Lomography + JPG + Photojojo San Francisco & NYC meet-ups

Dolores Park & Union Square Park
SF: meeting spot TBA
NYC: under the George Washington Statue

September 3rd, 2008 @ 7pm
Contact: liad@lomography.com

For more information check out the Lomography Magazine Events page.

Come join me at the NYC event!

Read My Guest Blog Post on Black Star Rising!

Founded in 1935 by German Jews fleeing Nazi Germany, the Black Star photography agency has represented legendary photographers like Robert Capa and "introduced modern European photojournalism to the United States."

A few weeks ago, the editor of the agency's blog, Black Star Rising, invited me to contribute - he said he liked my "strong opinions."

Now, I invite you to read my first guest blogger entry, "Privileged POV: Closing the Disparity Between the Photographer and the Documented".

Would love to hear any feedback you may have - enjoy!

Susan Meiselas and Hank Willis Thomas Books Published by the Aperture Foundation

Available next month and published by the Aperture Foundation, "the images trace the evolution of the popular resistance that led to the insurrection, culminating with the triumph of the Sandinista revolution in 1979."

Originally published in 1981, the 2008 edition of Nicaragua: June 1978–July 1979 by Susan Meiselas comes with a DVD which documents the photographer's recent return to the country.

Also coming soon from the Aperture Foundation, Hank Wills Thomas' first monograph Pitch Blackness will be published by Aperture in October 2008.

Aperture is offering a limited edition print of Hank Willis Thomas' "Black Power" photograph. Hank was also recently honored as the first recipient of the Aperture West Book Prize.

China As New Colonial Power in Africa

One fifth of the world's human population lives in China and as their economic status changes, so does their need for a better lifestyle. The Chinese are poised to become the new consumers.

The "China Goes" photography exhibit at the Noorderlicht Photogallery in the Netherlands spotlights 7 photographers who are documenting China's growth from third-world to superpower status.

Of note is the photography series "China's Wild West" by Paolo Woods who documents the country's quest for natural resources and cheap labor in Africa.

Read this Fast Company special report on China in Africa to understand the dynamics of this new demand and supply relationship.

PHOTO: Copyright Paolo Woods

New Book: Illegal People by David Bacon

In Illegal People Bacon explores the human side of globalization, exposing the many ways it uproots people in Latin America and Asia, driving them to migrate. At the same time, U.S. immigration policy makes the labor of those displaced people a crime in the United States. Illegal People explains why our national policy produces even more displacement, more migration, more immigration raids, and a more divided, polarized society.

Through interviews and on-the-spot reporting from both impoverished communities abroad and American immigrant workplaces and neighborhoods, Bacon shows how the United States' trade and economic policy abroad, in seeking to create a favorable investment climate for large corporations, creates conditions to displace communities and set migration into motion. Trade policy and immigration are intimately linked, Bacon argues, and are, in fact, elements of a single economic system.

In particular, he analyzes NAFTA's corporate tilt as a cause of displacement and migration from Mexico and shows how criminalizing immigrant labor benefits employers.

Bacon powerfully traces the development of illegal status back to slavery and shows the human cost of treating the indispensable labor of millions of migrants-and the migrants themselves-as illegal. Illegal People argues for a sea change in the way we think, debate, and legislate around issues of migration and globalization, making a compelling case for why we need to consider immigration and migration from a globalized human rights perspective.

Buy the book Illegal People: How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants online.

See David Bacon's schedule of coming book discussions and photography exhibitions.

Latin American Artists Re(de)fine Madrid Using Photographic Media

The Museo Universitario del Chopo presents at the Biblioteca de Mexico (Library of Mexico) the exhibition titled "Madrid Mirada" (Madrid Seen), on view through September 19, 2008.

Description of "Madrid Mirada" show from Artdaily.org:

"This photographic exhibition presents fourteen Latin American artists with their particular vision of the capital of Spain, showing the different possibilities that the photographic media provides to art...

The works include individual photographs, photographic objects, photographs that interact with their own shadows, stereoscopic images, videos, sound recordings, and many of them include digital technology to give the image a new meaning."

