Some Thoughts on Recent Events

I had planned on writing more about Photolucida (and I will at a later date), but the deaths of Tim Hetherington & Chris Hondros in Libya threw me for a loop. Words are inadequate to express my feelings. There is no perspective to be had in their deaths. It is final and it is brutal. If you didn’t know them, know their work.

And now the death of Osama Bin Laden takes our attention in another direction. Should the president release a death photo or not? For me it doesn’t matter. I am not a fan of death porn. As a photo editor for many years I saw a lot of terrible images and I do not need to see more.

It seems to me that those who call for the photos to be released are people who won’t believe things even when faced with the truth. How else can you explain the Birthers? When Obama finally released his birth certificate they claimed it had been Photoshopped. What’s the say that wouldn’t be the case with the death photo of Bin Laden?

I am not someone who simply believes everything the government tells me, far from it. But I am willing to accept this. I don’t need more. And to be honest, in this day and age I’m not convinced the photo won’t show up somewhere at some time in the future. The fact that the mission to get Bin Laden stayed completely unknown until announced is amazing. Nothing seems to stay hidden for long anymore.

Since the deaths of Tim & Chris I have been thinking a lot about those who go to conflict zones to make their careers. I will be writing about that soon, as I worry that the danger and lack of protection is worse than ever, and I question the wisdom of it. But that will wait for a later date as well. So many things have pushed me away from my initial intent on writing here at Stellazine that I am re-evaluating what I write about and how frequently I do it.

Photolucida 2011

After 5 days and over 50 portfolios looked at, I leave Portland and Photolucida with laryngitis from all that talking. I had a wonderful time, saw some spectacular work and hung out with great people. I want to write a more in-depth review for next week, but I thought I'd just go over some of the highlights.

It was a real treat getting to see actual prints from Jamey Stillings of his Hoover Dam project. I've been in love with this project since I first saw it online. Add to that the amazing B&W soldier portraits Louie Palu showed me and that was enough to make me happy to be there.

I also got to meet several photographers in person--people I've hired in the past, or had spoken to before, including Jeffrey Sauger, who showed me a great B&W project about Black farmers.


I was very moved by Nancy LeVine's project about senior dogs as a way to explore America and it's aging population. "It's my version of The Americans," said Nancy. This is such a fully realized project, beautifully shot in both color and B&W. All I could say was wow.


David Pace brought his project documenting the end of the week dance parties in Burkina Faso--shot only with a strobe. I loved this! It's a slice-of-life that we rarely get to see from Africa., and it's joyous, colorful, fun, and of Burkina Faso, a country we hear nothing about in our media.

The teenager portraits by Rania Matar show us girls in their bedrooms, and allow us to see into these young women in such a fully developed way it's almost like a sociological study. The young women allow us to know them through their poses and by showing us the environments they have created. Mixing western and eastern portraits, we see the true nature of globalization through the similarities in objects and imagery these young women choose as their own.


Gordon Stettinius' hilarious project, "Mangini Studio Series" where he photographs himself as different characters (including perfect hair and wardrobe styling) is wonderfully inventive. He embodies everyone from a cookie-cutter politician to a psycho killer. Such a cool project, and a sense of humor I almost never see in photography: smart, sophisticated, and making a point.


I plan on writing more about Photolucida next week talking more about the experience in greater detail, and some of my impressions, so stay tuned.

Atlanta Celebrates Photography

I'm heading off to Atlanta tomorrow (my first time there) to review portfolios for Atlanta Celebrates Photography. Each October, Atlanta is transformed by over 150 photo-related exhibitions and events, including a core of ACP programs hosted by a diverse network of venues across the Atlanta metro area. I'm really excited to have been asked to participate, joining my illustrious colleagues David Bram of Fraction, Danielle Avram-Curatorial Assistant, Photography & Modern and Contemporary Art at the High Museum of Art, Taj Forer - Editor, Daylight Magazine, Sylvie Fortin - Editor, Art Papers Magazine, Stuart Horodner - Artistic Director, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Michael Kochman - Creative Director, Turner Image Management, Lisa Kurzner - Independent Curator, Writer, Art Consultant, Yan Li and Li Shufeng - Curators, Beijing, China
Evan Mirapaul - collector, art critic, independent curator, Laura Moya - Director, Photolucida, Christopher Rauschenberg - Co-Founder, Co-Curator and Board Chairman, Blue Sky Gallery, Anna Walker Skillman - Owner, Jackson Fine Art, Susan Todd-Raque - Private dealer, independent curator, Paula Tongarelli - Executive Director, Griffin Museum of Photography, Caroline Wall - Director, Robert Mann Gallery.

I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of work and getting a feel for the photography scene in Atlanta. I will try to blog about what I do and what I see, so check in over the weekend.

And if you're in the area, come on by and take in the sights!