©Samantha Casolari

Some of the work by photographer Samantha Casolari is quite beautiful. The project I like the most is Untitled, Nevada 2007, under personal work.

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A very interesting post at A Photo Editor about talent and photography.

Sometimes photographers take an “I could have done that” attitude when it comes to talent in this industry, but honestly, you can’t.- A Photo Editor

How many times have you told yourself “I could have done that” when seeing pictures from others photographers?

There is a difference between thinking and doing; the last is the ultimate proof that "you could have done that". Never mind that when you saw the image it was done already ... by someone else ... but could you have created the image before seeing it?

There is something else to photography than being able to take the picture, it is about the creation of the image, the visualization. So next time it is better to say "I could have created that" ... or perhaps you couldn't.

How many photographers are required to change a light bulb?

50 photographers ... one that actually changes the light bulb and 49 others that say they could have done that!

Next time go and change the bulb yourself.

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©Luisa Lambri

Italian photographer Luisa Lambri takes photographs of modernist building interiors devoid of people. Her work is a perception of geometry with subtle colors, many images appearing dominated by sober tones of grey, white and black. Unfortunately she does not have a website showing her own work. Rather, few of her images can be seen in various websites of galleries and art sites (artnet, Studio Guenzani, Menil House, photoarts) . Given the quality of her work, browsing through the sites is time that is worthwhile to spare. It is certainly disappointing, that only few images are posted on the web.

"I depict places as if they were inhabitable, revealing their intimate and emotional dimension … I see architecture as autobiography, the places photographed as self-portraits. I'm not interested in documenting the architectural qualities of a building … the architectural qualities are present as an open and unsolved question, a way to introduce a fictional narrative. I take photographs in a rather traditional way … but their visual quality is somehow evocative of the electronic age. The immaterial state of the light and its perception may recall the electronically generated space, an architecture based on relationships between abstract elements. - Luisa Lambri

©Luisa Lambri

©Luisa Lambri

©Luisa Lambri

©Luisa Lambri

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© Carlo Van de Roer

Like always, the winners of the Hey Shot! competition include very talented photographers.

Jennifer Boomer ; Scott Eiden ; Todd Forsgren; Shauna Frischkorn ; Georg Parthen ; Birthe Piontek; Marie Sauvaitre ; Ross Sawyers; Ian van Coller; Carlo Van de Roer

The work that impressed me the most, it is the project from Carlo Van de Roer, quite amazing photography indeed. Also, it is worthwhile to list the artists that won Honorable Mentions, as indeed, they are also a group of fantastic photographers:

David Balhuizen, Jason DeMarte, William Hannigan, May Heek, Mickey Kerr, Adam Krause, Mollie Murphy, Nandor Ordog, Toni Pepe, Corine Smith, Damian VanCamp and Jon Wasserman

"Hey, Hot Shot is the latest effort by jen bekman to discover and support emerging artists. Over the past four years, the gallery has established its reputation as a champion of young and emerging artists. Many talented artists have had critically acclaimed solo debuts at the gallery. The gallery's well-known Pin-Up Shows have featured work by dozens of new artists. Previous exhibitions have been critic's picks on ARTFORUM.com and in publications like The New Yorker and The Village Voice. Innovative group exhibitions have placed the work of new artists alongside acclaimed photographers including Stephen Shore, Todd Hido and Mitch Epstein" [link]

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[From Vacancy, 2004-2005] © Timothy Briner

Because of my presence, regardless of the situation, I could never truly capture a scene as it was. Yes, I am creating a document, but it is flawed, mostly by that fact that I am there with a specific intention, to create something, therefore manipulating something. But there is more to it: The photograph itself is only an object; It is an object viewed and judged differently every time it is seen, therefore it separates itself farther from reality. - Timothy Briner

A young photographer breaking his path in fine art photography. His vision, his dreams, the challenges, the inspiration.

I had the opportunity to interview photographer Timothy Briner, and he shared a candid view of his work, projects and struggles as a young photographer.

After several personal projects and a brief exploration of commercial photography, Tim is now embarked in a project, Boonville, that intends to explore "small-town" America, its people and its cultural diversity across states. But this project is not only a journey through America but a discovery of his own path.

The Boonville project is a a year-long cross-country journey to six different towns named Boonvilles across the United States. Timothy will be living with families and individuals during his thirty-plus days in each town. The final product will take images from the six communities, juxtaposing them together to create a fictional town named "Boonville".

The Boonville project project is really about the people living in modern America: the good, the bad and the indifferent. This project is a dream come true. Traveling across the country, working on what you wish, when you wish; It all sounds very romantic. And it is! But not without some debate. I am grateful and very excited to be doing what I am doing. But it gets lonely.-Timothy Briner

Read the dialogue with Tim after the jump.

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© Craig Reynolds

Craig Reynolds produces images that are intense visually and give a sense of emptiness. His portraits capture people that appear soulless surrounded in a flow of light. But the work I like the most are his images of night photography: a visual experience of night lighting mixed with an sense of mystery. Craig Reynolds is represented by Wonderful Machine.

