows or events you want our readers to know about?
I just moved to Austin and I’m incredibly grateful at how welcoming other photographers and artists have been here so far. I’m already planning and scheduling shoots with another photographer for a collaborative mixed media project. I’m really excited about it and can’t wait to see what comes of it.
What is the one thing you feel makes your style or your work unique?
I don’t know if it makes my work unique, but I pay close attention to detail, so much so that it annoys me sometimes.
if you could photograph anyone, (past/present/future), who would it be and why?
My grandmother when she was my age, because she helped raise me and because she was a really beautiful, genuine person.
what’s your dream photo field trip?
Spain, just because it’s the one place I’ve always wanted to go to that I haven’t yet.
what’s your post production process?
I bring the raw images into Lightroom then do most of the editing in Photoshop.
if you had unlimited resources to purchase any type of camera, what would it be and why?
I’d probably stick with what I have and just get more lenses. I don’t have enough and I’m always borrowing some from other photographers.
who are your favorite photographers and why?
My father, of course. Also an amazing man named A.Kaye, he’s been my main mentor and a really wonderful friend. He started out as a sports photographer for professional sports and is now photographing for a project, Heart of Women, to raise money for women who have suffered domestic abuse. I also really love Mark Sink, all of his work is really interesting but I’m fascinated most by what he does with wet plates.
what has been the shining moment of your career thus far? (or, describe your “big break”)
Being published in several magazines and publications. That’s always a good thing.
do you have any tips/tricks or advice for amateur photo nerds who are looking to shoot fulltime or students who are just starting out?
Make sure it’s a passion of yours before you jump into it. It sounds mean, but I don’t like being in the same industry with people who don’t care and are only doing it because it seems like a cool thing to do. Also, remember that most photography is a collaborative effort, and being able to respect those that you work with is essential.
what’s the soundtrack to your life and/or your favorite music to listen to while editing?
When it comes to music, I’m all over the place. But when I’m editing, a majority of the time I’m listening to David Bowie, Bjork, or Saul Williams.
what’s your favorite hang (when shooting or not)?
I don’t have one favorite spot. I like trying out new places, especially in Austin because there is so much here.
best chow (meal/snack) to get you ready for a shoot? or best way to celebrate a brilliant capture?
Usually something light like a salad so I can still be pretty active. And if I’m celebrating, probably Makers or Bulleit.
will you share with us one of your favorite shots?
I have so many favorites, but this one I just love because the image I had in my head came out exactly as how you see it in the photograph.
your favorite photo by another photographer?
I can’t pick just one photo, but go here and check out the photos in his wet plate galleries.
has your passion for photography changed at all since turning “pro”?
No, but the direction I’m going definitely has.
do you have a favorite / lucky item of clothing, outfit or uniform that you like to wear when shooting an important assignment or project?
Not really. As long as it’s comfortable, I’m good to go.
are you a photography nerd or a camera gangsta?
Both!
what’s your sign?
Sagittarius
who would you like to see interviewed by photopolus next?
Anyone I’ve already mentioned, also maybe J Woods (who does amazing photo composites) or Hutch MuselessMime (talented photographer/videographer in Dallas). I have worked with all of them and really admire their work.
Angela Ryan
Ivy
RS
©NadyiaMarshal
If you are a photographer and would like to be featured as a future/potential Art Star on our blog, email us!
info@photopolus.com or ange@angefitzgerald.com, subject: Art Star.
*please include your website and examples of your work
____
Maleonn
1972
Born in Shanghai
1984-1995
Shanghai Huashan Art School
Attached High School to Fine Art College of Shanghai University
Graduated from Fine Art College of Shanghai University, Major in Graphic Design
1995-2003
Engaged in commercial film as Art director and Director
2004-
Engaged in independent Creation of Art
Lives and works in Shanghai, China
When and how did you become interested in Photography?
Since 2004, I started to work on my own artwork in 2004, bought the camera, and fell in love with photography.
What gear do you mainly shoot with?
Mostly digital cameras, before I used CANON 20D, now it’s CANON 1DS MARK iii. Sometimes i also use a film camera like MAMIYA RB-67
What is your #1 source of inspiration?
Reading and watching films, and chatting with funny people.
Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, ending up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?
