Check out our very own Miha Matei in BizBash!!
(Of course, we recommend page 17 in the March 2009 issue)
Way to go Miha!
Click here to see her full portfolio.
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Contact assignment rep Jacqueline Bovaird with questions or portfolio requests.
212 – 462 – 4538 | jacqueline@glasshouseassignment.com
www.glasshouseassignment.com
While I try very hard not the be the “copy and paste” blogger… this essay is too good and too important not to share. Click here for full essay or see my favorite excepts below.
from Advice on Surviving as an Artist in this Economy by Amy Wilson for ArtBistro.
“I had grad school laid out in front of me, but I saw it as not much more than the two-year diversion it really was, so I eagerly asked all the teachers that I liked and respected what they thought I should do as I tried to make my way as an artist.
Among the things I was told (and remember, this is 1995):
1. Get a studio in Manhattan – you have to get a studio in Manhattan. No one will ever visit you outside of Manhattan. If you move to Brooklyn or Queens or, god help you, Jersey, you may as well toss all your work in the Hudson.
2. Apply for a grant – there’s plenty of federal/city money out there, just waiting to be taken by ambitious young artists.
3. Get a cute, fluffy dog and walk it around the Wall Street area so that you meet rich men who you can date and who will help support your career. (I absolutely swear to you that I am not making this up or exaggerating. This “advice” was told to me by several different faculty members and went through different variations, including walking the dog through the campus at Yale, in Soho, and on the Upper East Side.)
Right. My point in listing these (and there was plenty more that I got) is that absolutely none of this advice is good; in fact, while it’s all patently absurd now, it wasn’t really any less absurd back in 1995.
Artists don’t have to have studios in Manhattan, there are no grants to be had especially for younger artists, and I have never had a rich boyfriend (or for that matter, a stupid fluffy dog). And yet somehow I’m still here.”
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“But for the last few months as I’ve woken up every morning to find that this economy crisis we’re in just keeps getting worse and worse, I’ve been able to feel that generation gap growing between me and my students. It’s becoming clear that the experiences that I’ve had and things that I’ve learned may not be as relevant to them as I had hoped. I can’t tell you how much this disappoints me.
At first, when I felt the terrain shifting underneath my feet, I just sort of ignored it or was sort of numb to it all. But then, as I read things like Holland Cotter’s NY Times article a few weeks ago or Jerry Saltz’s various Facebook updates, it dawned on me that wow, there are actually people out there more clueless than I am.”
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“1. Admit that things are bad – really, really bad. The only way we’re going to ever overcome what the hell is going on is if we take a moment and really acknowledge what’s happening. You can’t really understand the problem if you keep telling yourself that it’s over or it’s not as bad as absolutely everyone around you is assuring you it is.
2. Stop saying that the recession is going to “clear away” the less serious artists/galleries/etc. This concept of “clearing away” makes me sick – it’s a euphemism, and it’s like expecting people you don’t like to just exit stage left and disappear forever. Human beings don’t do that. They declare bankruptcy, they lose their jobs, their lives get messed up – it’s not pretty. So don’t pretend that it is.
3. Know that you are not in control. We have no idea what is going to happen in the next few years. Really. I feel pretty confident in saying that the art world is going to look quite different in about five years than it does right now; beyond that, I can’t tell you much. And I also can’t speed it up or see it more clearly if I squint any further.”
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“You can learn from the past (and the present), but not like it’s a blueprint or a map – it’s more like a big puzzle that needs to be sorted out and embedded in it is a clue that sort of points you to where you’re going… maybe.”
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What do you think? Does this give you hope? Does it provide some sort of motivation for you?
This Month’s Discussion:
Photographers Photo-Blogging? Useless or useful?
