(photographs)

Just wanted to take a minute to shed some light on a talented group of photographers based in Chicago, who collaboratively self-publish and exhibit a broad range of compelling, contemporary photography. The 5th issue of the (photographs) book was just released this month and includes photographs from, Caleb Charland, Kate Greene, Kathryn Almanas, Joe Johnson, Adam Lampton and Paula McCartney. Our friends Justin Thomas Leonard and Lucas Zenk co-founded (photographs) a few years ago and have had great success and have been doing really strong work. Below are a few samples of work from the new issue.






From Top to Bottom:

Kathryn Almanas-Light-Box 1, 2005

Joe Johnson-Ice, Ft. Riley KS, 2002

All images copyright the artists

Philip-Lorca diCorcia at the ICA

I just recently saw the Philip-Lorca diCorcia show at The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. It was truly one of the most inspiring exhibits I've ever seen. The sheer multitude of work presented in this retrospective is daunting to say the least. It spans the entire prolific career of an artist who's development is laid before you in a predominately chronological fashion. Though the amount of work in this exhibition is challenging to absorb in one viewing, what is apparent throughout is the artist's ability to alter our perception of reality.



DiCorcia's photography walks the fine line between fact and fiction. He often intricately stages his environments and subjects, creating a far more interpretative experience for the viewer. Though knowing whether the scenes are natural or contrived is unimportant when looking at DiCorcia's work, because the emotions expressed in his images are very real. His photographs communicate the common, but universal spectrum of emotions that everyone experiences at one time or another. Whether longing, vulnerability, despair, wonderment or simply boredom, DiCorcia's photographs are complex examinations into the collective psyche of the human experience.



A friend of mine once said that when something feels surreal, it's because in actuality it's too real. This is my experience with Philip-Lorca diCorcia's work. His photographs distill so much humanity, that it alters our conventional perception of reality.

-Ben Alper


From Top to Bottom:

'Brent Booth, 21 years old, Des Moines, Iowa $30'

Head # 13

All Images copyright Philip-Lorca diCorcia

PRC Exhibition Coming to a Close

Exposure: The 12th Annual PRC Juried Exhibition at The Photographic Resource Center in Boston is coming to a close on July 1st. The exhibition was curated by New York gallerist Jen Bekman, owner of the Jen Bekman Gallery. 16 talented photographers were selected for the show and I was honored to be a part of such a great exhibition. Four of my photographs were chosen for the show as well as photographs from Daniel Ballesteros, Chris Bentley, Jon Edwards, Erin Eriksen, Erik Gould, John Hirsch, Robert Knight, Susan Lakin, Paige Largay, Christopher Lovi, Paul McKee, Brad Moore, Christina Seely, Martin Stupich and Jim Turbert. For any photo-minded person in the Boston area who has not yet seen the show, I would highly recommend it.




Here's a little sample of two of my pieces that are in the exhibition.

-Anastasia Cazabon

The PRC can be found at:

832 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215

Gallery Hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-6pm
Thursday 10am-8pm
Saturday, Sunday 12pm-5pm


Image copyright Anastasia Cazabon

Justin James Reed

Earlier today on his blog, Justin James Reed posted a brief spotlight on the Exposure Project. In the spirit of artistic reciprocation, we are doing the same. Justin is a Philadelphia based photographer, who's work I first saw at a group show at the Sophi Gallery in Philly. His striking photographs depicting the expansive Suburban development of New Jersey and Pennsylvania can be seen on his website. Also, if you're in the New York area make sure to visit the Jen Bekman Gallery, where more of Justin's work can be seen in the latest "Hey Hot Shot" group show.







From Top to Bottom:

Robbinsville, New Jersey, 2007

Jamesburg, New Jersey, 2007

Monroe, New Jersey, 2007

All images copyright Justin James Reed

Work In Progress: New Photographs by Eric Watts

These are some new photographs from Eric Watts, a soon to be Brooklyn based photographer. Eric has been residing in Philiadelphia for the last year where the majority of these images were taken. In the fall, he will be attending the School of Visual Arts in New York; where he will work towards finishing his BFA.