I always devoted all my time to the creation, so I’m not that rich. But some kind people help me, sometimes they support my exhibition, sometimes they collect my work. The money is enough for my simple life.
What is your all time favorite genre to shoot?
conceptual
Do you have any upcoming shows or events you want our readers to know about?
I have a solo exhibition soon in Singapore, another one in Spain.
If you could photograph anyone, (past/present/future), who would it be and why?
Myself. But more handsome than I am now, and less sensitive.
What’s your dream photo field trip?
Wild grass, abandoned city, the space where once people lived and left, where we can see obligation and time.
What’s your post production process?
Mainly photoshop, sometime I hand paint.
If you had unlimited resources to purchase any type of camera, what would it be and why?
I would buy the top digital camera. I don’t like traditional cameras. But sometimes the camera I use right now is still cheap. The work isn’t as perfect as those taken by film. Not necessarily like film, but with more details and color.
What has been the shining moment of your career thus far? (or, describe your “big break”)
When I decided to buy the camera, I quite hesitated because I had never touched a camera before. And the camera was expensive. I’m wasn’t sure if it would be able to help me to find myself.
Do you have any tips/tricks or advice for amateur photo nerds who are looking to shoot fulltime or students who are just starting out?
There are too many details in the techniques. Lots of interesting things can be done, but try not to only being addicted to all that. To a good photographer the most important thing is to find out one unique angle to look at the world. But that needs consideration, various experiments. I rarely used a camera. only after I thought about that clearly, I decided to take the camera and try to complete my ideal image.
What’s the soundtrack to your life and/or your favorite music to listen to while editing?
All kinds of cello music. I only like the cello. Recent two years all like that.
Will you share with us one of your favorite shots?
self portrait
If you ask the reason why this is my favorite, I can only say that I feel everyone’s works are self portraits, shooting ourselves or our generation. This picture contains me, my illustration and my sadness. But also a little bit of unbroken hope inside. The growth of our generation all in this instance, in our spiritual world.
Has your passion for photography changed at all since turning “pro”?
No, I’m still passionate, I just have fewer works, because I don’t want to repeat myself.
Do you have a favorite or lucky item of clothing, outfit or uniform that you like to wear when shooting an important assignment or project?
I have a necklace that brings me luck, sometimes I need it to bless me 
I often use it when I take pictures.
are you a photography nerd or a camera gangsta?
Definitely not camera gangsta.
©Maleonn
If you are a photographer and would like to be featured as a future/potential Art Star on our blog, email us!
at info@photopolus.com or ange@angefitzgerald.com
subject: Art Star
please include a link to your website and examples of your work
____
I grew up on a small farm in upstate NY. Nothing huge, but we had sheep when I was young. And grew lots of yummy things. I think it instilled my obsession with nature, and my comfort with non-human beings in non-human environments. Ironically I’m now based in Brooklyn, which I’m trying to use as a base in between projects that take me out somewhere. I began my photo studies in New York in a fine arts program, finished them with a journalism degree in Florida, and am now trying to figure out where I fit in and what exactly it is that I want to do.
http://celiatalbottobin.com
http://thelovelylens.com
http://www.pangeaphoto.com
When and how did you become interested in Photography?
I honestly don’t remember. I had this romantic idea of a photographer’s life from a pretty young age, I’d say around 11. I was obsessed with National Geographic. I imagined that there could be no better job than being paid to do the kinds of things they do (I still sort of feel that way). I began taking pictures seriously in high school, but my practice hasn’t been consistent throughout the whole time since then. There were years when I set it aside. But there was always an awareness of photography growing up. My dad (who’s now a writer) studied it in school, and my mom (who’s an education professor) also studied art. So I guess it was a visually inclined home from the beginning.
What gear do you mainly shoot with?
I’m either using a 5DMII (on which I’m trying to practice video skills), the Nikon F2 I’ve had since high school, or a Holga.
What is your #1 source of inspiration?
I’m not sure, but I definitely don’t have just one. There are so many forms that originate from very different places and affect different parts of my brain I think. Being outdoors is always inspiration for me, preferably in the woods. The books I read. Flipping through National Geographic still gets my juices going, especially the more science-related stories these days. Photographer friends of mine, as well as great photographers who I wish were my friends.
Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, ending up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?
Yes. It’s disappointing. Part of that is simply my environment. I’m sort of in this pattern right now where I live in NYC for a while, primarily shooting assignments and gigs that pay, then save enough to go off for a while on my own. It’s not a great pattern, certainly not my ideal. It’s not that I find NYC uninspiring to shoot in, it just triggers a different momentum within me, one that tends to focus more on business. But I’d like to be able to tap into a more creative faucet within myself here. This city fuels the creativity of so many people.
What is your all time favorite genre to shoot (portraiture, conceptual, documentary, commercial, etc..)?
I think most work isn’t so easily defined. A lot of photography floats in a more obscure space. I think this has always been true, but I also believe that institutionally-speaking, the photo community seems to be even more comfortable today with not needing to label photography in such a way. I will say that my documentary way of thinking through projects seems to be gaining strength. That doesn’t mean that the images themselves aren’t going to be ambiguous or conceptual or self-expressive, but those aren’t traits that I’m consciously striving for. If they manifest themselves that way, that’s great. I’m coming to terms with the fact that I’m actually not as in love with the medium of photography as I am with communicating and storytelling. I realize that’s an odd statement for a photographer to make, but I’m more attached to the idea of conveying information than to the still camera. If I couldn’t communicate through photography, I could be happy finding another vehicle to do it through. All photography is communicating something, in some form, so maybe using the word “communication” in regards to what I’m aiming for is redundant. But it’s the still image as a vehicle for transmitting info and emotion that attracts me. There are subjects in life that are important to me. And though I believe it’s arrogant and egocentric to think that what’s important to oneself is important to others in the world, I can’t help but feel that way about some things. Maybe I should just scratch all this rambling and stop kidding myself and accept the term “documentarian.”
Do you have any upcoming shows or events you want our readers to know about?
Not at the moment. I’m hoping to hear about a possible artist-in-residence position at Syracuse University soon though.
What is the one thing you feel makes your style or your work unique?
I’m not sure. I definitely have plenty of cynical days when I feel like “it’s all been done before” and nothing I do seems unique. But my photos and projects tend to evolve very organically. So hopefully that comes through. I don’t analyze or over-think my photos much, I sort of float along with my visceral reactions. And I’ve come to feel pretty comfortable with allowing myself to be within my photographs, as opposed to outside, looking in. Because I like to shoot things that I feel personally connected to, I let my sub-conscience project itself. I don’t believe objectivity is possible anyway, no matter who you are….
if you could photograph anyone, (past/present/future), who would it be and why?
My great-grandmother. I know a lot of people chose their grandparents, but they’re inevitably going to be fascinating, aren’t they? Photographing anything that far back in history would be interesting. I think nostalgia is called upon a lot in photography, and there’s a reason for that. My great-grandmother emigrated from Ireland when she was seventeen. The photos in my head of her life, especially in Ireland, are stunning. I have only vague memories of her and her Irish soda bread from when I was very little.
what’s your dream photo field trip?
There’s too many. But anything that involved someone paying me to immerse myself in a luscious environment would be a dream. I worked in Ecuador for a year when I wasn’t focusing or thinking about photography. I wouldn’t change that one bit, but I would like to take my camera and revisit where I lived.
what’s your post production process?
Sift through takes and hope there’s something decent. It certainly feels more hands on when it’s film- handling negatives and scanning. I’m currently working at the International Center of Photography, just once a week, so I can have access their facilities.
if you had unlimited resources to purchase any type of camera, what would it be and why?
Hmm….well I’m trying save for a Mamiya (7). So I guess that says something…
who are your favorite photographers and why?
That’s hard. Different people have different places in my heart for different reasons. For example, Sebastiao Salgado was the first exhibit I remember seeing in person. And he pretty much solidified my desire to follow this path. But was around 14 then, so a lot’s changed. Nowadays, I often find myself going back to Carolyn Drake‘s work. There’s just something very magical about the way she sees things. Her images have so much texture and always seem to be glowing somehow. And people’s environments and landscapes get just as much attention in her work as the people themselves. That’s a soft spot of mine.
what has been the shining moment of your career thus far? (or, describe your “big break”)
Do “big breaks” happen like that? I don’t know, I’m still waiting for that. But I made it into a gallery exhibition in Brooklyn this past fall, that was a nice feeling of accomplishment. It was a weird sensation seeing so many people putting their noses right up to my images. And having people buy them was even stranger. But very neat.
do you have any tips/tricks or advice for amateur photo nerds who are looking to shoot full time or students who are just starting out?