Photographers are no longer only a collection of their images. They can now benefit by showing their clients a fuller definition of themselves. The blog format can be a modern scrap book where even a photographer’s tests can become something a client can respond to. As a rep, I look for photographers who think critically about our industry and can respond to it’s ebb and flow. Because not every shot taken goes into a portfolio, I look to see that a photographer is not only testing but also tackling the inevitable roadblocks on shoots, while maintaining a sense of humor about it all. I want to see the work evolve, even if that means making some mistakes along the way. While I certainly don’t think a blog is a requirement for established photographers, it certainly has the power to build a community and be a marketing tool for those looking to voice their opinion. On the other side of the argument, if a photographer presents bad work or clearly does not have a voice, it certainly colors my view of their photography and their position as a creative professional. The mistake sometimes made is that a blog can be your only marketing tool. In my opinion, blogs should never presume to take the place of a solid website and a clear, concise portfolio.
On that note, I thought we’d open up this discussion for this month’s Q&A series. I contacted the authors of my favorite blogs and asked their thoughts on the role of blogs and their relationship to the creative process. Below, you’ll see their answers, images, and links, as well as my list of a few extra blogs you should make sure to check out. Thank you so much to everyone who participated and contributed to the discussion!
– Jacqueline Bovaird, Assignment Representative,
SPENCER JONES, PHOTOGRAPHER
The reset button has been hit. The world as we know it will change in many ways. I think blogs will play an important part in this transformation, not only in the world economy, but in the creative process and in the way we see and use photography. How will designers adjust their approach to marketing, how will advertising campaigns solicit consumers, how will consumer magazines and newspapers keep their readers, and how will the printed paper compete with online sources? The list goes on. Where do you get your information from? Where do you get your inspiration from?
For me the two blogs that I look to are Design Mind and Stone Thrower. Design Mind takes an intellectual approach to the creative process. As the blog for frog design they are “fanatical about improving the world” I believe they are and will continue to be a leader in the evolution of how we create for a consumer driven world. As for Stone Thrower I love their content. It’s both a blog and a magazine. They encourage people from our industry to get involved. Even though it’s a young forum I feel that it’s a great source to follow.
As image makers, we all have to try and figure out ways to stay current and compete. Keeping up with blogs and being informed about the evolution of the field is the only way I see to survive this transformation. How will you survive?
EMILY SHUR. PHOTOGRAPHER AND BLOGGER
I think the effect of a photographer’s blog is whatever the photographer puts into it. Some blogs are self promotional. Some blogs are more of a diary, a personal account of shoots and travels. Some are used as an outlet for thoughts on photography. It seems to me that if the underlying approach is genuine, the blog will be successful. By successful, I mean that the photographer’s points will come across as honest and thoughtful. I regularly read about 10 different blogs. What draws me to reading these specific ones is a common thread of the author’s voice being sincere and compelling.
I started blogging in a state of downtime, after discovering the vast world that is the photo blogosphere. I thought that blogging would keep me thinking about photography in a time when I wasn’t necessarily taking a lot of pictures. I was really enjoying reading other people’s thoughts about photography and wanted to chime in with my two cents. I don’t think it’s a requirement for photographers to have a blog. However, I do think it gives readers and potential clients an insight into the photographer’s personality they might not otherwise get.
EVAN KAFKA, PHOTOGRAPHER
I don’t have a blog. I have often thought that it would be a nice outlet for my personal work, but I have yet to find the time. I know that if you create a blog that attracts a following, it can be an incredible marketing tool. The blogs I do tend to follow are mostly equipment related or technical. For the most part, I find photographer’s blogs to be too self absorbed and aggrandizing. I suppose that they should be, but I don’t find them very interesting to read. Some of the other industry blogs seem self righteous and arrogant to me. I can’t really get interested in most of them.
SIMON BISWAS, PHOTOGRAPHER AND BLOGGER
A photographer’s blog is a way to build community. I find that one links to another that links to another… and it’s how I find out what’s really going on in the industry. My own blog is a place for me to reflect and to give praise to my peers. I like being able to share ideas in a forum and see what other people are thinking. Magazines like PDN are great but they are monthly and don’t always have everything I want. I find that blogs really have content that I am looking for and that I find relevant as a photographer and they are constantly being updated. I read about 3-5 blogs a day/everyday…and by read I really mean skim.