©Craig Reynolds

©Craig Reynolds

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©Chris Buck [Steve Carrel]

Since I saw the work of Chris Buck few years ago, I was really surprised about the originality of how his subjects are depicted in the images. In a field as crowded as celebrity portraits, Chris raises with a level of creativity and visual expression that never fails to surprise. You can see many wonderful images at his website and read a very interesting essay about his work published online here.

I like to photograph people in uncompromising positions, I do that all the time! I work to do it--it's my job. I want to make a photograph that's an interesting photograph that might say something about them. So to do that you need to put people in situations where they feel awkward. Well, to me anyways, those are the pictures I relate to, maybe because I feel awkward. So I relate to pictures of people feeling awkward. So I'll do that with people. I won't tell them that, I won't say, 'hey, I'm gonna make you feel awkward,' though sometimes I will, if I feel there's some sort of connection with them and I think they're gonna get it. Some subjects respond well to this, Usually it's somewhere in between. - Chris Buck

© Chris Buck [Eminem]

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© Luis Sinco (Los Angeles Times)

Very interesting story published online in LA Times. .. you have to register for free if you like to read it [story]. You can see a beautiful multimedia show combining pictures and audio on the story here. More images from Luis Sinco and an interview where he explains his work in Iraq can be found at the npr site.

_____________________

Times photographer Luis Sinco made James Blake Miller an emblem of the war. The image would change both of their lives and connect them in ways neither imagined.

The young marine lighted a cigarette and let it dangle. White smoke wafted around his helmet. His face was smeared with war paint. Blood trickled from his right ear and the bridge of his nose.

Momentarily deafened by cannon blasts, he didn't know the shooting had stopped. He stared at the sunrise.

His expression caught my eye. To me, it said: terrified, exhausted and glad just to be alive. I recognized that look because that's how I felt too. I raised my camera and snapped a few shots.
With the click of a shutter, Marine Lance Cpl. James Blake Miller, a country boy from Kentucky, became an emblem of the war in Iraq. The resulting image would change two lives -- his and mine. [story] .

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Interesting post "Advise from a Photographer" via "A Photo Editor" with empathetic and wise advise to anyone intending to start and pursue a career in photography. Nice to read for anyone, it gives a sense of key aspects of the job.

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Quite a project, indeed. I am looking forward to see the book. 55 top photographers, each a different assignment "illustrating every imaginable aspect of Thailand today". Very interesting indeed.

_______________

Thailand: 9 Days in the Kingdom, a photographic book commemorating the auspicious occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 80th birthday, will be launched in December 2007.

With over 350 photos illustrating every imaginable aspect of Thailand today, including the economy, the regions, rural and city life, urban development, tourism, fashion, arts and crafts, and various other aspects, the book will be a dramatic record of the change and development that have been achieved in Thailand during the reign of His Majesty.

A team of 55 top photographers from 19 countries are in the Kingdom of Thailand from January 14 to 22, 2007. They include 11 Thai and 44 international photojournalists from Europe, America and Asia, portrait photographers, documentary photographers and specialists in fields such as aerial, nature, lifestyle and underwater photography.

All these photographers have been given their individual assignments, allowing them to capture images of life throughout Thailand according to their talents. Mr Surat Osathanugrah, Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board, said: ‘Thailand: 9 Days in the Kingdom is not just an ordinary book, but a “visual time capsule”.’

The book Thailand: 9 Days in the Kingdom will be produced in full colour, with 288 pages, 255 mm x 355 mm (portrait) and published in English, Japanese, French and probably several other languages, and will be sold around the world. In Thailand, the book will be on sale by December 2007 at a price of 1,750 Baht.

The publisher Editions Didier Millet, and sponsors of the project will jointly donate Baht 9,000,000 to His Majesty the King for charitable use. [source]

James Nachtwey: I went to Lop Buri, to Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu, and focused on the work of one of the volunteers in the AIDS hospice, Father Michael Bassano. I wanted to focus on one person rather than take on subject superficially. I didn't conceive of this book, I just conceived of what I wanted to do. I don't work from the point of view of trying to make things look good, or even try to make them look bad. I try to make them look as I perceive them to be. There's nothing good about AIDS or tuberculosis and yet the man I photographed is doing a great deal of good in the midst of a tragic situation. Father Bassano is a paradigm of positive life force, an amazing human being. He's a very, very inspiring man. I was privileged to spend a week with him [source]

Steve McCurry: I chose Buddhism. I’ve been interested in Buddhism as a way of thinking for a long time. Over the last 20 years, I’ve been to Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Laos, Thailand, Nepal… It’s a reoccurring theme in my work. So I thought, why not do a book about it and come back to Thailand. You need to delve into it, not just scratch the surface. To go beyond clichés, you need to spend time. If you breeze through a temple, they all seem the same. You need to go into the backrooms, the living quarters. It’s all about discovery, seeing things, wandering around. The fun, the joy, the reward is the journey. You just wander around and wait for serendipitous situations. I don’t think too much. Things must touch me. [source]

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