WWII and LIFE.com

Posted on April 17, 2009 by webdev

Getting lost looking at photos on life.com again. Here is the famous Alfred Eisenstaedt photograph of the sailor and nurse at Times Square, celebrating the end of World War II in August 1945.

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This image, and some others from that era, have remained in my mind since, as a very young child, I first saw them published. Among the Life photographers from WWII that later would inspire me with their work, and I get to re-explore now, would be W. Eugene Smith and Margaret Bourke-White. Also, you might want to check out Life’s photos of Marlene Dietrich with the troops then.

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Brubeck Meets Adams

Posted on April 4, 2009 by webdev

1971_ansel_Yosemite_400x616While visiting NPR’s music site in connection with a previous post on my music blog, I came upon an unexpected connection.

In earlier posts, we mentioned how Ivi was turned on to Dave Brubeck’s classic Take Five and the “Time Out” recording from 1959 and how Overdub had done a mashup of Take Five with Radiohead.

Well, it turns out that Brubeck — now 88 years old — together with his son is composing a tribute to Ansel Adams and his photography. You can hear some of this music and interviews, along with statements from the late Ansel, at NPR:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102656153

When I studied with Ansel in Yosemite in the early 70s (where I got to work in his darkroom at one point!), he was fond of comparing photography with performing and composing music, and often regaled us with tales of his early experience as an aspiring concert pianist. (see regaling photo)

So, once again, an opportunity to thrust Ivi — on the heels of her critical examination of the Time Out album — into a connection with my library of photography books, including my autographed copy of one of Ansel’s.

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Life in Beta

Posted on April 2, 2009 by webdev

LIFE_beta (1)Life.com is now in beta, I have discovered. Guess it’s okay, but it somehow doesn’t have the impact for me that opening a paper issue did when I was a child.

UPDATE 4/4/09 – There is an incredible wealth of images here (including Getty Images), with constant additions happening. (Most recently, I have been seeking out W. Eugene Smith photos from World War II.) I think I could start living at this site. The Library of Congress should be as easy and fast to use …

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Here’s Where I Want To Spend MY Spring Break

Posted on March 27, 2009 by webdev

IRIS_TheSpace

As the kids wrap up their spring break today, I see that the newAnnenberg Space for Photography kicks off its first exhibition tonight. Been watching for this one for some time. Featuring 11 L.A. photographers, most familiar (and world-class) names, in an exploration of and tribute to life in Los Angeles. Now, how can I pull off a trip to my old hometown, the City of Angels?  Here is a partial description of the physical space, taken from its Website:

 

 

Influenced by the inner workings of a camera.

The interior design is influenced by the mechanics of a camera and its lens. The central, circular digital gallery is contained within the square building to create an architectural metaphor for a convex lens. Even the ceiling features a striking, iris-like design that is reminiscent of the aperture of a lens.

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Gracie

Posted on March 11, 2009 by webdev

(taken with my employer’s early 2000s HP point & shoot)

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No Spring In Sight (Yet)

Posted on March 7, 2009 by webdev

no-spring_20090307-HPIM1158

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Photo of the Day

Posted on January 4, 2009 by webdev

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Anja Niedringhaus is an internationally-acclaimed German photographer for the Associated Press who has documented war in the Balkans, Iraq and other war zones. Her photo of an Israeli Arab child appears in today’s newspaper.

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Vanity Fair Photographs

Posted on December 16, 2008 by webdev

fairbanks390John W. tells me about visiting LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) recently where he saw and highly recommends the Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913–2008exhibition. Through March 1, 2009. Look at the photographers represented: Cecil Beaton, Harry Benson, Julian Broad, Imogen Cunningham, Annie Leibovitz, Man Ray, Mary Ellen Mark, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Edward Steichen, Mario Testino, and Bruce Weber. Quite a list. Stop by if you are in L.A. in the next three months.

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Reza: War and Peace

Posted on December 13, 2008 by webdev

Jreza_rachel_540ust as I awoke this morning, NPR Radio was presenting an interview with Reza Deghati, exiled Iranian photojournalist. You can hear the interview, view a gallery of his work and learn about his latest book: Reza War and Peace: A Photographer’s Journey at this NPR page.

Left is a photo by Gerard Rancinan of Rez and his wife, Rachel.

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Running White Deer

Posted on December 12, 2008 by webdev

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About the time I was getting into photography, one of its leading lights was Paul Caponigro. In 1967, he captured an image of running white deer in Ireland, an image that has gone on to be one of his signature pieces. He and his son, John Paul — widely-known in this era as an expert digital craftsman and teacher — have collaborated on a new digital print of Paul’s timeless image. You can find out more about it here. (Yes, I would buy a print for myself if I had the budget for it; no, I have nothing to personally gain by pointing you to this thing.)

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