I think a blog provides insight into the photographer in a more well rounded way. Photographs are only one part of a photographer. A blog allows a person to show what interests and inspires. Blogs definitely help build a community. They become a place to share thoughts, ideas, concerns…whatever. They allow me to see more deeply into the industry around me. You have the ability to see what people are doing, where they are going, who they are looking at. Blogs allow people to speak their minds and many times I find I share the same thoughts or opinions. I think it is not a requirement to have a blog but definitely an asset as a photographer. If the blog is bad no one will read it so I don’t think that matters. If its good it will get read. I have no idea if anyone reads mine or if its good or not, but I enjoy the process of posting things. I am definitely more interested as a result of blogging. I am constantly searching out material for my blog and as a result I become more engaged in the world of photography.
RYAN SCHUDE, PHOTOGRAPHER, CONTRIBUTOR TO: THIS IS A PHOTO BLOG
The blog is a good place to show recent work that you wouldn’t otherwise include in your portfolio. It is not essential, but does seem to provide a bit of community. Locally, I subscribe to wecanshoottoo.blogspot.com to keep up with current shows and nationally i belong to thisisaphotoblog.com for a monthly, assignment-based photo collective that keeps me in touch with photographers around the country I might otherwise not have known.
FINN O’HARA, PHOTOGRAPHER AND BLOGGER
Essentially, I think the root of a good photographer’s blog should provide a broader, authentic depiction of their photographic and personal world. It’s a great way to communicate their character, and the photographic professionalism behind their images. For many photo editors and art directors, the ability for them to ascertain your photography background, may help them determine weather you’re appropriate for a specific job. Basically, I think a good photographer’s blog should provide a little background on who your are, and what you shoot, in a proficiently edited format.
I use NewsFire, a feed reader, and subscribe to about 20 industry related blogs. So in a day, I read about 15 blog posts. I try to not be a lurker, just reading and not commenting, so I comment on at least two or three posts that I connect with. I think Rob’s A Photo Editor, is a must read. Rob has been in the business for many more years than I, and he has a great writing voice. He cuts through a lot of BS, and is a bit of a photo industry visionary.
I think the blogs add to the photo community, as the job can be a very solo existence. Photo blogs seem to help bring like minded people that much closer. Kinda like those terrible “Hello, my name is…” stickers at corporate meet and greets. I think if you haven’t thought it through as part of your self-promotion, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Placing an ad in Communication Arts, and updating your website a few times a year isn’t good enough. Some writing skill, consistency, and a good layout can go a long way. An out of date, stale blog, with no real writing doesn’t really service the photographer. Remember, everyone likes fresh bread.
ROBBI SIEGEL, GLASSHOUSE IMAGES
I read an average of 3-4 blog a week but those are mainly blogs related to the photo industry, not necessarily a particular photographer’s blog. I would say that if I’m interested in a photographer’s work then I’d be much more inclined to check out their blog. It just gives me a little more insight into the work and the person. But it’s not something I would return to regularly, it would just be that one time while I’m reviewing their site. They often have more work on the blog or other areas of interest that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. If I don’t like their work, I definitely don’t waste my time on their blog.
TAMAR LEVINE, PHOTOGRAPHER, BLOGGER, AND FOUNDER OF THIS IS A PHOTO BLOG
My blog allows me to show off a bit of my personality. I think with so many photographers out there, it is important to distinguish myself not only by my work, but how I work, and why I make certain choices. I can describe shoots and jobs while showcasing my photos. I can talk about an article that featured me or a project I am working on. It also allows me to showcase work I wouldn’t necessarily put on my website, but am proud of for different reasons. Hopefully this will keep people interested and give someone someplace to go if I haven’t updated my site in awhile.