Try to nourish your vision and commit to standing behind it. It’s hard when you’re beginning and you’re not quite sure where you want your work to go. But once you sort of settle into yourself, I think it’s important to stand behind it. That doesn’t mean not evolving or changing or trying something new. But editors and peers will always be advising in different ways and suggesting different things, and they’ll often contradict one another. Obviously you can’t act on all the advice, so you have to absorb critiques on a non-literal level. Then tune in to try and figure out how you see yourself.
what’s the soundtrack to your life and/or your favorite music to listen to while editing?
More often than not, I’m listening to podcasts and audio books. And if I’m working at the computer, my playlist is often Debussey and Chopin and Bach. And as if this could possibly get any dorkier, I listen to a lot of jazz. There’s no replacement for Billie Holliday. I sound like a 75-year-old. Let’s see if I can name something modern….Iron and Wine. And recent fixations with Yellow Ostrich and Tune-Yards.
what’s your favorite hang (when shooting or not)?
My kitchen, Or hiking around the area where I grew up.
best chow (meal/snack) to get you ready for a shoot? or best way to celebrate a brilliant capture?
If I’m celebrating an achievement, I let myself cook a meal to my heart’s delight without feeling guilty about how much time I’m putting into it (and not into work). Does that count? I’m obsessed with cooking.
will you share with us one of your favorite shots?
This image isn’t a favorite, I’m not sure I have one. But it’s an example of a project that was personal, started organically around the area I grew up in, and I let myself sink into instinctively.
your favorite photo by another photographer?
I’m choosing this Sanguinetti image mostly because I just cited it as inspiration in another interview and I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately. My dad owns a print of this that my mom gave him. So I spent high school looking at it, studying it. It’s one of the most expressive portraits I can think of. It feels like a fantastical drama, or like something out of a magical realism novel. The entirety of this series is told in this one photo. And even though the ideal behind photography is that one photo can “tell it all,” I think that in reality that rarely happens.
http://alessandrasanguinetti.com/
The Adventures of Guille and Belinda……image #3
The necklace, 1999, Alessandra Sanguinetti
has your passion for photography changed at all since turning “pro”?
I’m sure it’s evolved in more ways than I’m aware. Mostly I think it’s changed in some of the ways I’ve mentioned here already: becoming comfortable with being vulnerable to what I’m shooting, comfortable with subjectivity, and more detached from the visual medium itself while focusing more on its communication value.
do you have a favorite / lucky item of clothing, outfit or uniform that you like to wear when shooting an important assignment or project?
Na. The most consistent thing I can say about what I wear is that I always have enough layers, if not too many. I always prepare for the coldest temperatures imaginable and usually end up sweating.
are you a photography nerd or a camera gangsta?
I can badly fake gangsta if I need to. But I think it’s safe to say in all things in life I’m a big nerd.
what’s your sign?
Taurus
who would you like to see interviewed by photopolus next?
Tim Hussin, he’s doing some cool stuff right now.
©CeliaTalbotTobin
If you are a photographer and would like to be featured as a future/potential Art Star on our blog, email us!
info@photopolus.com or ange@angefitzgerald.com, subject: Art Star.
*please include your website and examples of your work
____
2011 Dallas Great Streets Visual Essay Contest
The city of Dallas invites you to express your desires, dreams and ideas about what makes a Great Street in Dallas. This contest is designed to help us understand from the citizen’s perspective what works well in our streets and thoroughfares now and what could work better to make Dallas a great community.
We hope to spark your creativity to learn what you think about this valuable but often forgotten part of our public space — the street. We want to know what you like about particular streets in Dallas or how you would like to see them improved. Help us make Dallas streets even better by participating in the Great Streets Visual Essay Contest and be part of the Dallas Complete Streets project.
The Dallas Great Streets Visual Essay Contest is open to everyone. Winning entries will receive exciting prizes!
