Coveted Photography at AIPAD 2011

On its last day, for the first time ever I attended AIPAD (The Association of International Photography Art Dealers) in NYC's Park Avenue Armory. With over 70 galleries and photography dealers, it seems digestible in one visit but there's no way to truly absorb the print quality, photographic process and power of each image without going back multiple times.

The AIPAD show was a great intro to the fine art photography business and I was surprised to see photographers like Julie Blackmon and Beth Moon (self taught) both had multiple galleries representing their work.

Personal highlights include staring at the saturated color portraits of artist Frida Kahlo by Nikolas Murray @ Photographs Do Not Bend and discovering the book, Official Images: New Deal Photography chronicling the Farm Security Administration's 1935 - 1944 photography program.

Although I was dismayed to see very little work by African American photographers, I did find a print by LaToya Ruby Frazier @ Higher Pictures and an installation of Myra Green @ Catherine Edelman Gallery.

Photographer Interview: Marcia Michael

A few months ago I came across UK photographer Marcia Michael's series of black and white portraits titled "Study of Kin" on FotoVisura. I was touched by her desire yet failure to find historical images of Black folk by Black photographers throughout the British national archives.

Michael's investigation into early photographic representation of the "other" reminded me of a 2008 Dodge & Burn post on "ethnic photography". As a Black woman behind the lens, informed by the intimacy of Julia Margaret Cameron's portraits while using scientific methods of image making, Marcia Michael is reclaiming and reshaping the historical role of Black people throughout photography history.

D&B: Where are you from?
MM: I am from Islington in London UK, Born and Bred.

Young Woman [Self Portrait] from the "Study of Kin" series, Copyright Marcia Michael

D&B: What kind of photography do you shoot and how did you get started - any "formal" training?
MM: My images are all constructed pieces. I shoot mainly people but am trained in the 'fine art' of photography. I have studied at Derby University, Bournemouth and Poole college of art and design and London College of Communication (formally London college of Printing)