I think certain blogs can definitely help build a photo community. My personal blog has links to my friend’s blogs, as well as other blogs I use as inspiration. Another blog I started is a collective of photographers with the sole purpose of building a photo community. We give each other assignments to stay creative and inspired, and then give each other comments and feedback. Photography is a very competitive business. It is important to get support! I definitely do not think it is a requirement for a photographer, but I do think there are advantages. When I have the time I love reading peoples’ blogs and in most cases it makes me more interested. But I also think you have to be selective with the work you showcase because it could definitely hurt to have work that is mediocre online, even if it isn’t in your permanent portfolio.
OTHER FAVORITES:
A Photo Editor | A Photography Blog | After Photography | The Selby | Conscientious | Vincent Laforet | Amy Stein | Thoughts of a Bohemian
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Thank you everyone who participated!! Keep a look out for next month’s question and email blast!!
If you have any ideas, comments, or if you’d like to participate in our monthly email Q&A, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Jacqueline Bovaird. I am always looking for new voices to add to this discussion.
212 . 462 . 4538 | jacqueline@glasshouseassignment.com
FINALLY! Below are samples of Evan Kafka’s promotion photographs for the new Broadway show, Next to Normal. Okay…I admit it. I’ve had these up my sleeve for quite some time now. Please keep your anger to yourself and understand that I was waiting until Next to Normal was closer to being up and running before showing you these! Suspense is a good thing!
I had the pleasure to be on set for this shoot and meeting the cast and creatives. Not only was a few moments away from the computer screen a very welcome change, but it was so wonderful to meet all the stars of the show and see them work with Evan. Everyone on the shoot was so sweet and great to work with. Their enthusiasm and excitement for the project was absolutely incredible, and definitely has gotten me counting the days until I can see them in action. For your viewing pleasure… here are Evan’s favorites from the shoot and a shot of the phootgraphy on the theater doors. Links below to the official Next to Normal website and opening dates.
Go see the show! AND tell everyone you know how fabulous the photography is….
Evan poses in front of the doors of the Booth Theater, NY
NEXT TO NORMAL
Previews begin March 27, Opening Night April 15
Booth Theatre
222 West 45th Street, New York, NY
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Check out NEW UPDATES to Evan’s main portfolio and corporate portfolio.
If you have any questions about Evan’s work, please feel free to contact his rep, Jacqueline Bovaird.
jacqueline@glasshouseassignment.com | 212 . 462 . 4538
Check out a peek at Evan Kafka’s new work in Smart Money’s April issue. What do you think? I, of course, love it.
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Check out Evan’s main portfolio and corporate portfolio.
If you have any questions about Evan’s work, please feel free to contact his rep, Jacqueline Bovaird.
jacqueline@glasshouseassignment.com | 212 . 462 . 4538
Check out Miha Matei’s new portfolio by clicking HERE!
Like Miha’s work? Feel free to contact me, Jacqueline Bovaird, any time with questions or portfolio requests.
212 – 462 – 4538 | jacqueline@glasshouseassignment.com
www.glasshouseassignment.com
I’ve always been of the opinion that sometimes you need to get out of your own way to take better photographs. In my own opinion, this is a big problem when you graduate from a photography program. It is possible that the process of analyzing images and putting them into a carefully critiqued historical context makes you think too much. You’ll lose your instincts if you let all that study sneak into the hesitation in the moments before you snap a shutter. Recently, Chris Berntsen, a colleague of mine, returned from a trip to Europe with the goal of pure photographic exploration, something that proved immensely valuable to his work, as you’ll see below. I’ve always found his work to be wonderfully honest. His images feel honest, but perhaps that is already thinking a little too much. Thanks Chris and I can’t wait to see more!