From Top to Bottom:

United Drive, West Bridgewater, MA 2006

Venango Street, Philadelphia, PA 2007

Erie Avenue @ North 3rd Street, Philiadelphia, PA 2007

8th Street @ Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, PA 2007

All images copyright Eric Watts

Work In Progress: New Photographs by Ben Alper

Here is a small sampling of recent photographs taken within the last month or so. I have been photographing the American landscape and its multifarious nature for past two years. For most of that time I have photographed almost exclusively in urban areas, evaluating man's imprint on the modern ubran fabric. Lately I've been drawn to the more residential side of urban life, exploring these issues on a more personal and less general scale.










From Top to Bottom:

Art In Stone Monuments, Brighton, MA 2007

Yard, Allston, MA 2007

Abandoned K-Mart, Brighton, MA 2007

Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 2007

All Images Copyright Ben Alper

Memories: Lost and Found

Last year, I was in a thrift store in Philadelphia browsing through what must have been thousands of old family and vacation photographs. I sifted my way through each box, searching for the truly transcendent images. What I was searching for was unclear, but nevertheless I proceeded with dedication. There was a strange excitement that accompanied this activity, I guess I felt I was going to unearth some profound photographic relic. In actuality, the majority of the images were quite commonplace and seemed to serve merely as documentation that something had occurred, or as proof of some exotic getaway. However, there were a handful that truly fascinated me. They seemed to capture something that the others had not. I thought long and hard about what made these photographs more special, what allowed me to connect more deeply to them. Some photographs capture unique and exceptional moments when the emotional and aesthetic content coalesce. These images achieved that.



After some more reflection and many more viewings, the images I had purchased seemed to leave behind a residual sadness. They represented moments and memories in people's lives that had been discarded and left to collect dust in a box on the floor. Whatever context these photographs once lived in and represented to the people who possessed them, had undeniably changed into something else. I suppose the sadness they exuded stemmed from the consciousness that these memories, at least in photographic form, had been permanently separated from their owners. Had they died with no one to collect their belongings? Had they simply moved and forgotten to take them? Perhaps they voluntarily discarded them for reasons only they will know. Regardless, these photographs leave nothing concrete except many unanswerable questions.



The stories revolving around each of these photographs are undoubtedly different. As are, I imagine, the trajectories they took to end up in same location where I eventually purchased them. I suppose that goes without saying. However, what they all do share is a representational loss of memory. They can no longer serve as guides and indicators to familial history. They have been lost, but simultaneously, I have found them. It is in this dichotomy that I find the most meaning. I am left to create the my own stories and to build my own memories from these photographs that have left me so much, and so little.

-Ben Alper

Photographers Unknown

Our First Featured Artist, David Wolf

The Exposure Project is dedicated to highlighting emerging talent in the field of Photography. As a result, we will feature one new artist in every forthcoming issue of the Exposure Project book. Our first featured artist is David Wolf. David is an Oakland based photographer, currently working towards his MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute. His honest and unequivocal portraits portray his subjects within the demographically diverse construct of recreational parks in the United States. In these photographs he has distilled the essence, and often palpable vulnerability of the people he meets.







All images copyright David Wolf

Our Inaugural First Post!

Welcome to the Exposure Project blog. We have created this blog to try and keep everyone updated with current Exposure Project endeavors. Our most current endeavor has been the creation of the second issue of the Exposure Project book, which is slated for release on July 26th. This issue includes photographs from Ben Alper, Anastasia Cazabon, Adam Marcinek, Eric Watts and featured artist David Wolf. We are having a book release party on:

Thursday, July 26th
6:30-8:30

The Brookline Arts Center
86 Monmouth Street
Brookline, MA 02446
www.brooklineartscenter.com

We will be selling the new issue of the book, as well as a small number of affordable, uneditioned prints. We will also have snacks and spirits for you, our guests. So, anyone in the Boston area who can make it, we would love to see you there.