The artists participating in the exhibition are Alexander Apóstol (Venezuela), Jaime Ávila Ferrer (Colombia), Sandra Boulanger (Bolivia), Maya Goded (Mexico), Luis González Palma (Guatemala), Jonathan Harker (Panama), José Manuel Fors (Cuba), Priscilla Monge (Costa Rica), Eustaquio Neves (Brazil), Tomás Ochoa (Ecuador), Luis Paredes (El Salvador), Graciela Sacco (Argentina), Milagros de la Torre (Peru) and Pablo Zuleta Zahr (Chile).

Click on the linked artist names above to see previous works of their photography, unrelated to the Madrid exhibit.

Photographer Peter Yang

Commercial photographer Peter Yang is super cute (that's him on the left) and he photographs rock stars, sports stars and wannabe stars. He's also photographed Barack Obama - you can see a glowing pic of the presidential hopeful on Yang's homepage.

BTW, I found out about Peter Yang through the Strobist blog - a great resource on photography lighting.

Winning Results for Flickr & Tate Modern's "Street & Studio"

Check the Tate Modern's Street & Studio Flickr page to see if you've won!

I didn't... but that's OK.

I do find it frustrating that a majority of the images were from UK photographers - seems a bit biased to me.

LA Times Article on the "Henequen", Mexicans of Korean Descent

Another fascinating case of what I'd like to call "culture mash" as seen in this LA Times article, Korean Mexicans learn more of their Asian roots on visit to Southern California by Hector Becerra.

Formerly the superpower of Latin America, people immigrated to Mexico instead of vice versa. Back in 1905, a group of Koreans who were fleeing Japanese rule were "lured in 1905 by ship to plantations on the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico. Instead of finding a better life, they were sold to plantation owners and forced to cultivate henequen, a plant whose tough fiber was used to make things like rope."

Evidence of both cultures is apparent in the names of descendants like Rafael Kim. Reminds me of the generations of Chinese living in Panama as well as Caribbean islands like Jamaica.

I imagine how hard it must've been for these Koreans to assimilate to a completely different culture,

View the article's photo gallery, The Melting Pot.

PHOTO: Beyond the silhouette of a mariachi player is an image of early Korean immigrants to Mexico. Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Marina Abramovic: 8 Lessons on Emptiness with a Happy End

WAR: What is it good for and how does it affect the world's children?

That's the question performance artist Marina Abramovic dares to explore in her latest multimedia project.

Of most interest to me is the photography series titled The Family in which she "poses Laotian children — symbols of innocence — costumed as soldiers in various warlike scenarios, all against the backdrop of a region known for spirituality, but also conflict."

Read Artkrush's review of Marina Abramovic's 8 Lessons on Emptiness with a Happy End.

PHOTO: Marina Abramovic
The Family III, 2008
C-print mounted on aluminum
71 x 88 2/3 in./ 180 x 225 cm
Courtesy the artist and Galerie Guy Bärtschi, Geneva
All Rights Reserved

Am I Late In Joing the Santogold Fanclub?

Music salvation comes in the form of Santogold, just when I was getting tired of my tunes. Her voice reminds me of Tegan and Sara and she's been compared to M.I.A. but according to Wikipedia, homegirl Santogold (as Mr. Man would say) ain't new to this, she's true to this.

She's a Wesleyan graduate, former Epic Records A&R rep, songwriter for pop stars like Lily Allen & Ashlee Simpson... and for the record, she doesn't like R&B music.

To me she's a fresh dose of "culture mash" needed in the music scene to break the social and cultural stereotypes that prevent true artists from getting play. I love how she rocks gold "door knockers" a la old school Black fly girl and belts out tunes like a New Wave queen.

VIDEO: "Lights Out" by Santogold

Brooklyn Photography Exhibit Documents Pregnant Latina Teens

Fact: "the teen pregnancy rate among Latinas is nearly twice the national average."