- Jacqueline Bovaird, Assignment Rep, Glasshouse Assignment
“The purpose of going on this trip was that I had just graduated college and had decided to end running a skateboard company I was running since I was sixteen years old. I decided that I would rather devote myself to living life as an artist not as a businessman.”
“It was my two months to escape my normal self and gain some perspective. Photographing there was harder in some respects because my work usually brings me into close long-term contact with the people I photograph who learn to exist with my camera, but this was street photography for the most part.”
“It was a therapy of sorts to develop new ways of seeing. I spent hours everyday walking around being a wanderer with a camera and shot what inspired me impulsively and tried to ignore the insecurities that prevent many great photographs from being taken. I don’t thing that these photographs are from an inside or outside perspective because my interest was very self-centered, I was more interested in things like death, age, the passing of time, not at all with who specifically I was shooting. “
“My time in Europe allowed me the time and space away from the standard dialogues concerning photography that dominated my college experience. The ‘burden of representation’, the belief that photographers should seek out truth and maintain a humanistic respect for a subject is fascinating I largely agree with it, yet I feel that it does not need to come into play unless the photographer claims its relevance.”
“Rather, the camera can point in several directions and this journey for me was one of introspection.” – Chris Berntsen
Thanks Chris!
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Want to know more about Chris’ work? Email him at cwb217@nyu.edu.
Are you an avid Ryan Schude fan like all of us here? If you’ll be in Paris this week and for the rest of the month, here is an opportunity meet him and to see the work in person! The show will open up this Thursday, March 12th at 64bis Gallery!
Get more info here: 64bis Gallery, Ryan Schude’s site
See Ryan’s complete portfolio here!
For portfolio requests, contact Ryan’s rep, Jacqueline Bovaird.
212 – 462 – 4538 | jacqueline@glasshouseassignment.com
Recently, one of our Glasshouse Assignment photographers, Miha Matei, traveled to New Orleans. Inspired by southern hospitality and culture, she connected with Nadine Blake to photograph her shop and products. Miha was nice enough to explain to me a little about her trip… Enjoy! Thanks for sharing Miha!
“I had never been to New Orleans before, OR anywhere in the south, so I was very excited to explore the area. I brought my camera, but I wanted to see the historic French Quarter without it, to really get a feel for it, so I left the camera back at the hotel. I came upon Nadine Blake’s home decorating shop unexpectedly, but instantly fell in love with it. The store didn’t say New Orleans one bit, but the second I walked in the southern friendliness and hospitality was clear. Nadine Blake was in the shop that day and she welcomed me like we were long time friends.”
“The world influences in the store were immediately obvious. It was as if Nadine had taken her favorite bits and discoveries from her travels and brought them together into her shop, and she had really great taste! All of a sudden, I wasn’t just in New Orleans. I was in exploring many parts of the world at once. I instantly wished I had brought my camera! I wanted to remember that little corner of the world forever. I must have seemed like a little kid in a candy shop, because Nadine agreed to let me come back the next day to take photos.”
“That’s why I love travel photography. If you really pay attention to the details of a place, it has the power to inspire beyond a local level. So, while I didn’t leave that day with photos that scream New Orleans, I couldn’t have found Nadine’s store anywhere else in the world. To me, having a connection with a place sometimes means that you have to look beyond the obvious and find the things that inspire you. And if my photos reflect that, then I have done my job well.”
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No matter what she shoots, Miha has such an incredible style and charm to her imagery. Aren’t we lucky to have her on board? I think so!
See Miha’s full portfolio here. If you have any questions about Miha’s work, feel free to contact me, Jacqueline Bovaird.
212 – 462 – 4538 | jacqueline@glasshouseassignment.com
Arrive, Amtrak’s equivalent to an in flight magazine, has presented a digital format nice and friendly for online viewing. Also check out the latest cover… nice job Evan Kafka!
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If you’d like to know more about Evan’s work, contact his rep, Jacqueline Bovaird.
