OUR MAN IN PALM SPRINGS

The Palm Springs Photo Festival caught my eye this week because the promotional photo being used is by Large Formatist and old pal Robert Maxwell. He is one of the pre-eminent portrait photographers working today. That he combines alternative process with newer media, for me makes his accomplishments that much more exciting. I was lucky enough to assist him on and off for a few years, right after his wet plate fetish but still carrying a torch for the big camera. To say that Robert is one of the true characters of our business would be one of overwhelming understatement. If I were a betin man, I would give you odds he is Ridin surf in Southern California as we speak, but his passion for that and his lust for life in general has translated into fabulous photo essays on many of the subjects he loves . He's been able to straddle the fine art, editorial and advertising aspects quite deftly and I'm sure his speaking engagement at the show will be laced with great insight, tirades, love letters and just about anything else that pops into Bobby's head, on the subject of our business or anybody Else's business for that matter. You never know even the NYC crew may show up and get him all riled up.

NYC 3.24.07 7:12 a.m.

Got up Sat. morning and found a very strange light in my apartment. I was heading out on the road so I didn't really take notice at what was going on until I was ready to walk out the door, then I looked up. Couldn't get the big camera up and running so did the best I could with what I had. Nature is an awesome force and just when you think you've seen everything its got to offer its does this. Go here and click on "all sizes" for a larger view and some extras

Each One Believing

I met Bill Bernstein a few years back while on vacation. He told me about a new project he was working on and lo and behold here it is. Bill's show went up in the Morrison Hotel Gallery, Soho, NYC on Sat. He has been touring the country, just like a rock star I assume, with the accompanying Paul McCartney book, "Each One Believing". This joint project between himself and Sir Paul takes a close up, behind the scenes look as he circumnavigated the globe with McCartney's world tour between 2002-2003. Prints are available at the gallery signed by both Bill and Sir Paul and a podcast is also available on the Morrison site. Good on ya Bill.

Laumont

I'm sure you get to a point during the day when your overwhelmed and you just need that calming voice to tell you, you are on the right track and making the right decisions. Especially in our line of work, we come across a lot of cowboys, so it was with the such elation that I walked into Laumont Printers yesterday. Their studio is in midtown Manhattan and on entering the foyer you know your in the right place. A six foot Sternfeld, a six foot Polidori and an in the works a Shore Panorama, greet you. Immediately the conversation/argument about color printing you just had with some yahoo in the "photo district" disappears. Phillipe Laumont has set his operation up so that the attention you get makes you feel like a star, even if you are on a budget, always on a budget. Taylor has been my point man for over a year and has made nothing but beautiful prints for me. He speaks in those Stephan Shore dulcet tones, (if you've seen the video clip doing the rounds you know what I mean) that just brings you right back down to earth. So if you are in need of some of their photo TLC give them a shout.

South Beach 2007

To this day I get a kick out of Long exposures. From the first time I saw what it did I was hooked. Whenever I'm away I always try to go out and shoot something. South Beach 3 weeks ago.

Center for Alternative and Historic Process

I don't know too much about this group but I came across them last week and they have a great array of alternative process classes for the Spring. A little late on some but plenty left. Who doesn't want to get the Wet Plates out again? Gum Bichromate anyone? Check out the website for the instructors, some very nice stuff.

Large Formatist Taryn Simon on Charlie Rose last Friday night, lots of talk about her new show at the Whitney in NYC, and the book An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar. Go to the 12 minute mark to start the interview.

The Beast

Still life Photographer Mark Laita just opened his portrait show in the Fahey/Klein gallery in L.A., reports are that it went very well. The Reason I bring it up is because he used one of the most outlandish cameras still in use. Yes, The Beast. The Gowlandflex 8x10 twin-lens reflex, I know, its a monster. At almost 3 ft tall it dwarfs almost any other view cameras. Poloroid 20x40 can just about rest easy. I assisted with Mark when he started this project a few years back and he brought the beast to N.Y.. I loved it, any large formater worth his salt would give his eye teeth just for a try. Still it has its place and for my work it would have me dead of a heart attack in days. Anyway, great news that Alternative process?? is alive and well, if you can afford it.

Cairo cracks down on bloggers

Well if there was ever a headline that I couldn't pass up this is it. "Cairo cracks down on bloggers" from CNN. I'm sure everyone is sick of cat pictures but here he is, Cairo, our cat, and if ever a cat was going to crack down on bloggers he's your man. Of course the reality is we are free to say and write what we want, the draconian measures taken against the blogger in Egypt are abhorrent, so maybe we need Cairo to crack down on the real bad guys.

Winter Coat

Still need your winter coat in Upstate New York.

As all of us who live in NYC know complaining about our lives is one of our favorite pastimes, whether its work, apts or less work , bitch-moan, bitch-moan. But every once in a while something drops in your lap to make you realise we do live in the hot burning center of the universe, at least musically. This week alone theses bands play in the city, in no particular order. Antony & the Johnsons - the Pogues, with Shane in tow - the Shins - The Who - the Ravonettes - the Bravery - Clinic - Gomez - Keb Mo' - Steve Earl - Damon Alburn of Blur w Paul Simonon and Danger Mouse, 1/2 Gnarls Barkley - Nico Muhly at Carnegie hall presents, (nice one Nico) - Steve Kuhn Trio - John Zorn. This does not include The Met - City Opera - Lincoln Center - The Philharmonic .Guinness are sponsoring the Pogues, dont laugh, which a gang of us are going to, and the want you raise a glass to "St Patrick's Day Season". Well why not, here's to the Big Apple and all she bestows upon us.

THE FIRST $3m PHOTOGRAPH

There's hope for us all. Gursky's diptych sold for $3M in Sotheby's last week. Nuff said.

Nice piece by art critic Andrew Graham Nixon on David Lynch's Painting and Photography, showing at Cartier Foundation, Paris.

The Big Broadcast

For the last 22 years Rich Connaty has broadcast his radio program from the halls of Fordham University, WFUV. This is my favorite radio show of all time. If you do not live in the New York Metropolitan area you will not receive the live Sunday night signal of "The Big Broadcast", actually even if you do live within its radius you still may not get the signal as I think Fordham uses as old set of Rabbits ears I threw out years ago as a transmitter. Still, Rich may have the largest collection of the Great American Songbook, from their original recordings on '78, in the world. Long before Ella and Frank jumped on the band wagon in the 50's, never mind Rod the Mod, Eddie Cantor - Mildred Baily - Rudy Vallee and Der Bingle created a sound that was not only original but truly American. So sit back on Sunday's, or listen on the archive and hear how Tin Pan Alley really sounded, back in the day.

This sounds like it may be worth a visit. Its Family Mattersat the Guggenheim in NYC, now through April 16th.

Who thaar speaks the Queens English???

I am making this a post, I will also put in the GO HERE lineup so as to have it accessible when ever anyone needs it. It is the shipping forecast from the BBC and has been live on radio4 every day and night for the last 70 years or so. I find it haunting but immensely relaxing. Though I originally thought the announcer may be speaking doggerel, I have now, 30 years later, come to find a glimmer of understanding in their perfect enunciation. It steers the wayward back to their harbors and for any Ex Pats who grew up with this on in the back round of their fire lit homes on stormy nights, its one step away from being back home ourselves. For a full explanation on what it is go here. Scroll down to influences on popular culture and see who's crazy