This exhibit of celebrity photographer Erin O'Brien's personal work documents the lives of 4 pregnant teenage Latinas, all first-generation Mexicans. The photographs offer an intimate view into a new phenomenon in teenage pregnancy within the United States, due in part to recent waves of immigration.

“Mamás Adolescentes: NYC 2006-2007,” is on view from August 16 - 24th at Danny Simmons' Corridor Gallery in Brooklyn, New York.

Ray Chavez Named Photojournalist of the Year by the NAHJ

A native of Mexico, photographer Ray Chavez was granted the the "ñ Award" for photojournalist of the year by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

As a staff photographer for the Oakland Tribune in California, Chavez's skills and his ethnicity is valued. In an article on InsideBayArea.com, Tribune Editor Martin G. Reynolds states: "Ray not only brings his considerable photojournalism skills to the table, but who he is and his cultural connections are equally important for the Tribune and the community we serve."

In related news, the New York Association of Black Journalists is seeking nominees for the following award to be granted during their upcoming 2009 NABJ dinner:

Lifetime Achievement in Photography - Given to a journalist of color
who has an outstanding body of work in either still or moving images.

Submit your nominations to nyabj@yahoo.com by no later than Sept
30th 2008.

The Independent's Top 10 Photography Books

Looking for a new book to compliment your coffee table? Choose one from this list of The Independent's Top 10 Photography Books which includes Africa by Sebastiao Salgado.

Africa is a compilation of Salgado’s black-and-white photography of the continent, covering early work with refugees and his most recent project, “Genesis”, looking at the people and animals who still live out in the wild.

Japanese Photographer Mika Ninagawa

On Mika Ninagawa's official website, she's labeled "Japan's most popular photographer" and included in the new breed of Japanese women artists.

Although the site's Flash galleries load slowly, it's worth the wait to see her collection of saturated, candy-colored images.

Accomplished as a high-end editorial fashion and advertising photographer, Ninagawa's work as an artistic director also affords her the ability to do special projects like create a line of beauty products for mega beauty brand Shu Uemura.

Cat Vinton: 2007 Travel Photographer of the Year

The first woman to win the travel photography award, Cat Vinton impressed the judges with her images of the nomadic tribes the Sami and the Mongols in Norway and Mongolia.

Getting her start after spending 2 years in the People’s Democratic Republic of Lao as a freelancer for the United Nations, a craving for a life of freedom has fueled Vinton's fascination with the world's nomadic peoples.

Cat Vinton's unique style is her bold ability to mix the different photographic disciplines of fashion, travel and documentary without specializing in any one, affording her limitless assignment options. She hopes to someday shoot the Dalai Lama for her Wizard of Oz-inspired "Red Shoes" project.

Read "Cat Vinton - An Interview With A Photographic Nomad" at Magic Places Fine Art for an intimate conversation with the photographer herself.

See Cat Vinton's photography online.

Got some great travel photography of your own? Enter the 2008 Travel Photographer of the Year.

Fine Art Photography: Beijing, China + Murakami's GEISAI #11

With the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games just a few days away, I was excited to find this online gallery of Chinese photographers.

From the Meeting Place FotoFest Beijing 2006 website:

"In October 2006, FotoFest International, China Hewlett Packard and a team of Chinese photographers and businessmen collaborated to create an international portfolio review program for Chinese photographers. Modeled on FotoFest's portfolio review program in Houston, TX, the Meeting Place FotoFest Beijing was an unprecedented event in China. From 278 Chinese photographic artists, this web gallery presents 34 artists selected by participating reviewers."

And if you happen to be in Japan this month, check out GEISAI #11, the one-of-a-kind art fair conceived by Takashi Murakami which allows artists to exhibit their work directly, without a commercial gallery, to an audience of collectors, curators and art enthusiasts.

"The Candid Frame" Photography Podcasts

When I got my iPod as a gift from Mr. Man last year, I finally appreciated the magic of podcasts. They are my favorite learning tools to date and makes NYC subway rides bearable.

I was browsing for new podcasts the other day to compliment my current iTunes list and stumbled upon "The Candid Frame" - a bi-weekly podcast featuring interviews with emerging and established photographers.