212 – 462 – 4538 | jacqueline@glasshouseassignment.com
Recently, I came across the photography of Sara Wight. I instantly became a fan of her series Beyond the Horizon. Sara was nice enough to provide some info about her and this project. Ladies and gents…for your viewing and reading pleasure… I present Sara Wight’s Beyond the Horizon! See below links to Sara’s commercial and fine art site, as well as her bio and artist statement.
“…I began to travel, hoping that my camera could provide a means to understanding and then moving beyond my despair. Beyond the Horizon emerged during this period and has grown into a body of work that I will continue to build for the rest of my life.”
“The photographs in this series reveal the relationship between humanity and nature to be delicate and interdependent.”
“Inevitably, there are human-made elements: buildings, wires, fences, roads. All of these, made from natural materials and temporarily suspended in their current form, are destined to return to the earth.”
A little about Sara…
Sara Wight is an award-winning photographer who holds a BFA in Fine Arts from Kutztown University and an MFA in Photography, Video and Related Media from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. For more than a decade, her fine art photography has been exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and is held in many private collections. She also shoots commercially, teaches photography and has worked as an art director with some of the top photographers in the world. Most recently, Sara was awarded a residency at the Vermont Studio Center, a residency program hosting 50 visual artists and writers from around the world.
A little about Beyond the Horizon…
On May 14, 2003, my father held my stepmother’s hand, closed his eyes and submitted to the disease that had slowly consumed him. After a long and debilitating battle, cancer finally conquered his body. His death left me heartbroken, confused and lost. My world suddenly appeared unfamiliar to me. In my search for comfort, I found it impossible to accept the seeming injustice of the cycle of life. Desperate to see the world again with the innocence that had been stolen from me, I began to travel, hoping that my camera could provide a means to understanding and then moving beyond my despair. Beyond the Horizon emerged during this period and has grown into a body of work that I will continue to build for the rest of my life.
The photographs in this series reveal the relationship between humanity and nature to be delicate and interdependent. Small human figures on the banks of the River Ganges are neither masters of nor intruders upon the landscape they inhabit. Simply another element of nature, their existence, like the river itself, is in a constant state of flux. There are California mountains that have been thrust into the sky by the ever-shifting earth. And there are Spanish hills that once were mountains, no less beautiful in their diminished form. Ever-changing cloud formations in the sky over Versailles are captured as they were at a single moment in time before that form was lost and replaced by another. New England fog hovers in the air, temporarily enveloping the landscape with its eerie beauty. Inevitably, there are human-made elements: buildings, wires, fences, roads. All of these, made from natural materials and temporarily suspended in their current form, are destined to return to the earth.
By using a 35mm camera to create these images, I am allowed the freedom to follow my instincts and impulsively capture these quiet scenes rather than trying to will an image into being. The grain of the film is integral to the image, as it illuminates the beauty and ephemeral nature of this world.
While not eliminating the significance of human suffering, the lessons of the natural world do offer a sense of perspective. Our physical selves are as much a part of this world as the mountains and the clouds and the light given by the sun. All are in flux. All are fleeting. Only by viewing human life within the cyclical context of nature can I begin the process of understanding and accepting human mortality. My photography is a record of this journey.
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Thanks Sara! Click to see Sara’s commercial and fine art sites.
Check out the new issue of Field & Stream! Spencer Jones shot the Best of Fishing 2008 Field Test!
(We highly recommend pages 67 – 74)
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Like what you see?
If you have any questions about Spencer Jones or any of the Glasshouse Assignment photographers, please contact assignment rep Jacqueline Bovaird.
212 . 462 . 4538 | jacqueline@glasshouseassignmen.com
For portfolio requests for Glasshouse Assignment photographers, contact Jai-Lee Egna at jai-lee@glasshouseassignment.com.
For general inquiries about Glasshouse Assignment and about Stone Thrower, or if you'd like to be considered for a feature, please email info@glasshouseassignment.com.
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