Oliver Chanarin & Adam Broomberg Interview

There's a really interesting interview with Oliver Chanarin & Adam Broomberg in the new issue of Seesaw Magazine. For anyone who is not familiar with their work, this would be a great place to start.

Maury Gortemiller's The Natural World

I received an e-mail today from photographer Maury Gortemiller, currently working towards his MFA at the University of Georgia. I've posted work from his series The Natural World, although his other projects warrant investigation as well. Gortemiller's work initially reminded me of the specific sensibility of photographers like Brian Ulrich & Tim Davis.









From Top To Bottom:

Stove, 2007

First, We Do Research, 2007

Wreath, 2006

Restaurant, 2006

All Images © Maury Gortemiller

3030: New Photography In China

I received an e-mail from Andy over at Flak Photo today informing me of 3030: New Photography In China, a jointly sponsored feature that will run of the website in the coming weeks. In the description of the project posted to the website, it states that:

These images represent a wide spectrum of photographic practice that address new questions about identity and belonging in China as well as the practice of art-making itself. From fine art photography and photojournalism to guerilla image-making on blogs and personal websites, the project reflects the influence of tradition and politics as well as foreign media channels, growing consumerism and the development of a home-grown pop culture combining television, music, advertising and fashion.

Diversionist, 2006
Image &#169 Cao Fei

Callahan & Metzker Evoked

I found this photograph in a thrift store in Philadelphia some time ago and was immediately struck by how reminiscent it was of the early Harry Callahan and Ray Metzker photographs. The stark contrast in tones, the exaggerated use of scale and the selective rendering of visible information are all at play in this photograph; all of which were prevalent qualities of the street photography of the 40's and 50's. For a moment I was convinced it was a Metzker photograph. After all, he does live in Philadelphia.



Unknown Photographer

Photographic Typologies: Jonathan Olley

Stan over at Reciprocity Failure e-mailed me to share the work of Jonathan Olley, a British photographer who's series Castles Of The North examines the structures used by the British government to maintain control over the people of Northern Ireland. Unlike other contemporary views examining power hierarchies in society (see Richard Ross' project Architecture Of Authority), Olley's photographs elicit a more inviting and less sterile quality.









All Images © Jonathan Olley

An Image A Week: Darin Mickey

Darin Mickey's project Stuff I Gotta Remember Not To Forget is a portrait of his father Ken, a man who sells converted storage space in abandoned mines and caves in Kansas. The body of work is as much an exploration of Midwestern banality and everyday life as it is an intimate portrayal of a business and family man. Mickey's photographs (in the great J & L tradition) are spontaneous but honest representations that expose the smallest wonders and affinities found in commonplace locations.

J & L Books recently released Stuff I Gotta Remember Not To Forget, which can be purchased here. In addition, they are also offering a set of limited edition prints which includes three 8" x 10" c-prints and a signed copy of the book.



Washing Dishes, Amarillo, Texas

Image © Darin Mickey

Brian Lesteberg's Places Of Worship

I was first introduced to Brian Lesteberg's work through his series Raised To Hunt, which explores the artist's intimate relationship with his hunting heritage in North Dakota. His series Places Of Worship, commissioned by the New York Times Magazine for a feature essay called “The Way We Live Now,” contains the same stillness and isolation as many of the photographs from Raised To Hunt. Unlike his photographs of hunting culture which adopt a decidedly American aesthetic, the images in Places Of Worship address a more diverse set of cultures and religions. Despite the differing subject matter, Lesteberg's vision remains sensitive and thought-provoking throughout.

You can find an article about Lesteberg's work here.









All photographs from the series Places Of Worship

All Images © Brian Lesteberg