Inspiration Thursday #15: Stephen Tourlentes

Stephen Tourlentes is a great photographer. He was a guest lecturer for my class the other day, and he really knows his stuff. Look at these photos, absorb them a bit, and then I'll explain.

Absorb. Then read on.

So the long exposures seen here are photos of prisons. I think it's such an interesting play with the mind. In one respect, you want to be drawn into the light. You're surrounded by darkness, you want to go to the light. But once you know the context you kind of step back. He is an amazing artist, see the rest of his prisons at his website.

Sorry this Inspiration Thursday is so short, I'm kind of still recuperating from recent events.

Inspiration Thursday #14: John Divola

This week's Inspiration is John Divola, a photographer who spoke at my school today and I really enjoyed his work! His work involves a lot about creating a photograph, making a scene. Divola indulges in finding his subjects by chance -- politely breaking into abandoned houses, taking pictures of houses in the desert, and documenting their change.

He just overall seemed like such a down-to-earth kind of guy. When a student asked some presumptuous question about if he is interested in his mark-making performance as a part of his photography, Divola just went, "Um, nope. They only exist as photographs. I'm not interested in performance or installation."

There are two series (though I'll share a few from each) that I really enjoyed: 1) Dogs Chasing My Car (which is EXACTLY how it sounds) and 2) The Green of This Notebook, which illustrates lines from Satre. Check out his website here, for more images.

Zuma

Dogs Chasing My Car

Paraphrasing from what he said about these photos: "We'd drive in through the desert and there would just be these dogs sitting out there. And as soon as they saw us they'd start running. They were friendly, they'd lick your hands. But us driving by was like the highlight of their day."

Soo cute!

The Green of this Notebook

Like his work? Hate it? All opinions welcome, just leave a comment!

Hope you're having a great week!

Inspiration Thursday #13: Deana Lawson

This is the first photographer that could be considered NSFW!

Deana Lawson is an photographer that deals with African Americans in intimate situations. Her photographs are not snapshots of everyday life, but meticulously constructed by Lawson herself -- every aspect is chosen specifically. Her work was recently displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in 2011.

From the MoMA site, because MoMA is infinitely better at articulating work than I am:

"Deana Lawson (American, born 1979) received an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2004 and currently lives and works in New York. Lawson refers to the subjects of her photographs as “her family.” Although she is not related to them by blood—in fact, they are nearly all strangers—the pictures are remarkably intimate. Lawson composes almost every element, often sketching scenes out on paper before working with the camera. Reflecting Western and African portraiture conventions, the works examine “the body’s ability to channel personal and social histories, drawing on the various formal and informal languages of the medium and its archival capabilities,” the artist says. The result is an alphabet of body compositions demonstrating humans’ seemingly limitless variety. The size of these photographs ensures that although they are intimate, they are also confrontational; viewers are invited into the world they depict, but strictly as spectators."

 

My personal favorite... just look at the juxtaposition between the couple and the baby -- priceless.

What do you think of her work? I seriously want to know your opinion!

Inspiration Thursday #12: Dina Goldstein

I know there's a lot of drawings, photographs, and other things surrounding the Disney Princesses nowadays. From the Disney Princesses Mean Girls, to the hipster memes surrounding them, you're bound to run into something on the Internet.

But these are the photographs by Dina Goldstein, who witnessed her young daughters falling into Disney's trap and expectations. What I like is when they're taken out of their "happily ever after" setting, and into a more realistic life. As someone who grew up idolizing Belle from Beauty and the Beast, I've definitely grown out of the model that Disney fed me as a kid, and it's time that we all see the truth and reality in what "happily ever after" means. Especially in this economy, as pessimistic as it might be for me to say, I don't think many of us have a "happily ever after" to look forward to.

Check out the rest of the gang at Dina Goldstein's website, Fallen Princesses.

I also want to point out that there was ANOTHER photographer that recently used the same concept. Thomas Czarnecki's collection is a still a lot different then Goldstein's, but definitely worth a look.

What do you think of using Disney Princesses as subject matter in photographer work?

How do you like how they are portrayed here? 

Let me know in a comment, I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Inspiration Thursday #11: Alex Stoddard

Once in a while you come across a freelance photographer who seriously blows your mind. This was the case for me with youngster Alex Stoddard, whose photographic ambitions started merely with the 365 project. He now has one of the most outstanding Flickr pages I've seen. I would love to just see how he edits his work. MAD photoshop skills.

My personal favorite...

What do you think of his work? Love it? Hate it?

Let me know!

Inspiration Thursday #10: Karl Blossfeldt

Happy Thursday! For people who like organization and simplicity, this artist is for you. Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932) is now (I think) more known for his photographs, but started out as a sculpture teacher. He wanted his students to make sculptures from forms of nature. Thinking to himself, "well, maybe I should give the kids some examples of what I mean" he decided to go out and collect plants. With a homemade camera and a lens that could magnify up to 30 times, we're talking about the first trials of macro photography here!

So while not the most inspiring, everything comes from somewhere -- next time you look at fast speed photographs of water droplets or something, you'll have to thank Karl Blossfeldt for a little bit of that ingenuity.

 

What do you think of his work?

Have a great Friday!

Inspiration Thursday #9: Cindy Sherman

If you're interested in the photography world, you need to know about Cindy Sherman. 

Her iconic Untitled Film Stills from the 70s are legendary, and are actually pretty controversial in the feminist era. She basically dressed up and photographs herself in the many roles women play in society.

It kind of shows how many different things one person can me, metaphorically and literally. As someone who has recreated a different version of one's self, I know it's not an easy task.

If you're in New York this spring, be sure to check out her exhibition at the MoMA!

 What do you think about her work?

Inspiration Thursday #8: Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin did her undergrad at my school, so her name is constantly being tossed around in my classes. Her most famous work depicts the counter culture of New York City she adapted into after she graduated.

Whether "scripted" or not, Goldin's photos show the average viewer something they're not used to seeing. I guess, for me, the best way to describe her work is real. All of her photos look as if she was in the right place at the right time.

(Self-portrait, supposedly after she was beaten by a lover.)

What do you think of her work?

Let me know!