Photographer Interview: George Pitts

Photographer George Pitts has had an illustrious career as a fine art photographer, painter, writer and former Director of Photography at LIFE and Vibe magazines - not to mention his Assistant Professor and Associate Chair of Photography positions at Parsons The New School of Design.

George is currently working on a coffee table book for Taschen Books on mature women 35 years of age and older. He is looking for subjects in this age range who are open to being photographed for portraits, partial nudes, and nudes.  Contact George via his website or Facebook.



D&B: Where are you from?
GP: I was born in Sewickley, PA.

D&B: What kind of photography do you shoot and how did you get started - any "formal" training?
GP: I shoot Fine Art Photography, although that term is problematic. I also shoot Editorial and Fashion work.

TED Talks Video: Photographer Ryan Lobo Uses Camera to Show Empathy

In this TED Talks video with Ryan Lobo, the freelance photographer talks about his coverage of a Liberian war criminal's plea for forgiveness, UN women peacekeepers who work with smiles and AK-47s plus the heroic feats of firefighters in the Delhi Fire Service.

Lobo says that over the years his faith in the power of storytelling has been tested but despite his doubts he ends the video with this profound comment:

"Sometimes focusing on what's heroic, beautiful and dignified regardless of the context can help magnify these intangibles in 3 ways: in the protagonist of the story, in the audience and also in the storyteller. And that's the power of storytelling. Focus on what's dignified, courageous and beautiful and it grows."

See more photography by Ryan Lobo and keep up with him on his blog.



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Marc Baptiste Solo Show at Avant Gallery

Editor's Note: The following is a review of the Marc Baptiste show at the opening on December 3, 2009 at Avant Gallery. The opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily those of the editor.

by photographer Selina Roman

A lot of nude and erotic photography filled the walls at the various art fairs held in concert with Miami’s Art Basel, December 2 - 6, 2009 . In more than one show, slicked up, naked women lithely draped themselves over couches or concrete steps. The images could have easily appeared in any auto parts calendar.

But Haitian-born photographer Marc Baptiste’s show of limited edition photographs, which opened Friday at the Avant Gallery in Miami’s Design District, epitomized sensuality.

2009 Photo Miami Review

Editor's Note: Photo Miami, the 4th annual contemporary international fair of photo-based art, video, and new media was held in Florida on December 1 – 6, 2009. The following is a review of the fair as seen through the eyes of photographer Selina Roman. The opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily those of the editor.

by Selina Roman

In its fourth year, the photo Miami art fair has brought exclusive attention to the medium that has been an afterthought at the larger art fairs during Art Basel Miami.

This year, 26 galleries showed at the fair covering approximately 30,000 square feet in a former Circuit City store. While a good deal of the work did not stand out, there were several surprises.

Carrie Mae Weems' Political Leaders
Renowned African-American photographer Carrie Mae Weems was a featured artist at this year’s fair. Her work was represented in two booths, Lightwork and the Charles Guice Contemporary Gallery, as well as in a large-scale video installation.

Photographers in the 2009 Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial

Today is the last day of the biennial (it ran from November 7 - December 7, 2009) but I wanted to pay tribute to the many photographers who contributed work. Below you'll find a list of photographers plus links to their photos/websites, except in cases where I could not find any.

Held every two years since 1994 based on research work conducted all over Africa, the Bamako Encounters, Biennial of African Photography seek to promote regional integration and facilitate North-South cultural exchanges by creating an international cultural centre in Bamako that testifies to the wealth and vitality of the photography produced on the continent.

These Encounters constitute an opportunity for exchange and dialogue enabling African photographers to show off their talents, to meet one another, and to reveal their works to the world. But they are also a window that enables the general neophyte photography public to get to know photography as a means of expression.
- Samuel Sidibé, Delegate General of the 8th Bamako Encounters

Download the Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial press kit as a PDF.

View a selection of images from the Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial at ARTINFO.

Photographers:
. Myriam Abdelaziz (Egypt) 

. Kader Attia (Algeria-France)
. Arwa Abouon (Lybia)
. Abdoulaye Barry (Chad) 

. Jodi Bieber (South Africa)

. Lilia Benzid (Tunisia)
. Mohamed Bourouissa (Algeria-France)
. Mohamed Camara (Mali) 

. Seydou Camara (Mali) 

. Nestor Da (Burkina Faso)
. Ananias Leki Dago (Ivory Coast)
. Saidou Dicko (Burkina Faso)
. Faten Gaddes (Tunisia) 

. François-Xavier Gbré (Ivory Coast)
. Yoyo Gonthier (Reunion Island)
. Uche Okpa-Iroha (Nigeria)
. Ayana Jackson (USA) 

. Antony Kaminju (Kenya) 

. Majida Khattari (Morocco)
. Frid Armel Louzala (Congo-Brazza) 

. Robert Mafuta (Central African Republic-DRC) 

. Lebohang Mashiloane (South Africa)

. Zanele Muholi (South Africa)


. Malik Nejmi (Morocco)
. Rana el Nemr (Egypt)
. Abraham Oghobase (Nigeria)
. Emeka Okereke (Nigeria) 

. Ali Mohamed Osman (Sudan) 

. George Osodi (Nigeria)
. Zak Ové (Trinidad-UK)
. Fidisoa A.J. Ramanahadray (Madagascar) 


. Zineb Sedira (Algeria-UK)
. Mouna Jemal Siala (Tunisia)
. Barthelemy Toguo (Cameroon) 

. Aboubacar Traoré (Mali)
. Salif Traoré (Mali) 

. Alain Wandimoyi (DRC) 
- blog featuring photos of the 2009 Bamako Biennial
. Alastair Whitton (South Africa) 



. Graeme Williams (South Africa) 


Solo exhibitions:
. Angèle Etoundi Essamba (Cameroon)
. Hassan Hajjaj (Morocco)
. Patrizia Guerresi Maïmouna (Italy)
. Baudouin Mouanda (Congo)
. Fazal Sheikh (USA)

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Get updates on new photographer interviews plus news on contests, art shows and informed commentary on what's happening with diversity in photography. Subscribe to Dodge & Burn Photography Blog: Diversity in Photography by Email

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