Created by Ibarionex R. Perello, "The Candid Frame" podcasts are well produced pieces of audio cake. Having worked in the radio industry for almost 5 years, I've a newfound respect for audio production - it's a tough job arranging elements/words to keep a listener captivated in the age of visual overload.

This morning I downloaded episode #55, an interview with educator, producer, media artist and consultant Marco Antonio Torres. Mexican-born Torres comes from a legacy of family photographers who owned several studios in Mexico City. He tells an interesting story of how it wasn't until he left Mexico that he realized the lack of diversity/people of color amongst the photography ranks.

I haven't listened to the whole podcast yet because I'm savoring it and saving the rest for the train ride home. Here are just a few topics discussed in the Marco Antonio Torres interview:

- the disparity between the photographers and the documented

- how the digital revolution has brought photography to all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds

- pop culture references and how they affect the self esteem of young kids

Go ahead, give this podcast a listen. I guarantee Marco Antonio Torres will inspire you!

PHOTO: Jemelos, Copyright Marco Antonio Torres

Turkish Artist & Photographer Pinar Yolacan

A successful portrait challenges the photographer's ability to gain their subject's trust and create a personal relationship during a short period of time in situations that would make anyone clam up - like having a camera stuck in your face.

Now imagine trying to convince a group of Afro-Brazilian women from Bahia to pose for portraits wearing "meat couture" - clothes fashioned from the placenta of cows! Somehow the brilliant Pilar Yolacan managed to do this amongst other tasks like shopping for the meat, sewing the "clothes" and setting up the shoots.

This photographic project is titled "Maria" which debuted last year as a follow-up to a previous series of photographs of women wearing garments made from offal. The whole concept comes together in a visually arresting way that uses photography to address long-time issues of the master & slave relationship.

Read a Style.com interview with Pinar Yolacan to discover how she orchestrated the production of this unique body of photography artwork.

See this series and more photography by Pinar Yolacan at the Rivington Arms website.

Top 10 Sites on Social Bookmarking for Photos

Different from the photo social media giant Flickr, these sites offer a way for users to bookmark their favorite photography and images on the web then share them with others.

Here they are in order (from top to bottom) of those that show actual art photography to those that show mostly nude celebrity pics.

1. Vi.sualize.us

2. Pixrat

Oops! Hit publish too early... full list coming soon!

Photographer Tracey Moffatt Interview on Flavorpill's Artkrush

It's no secret, I love Tracey Moffat - see past Dodge & Burn Tracey Moffatt entries.

Tracey is a Social Art Gangster - using her photography, film and mixed media art to question the status quo and sometimes shine a much-needed light on the Australian aboriginal population.

Often there's a raw, unpolished look/feel to her work - like she just picked up a camera - when in fact the visual commentary in her artwork shows that she's an informed artist: "I've always seriously studied the history of photography and film, or just generally picture books, encyclopedias, etc., even before I started to exhibit my own photography and short films in Sydney in the mid '80s."

Moffatt's work might seem highly conceptual, like her series on the Sydney 2000 Olympics' fourth-place athletes... but spend a little time, get a little closer and you'll find she examines shared human experiences like "moments of defeat".

Learn more about Little Miss Moffatt (I couldn't resist) by reading her Artkrush interview or see her work at the 2008 Biennale of Sydney if you're headed down under.

PHOTO: Tracey Moffatt
Eubena Nampitjin is an Australian painter who lives in the desert, 2007
Archival ink on rag paper
24 x 17 1/2 in./ 61 x 44.5 cm
Courtesy the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney
All Rights Reserved

2008 Black Weblog Awards

Thanks to Miss Theda for the tweet on this!

See a list of past Black Weblog Award winners.

There's a category for "Best Photo Blog" and although Dodge & Burn does not qualify (90% of content must be photos) I think it could be nominated for any of these other categories:

Best New Blog
Best Personal Blog
Blog To Watch

I cannot nominate my own blog so, if you feel compelled and think it deserving - please nominate Dodge & Burn, thanks!