Contest Term:
The contest term for the 2011 Dallas Great Streets Visual Essay Contest is from 12:00 a.m. on July 18, 2011 to 11:59 p.m. on August 22, 2011.
Contest Rules:
By entering, participants agree to allow their photos or videos, name, city, and state of residence (school and grade for youth participants) to be published as award winners or to be used on web-based or printed publications owned or produced by the city of Dallas, sponsors of the Dallas Great Streets Visual Essay Contest, or interagency partners of the city of Dallas. The photos or videos will be used to promote the Dallas Complete Streets Project. Entrants retain ownership and use of their photographs.
By entering, participants warrant that their entry materials are original and do not infringe on any third party’s rights. By entering, participants release and hold harmless the City of Dallas, sponsors or inter-agency partners from any liability.
If a recognizable person is in the photograph, a model release must be submitted with the entry and liability is limited to the value of prize(s).
The City of Dallas may share your contact information with sponsors and inter-agency partners of the Dallas Complete Streets Project.
The City of Dallas and sponsors shall have the right to verify, in their sole judgment, winner eligibility. All decisions by the Dallas Great Streets Photo Essay Contest judges will be final and binding.
Contest Information:
Please read the following information carefully.
Who:
The Dallas Great Streets Visual Essay Contest is open to everyone. Entrants must enter their photos/videos into one of the following divisions:
Pro – Entrants whose income depends on photography/videography or if you consider yourself qualified to compete in the Pro division.
Amateur – Beginning or amateur photographers/videographers at least 18 years of age and experienced photographers/videographers who do not receive a major part of their income from photography.
Youth – Beginning or intermediate photographers/videographers aged 17 or under.
What:
The focus of this contest is on effective communication of your ideas and opinions about street design and how it affects the attractiveness and function of a place. We are looking for your ideas about what makes a great Dallas street. Entries in all divisions may feature any street in Dallas, including streets with residential, retail, entertainment, mixed use, office, business, school, or university uses. Entry photos/videos should express what you, the entrant, like about your featured Dallas street and if or how you would make that Dallas street better. Entries may combine visual media with audio, written, or graphic commentary to communicate your ideas and opinions about what makes a great street.
Each participant may submit one video that is no more than two minutes in length or up to six photographs as a single submission. Videos may include photos. Any text included in the submission may not exceed 200 words. Graphic communication techniques are not limited.
Each submission must feature only one(1) street in Dallas, although street elements from other streets may be used to illustrate how you would make your featured Dallas street better.
When:
The deadline for submitting entries is 11:59 p.m. August 22, 2011. Entries may be submitted beginning at 12:00 a.m., July 18, 2011 and must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., August 22, 2011. Photos or videos taken before the Contest Term are eligible.
Where:
By Email
To submit your entry via email, please attach your photos and the contest entry form to the following address:
photocontest@dallascompletestreets.com
The size limit for your entire submission package must be less than 20MB. If selected for publication, entrants may need to provide higher resolution photos later.
By Website:
Click here to submit your entry through the online submission form.
The size limit of the attached photos/videos must be less than 20MB, entrant may need to provide higher resolution photos later.
By Mail
To submit your entry via email, please include the contest entry form with your photo/video entry and e-mail to the following address:
2011 Dallas Great Streets Visual Essay Contest
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla-Room 5C-North
Dallas, TX 75201
Prizes:
Prizes will be awarded to winning photos/videos submissions in each division — Pro, Amateur and Youth — and one grand prize winner will be awarded from any division.
1st Place — $125.00
2nd Place — $50.00
3rd Place — $25.00
Honorable Mention — Recognition
Grand Prize — $500.00
Judges:
A panel of judges well versed in visual communication and street design will judge the contest. The grand prize winner, place winners 1, 2, 3 and honorable mentions will be determined at the judges’ discretion. Entries will be judged on relevance to Dallas Complete Streets project goals, effective communication, creativity, and artistic merit.
For more information about Dallas Complete Streets project goals, click here.
Questions:
For additional questions, please e-mail @ photocontest@dallascompletestreets.com.
To receive updates about the Dallas Complete Streets project, please register here.
Thank you and we look forward to your participation in the Dallas Great Streets Visual Essay Contest!
___
www.photopolus.etsy.com
