Monday, September 27, 2010

White Paper


This effort is from yesterday's shoot in the living room. I had to adjust my original idea after some optimistic experimentation due to the laws of physics. So I decided to make the best of it. I'm not sure if this Polaroid came out so murky because of underexposure or bad film stock, or both. But I kind of like it.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Julie Blackmon at Robert Mann


I met Julie for the first time in person at her show at Robert Mann gallery last night. She admitted that it is a bit of a struggle doing her work and balancing her family life--she has three kids! Kids or not, the work is impressive. Meticulous without being uptight, narrative without being melodramatic, her images are refreshing in the crowded field of conceptual and staged photographic imagery. One of my favorites in the show is the above High Dive, 2010. There are two Barbie dolls in mid flight from the balcony (you can click on image to enlarge).


Blackmon is great at utilizing sets with a frame within a frame-- often a window. I love the depth of some the these images, the tableau keeps on going in the second framed image. See the above image Snow Day. Obviously I am a big fan of her work, but I have to admit that I do find myself alternately impressed by and annoyed by all the chic set dressing and props- and sometimes I wonder if I'm seeing the work of a frustrated interior decorator. But in the end, she wins me over, with or without the zebra rug.

Courtesy Robert Mann Gallery, New York

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Echo


This is the first time my personal blog content has overlapped with my Visual Science blog for Discover. Under the expert guidance of my super smart, super sexy editor Kat McGowan I wrote a piece on photographer Timothy Archibald's Echolilia project for a special issue on the brain. Watching Kat crunch raw information into an elegant paragraph was awe-inspiring. I swear I heard violins.

You can see the gorgeous photos from Echolilia and my intro about it in the Discover Fall special issue on the brain on newsstands now for three months, or you can see it online now.

Above is one of Tim's lovely photos from Echolilia.

Hot Air


I was really very disappointed by this shoot at first, and just amazed by how boring it was. It just didn't have the tension I was hoping for. Now I'm starting to like it a little better. Think it might be worth a second try- with a smudgy white balloon, or maybe a plastic bag instead of a balloon.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Claudia Kunin from Review Santa Fe


Claudia Kunin was another artist/photographer that caught my eye at Review Santa Fe over the summer. I thought she might be a good fit for illustrating an article in Discover one day. She is using a 3D process that I really like the look of. I've always liked the way the reds and greens look on the edges of things- but only without the glasses. At any rate, her work is very intriguing, and I should mention she is having a show here in NYC. Claudia writes:

"I am happy to announce that I will be presenting my anaglyphic series "3D Family Ghost Stories" as well as a few from the series "3D Theoretical Ghost Stories" in the library of the Salmagundi Club from September 24-30. The hours for the club are Monday-Friday, 1-6 pm, and Weekends, 1-5 pm. I will be giving a talk on Sunday, September 26 at 3 pm at the Club, which is located at 47 Fifth Avenue, New York City. I will personally be at the club the 24th, 25th, 26th, and the 30th.

Thanks for looking,

Claudia"

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Brooklyn Bridge Swim


September 11th, 2010

Today I swam up to the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge stanchion and touched it with my hand. Looking up at the Brooklyn Bridge span from the water was exhilarating. It feels really good to know that I was able to do this swim and enjoy it, especially after all the fear and worry I had about it. When I arrived at the starting point this morning I felt so anxious I was becoming nauseated. Looking out at the river I saw a busy shipping lane, with massive boats plowing through a terrifying expanse of turbulent water, and wished I could just watch the race instead. In the end it was a lark. The happy news is that I am braver than I thought.

In previous open water races I had terrible panic attacks at the start that were exhausting and frightening. This time I swam the whole way with my brother, Nathan. We also started late to avoid the crush at the front. Starting late worked out fine, the only drawback was having to swim with slower swimmers --it was a very crowded course all the way through. I found myself doing breast stroke most of way under the bridge to avoid running over people, and I never came close to finding my pace. Next time maybe I'll do a longer race.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Dying of the Light


The luxury of the light and time of summer is over. It is incredible how much less light there is all of a sudden. I'm celebrating fall already, but I'm sad that my time is up for certain shots I was working on. I shot this one on Monday- Ollie helped me by staying out of the frame, and playing star ships in the hall.

This photograph is for CH. On the difficulty of being where you are at any given moment- among other things.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Gilbert Garcin's "Le bon diagnostic"


I think we've heard enough about me and my ridiculous photo projects for a while. This seems like a good time to show the work of a photographer I admire intensely. Gilbert Garcin came to my attention when a friend gave me a book of his work. Looking at his work was like eating food. It gave me nourishment. Also inspiration, along with the soaring feeling of the boundless possibilities of the human imagination. I don't know of anyone else doing work like this. Next time I go to France I might try to get an introduction, perhaps bearing a miniature baguette..