Hey, Hot Shot! (10 unread)

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  HHS! Contender: I-HSUEN CHEN

  Posted: 16-May-2012, 5:21pm CEST by Qian Ma

  Rachel and David, by I-Hsuen Chen

  "For a knowledge of intimacy, localization in the spaces of our intimacy is more urgent than determination of dates." So wrote French philosopher Gaston Bachelard in The Poetics of Space, his masterpiece that takes a profound look at how we experience intimate places. In the book, Bachelard narrates an exploration of space and place in a poetic voice—something Contender I-Hsuen Chen does much the same with his camera in In Your Place, another body of work he'd submitted after receiving an Honorable Mention and winning the Blurb prize in the Second Edition 2011 round of competition.

  Untitled, by I-Hsuen Chen

  Chen explores the poetics of everyday life by visiting his friends at their homes, who mostly like himself are foreign students living in New York City. Though careful not to disturb the everday-ness, Chen's presence inevitably changes the dynamics within the confined space. Visually, the bare walls and basic furnishings give a hint of temporariness, but also create a sort of accidental minimalism—perhaps offering a glimpse into the lives of this particular group, although documentation is not Chen's intention. He writes in the statement:

  Entering my friends' private spaces, I try to capture their intimate living scenarios in New York. I am a gentle intruder creating different sub-plots that become part of their life. The whole visit becomes a Happening. I document this Happening with my camera.

  Untitled, by I-Hsuen Chen

  Chen, who abandoned a career in marketing in his hometown, Taipei, to pursue photography in Brooklyn, NY, is also a trained opera singer, and a performance and video artist. In May, he will earn his MFA in photography from Pratt Institute and will be showing his Nowhere in Taiwan series at the New York Photo Festival Invitational Exhibition, opening today at powerHouse Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

  Yu-Ping, by I-Hsuen Chen

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  View Mike Sinclair's Solo Show at Jen Bekman Gallery

  Posted: 11-May-2012, 5:00pm CEST by Charlie Fish

  Lemon Shake Up, Strong City, Kansas, 2003 by Mike Sinclair

  Public Assembly, featuring photographs by 2009 Hot Shot and Ultra Mike Sinclair, is currently on view at Jen Bekman Gallery through June 24th, 2012.

  Jen Bekman Gallery is located at 6 Spring Street (between Elizabeth + Bowery), in NYC. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., or by private appointment.

  In describing the exhibition and Mike's work, Gallery Director Jeffrey Teuton notes:

  Seeking out the quintessentially American celebrations and rituals in his Midwestern stomping grounds, Sinclair's portraits of sun-dappled barbecues, baseball games and fairgrounds possess both a comfort and wonderment in their honesty. Finding himself in crowds where he is often staring at the spectacle that everyone else is immersed in, Sinclair's images of these loosely organized forms of congregation ruminate on the American experience, poetically lifting the ordinary into the idyllic.

  You can view the complete exhibition online here. And don't miss out on his limited-edition prints on 20x200, which you can view here.
  

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  HHS! Contender: Horatio Baltz

  Posted: 10-May-2012, 7:02pm CEST by Charlie Fish

  Posing for a portrait can be, for many (including, sometimes, the photographer), an unnerving situation. Seemingly wary of the photographer, the subjects in Contender Horatio Baltz's submission appear suspicious, stiff and even annoyed. But as he explains, these images tell the story of that awkward moment between photographer and subject when the "thin veil of suspicion," as he describes, is still intact.

  Untitled, by Horatio Baltz

  Untitled, by Horatio Baltz

  Baltz explains:

  These are a collection of images I have collected over the years shooting portraits. Like many photographers, it was hard for me at first to overcome my seemingly crippling shyness. Over time I learned that "taking" pictures is less about "taking" and more about "giving" or "sharing." People are flattered to be immortalized on film. If you break through that thin veil of suspicion, I think inside we all cry out for the attention [from] one another. At the very least, a few shared moments with a stranger give all of us a bit more dignity in this world.

  Untitled, by Horatio Baltz

  Untitled, by Horatio Baltz

  Horatio Baltz is a Brooklyn-based graphic artist who likes taking pictures. He was born in Mississippi, was brought up in Eastern Pennsylvania and is a first generation American—the son of a steel worker and a cosmetologist. In 2008, Horatio obtained his BFA in communication design from Parsons School of Design. Aside from being a graphic artist and photographer, Horatio is also a musician. For a more thorough and colorful account of Horatio's life, click here.

  Untitled, by Horatio Baltz

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  HHS! Contender: Neil White

  Posted: 9-May-2012, 9:13pm CEST by Charlie Fish

  The Holderness coast, on the East Coast of England, suffers continual erosion, with nearly seven feet of land per year being eroded. It is estimated that, since Roman times, 32 villages in the area have been lost to the sea. Because the cliffs along the coast are of boulder clay, a soft and crumbly rock, the heavy rains and sea storms make the erosion that much worse. For his submission, Contender Neil A. White shows us these Lost Villages.

  Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2011 by Neil A. White

  Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2012 by Neil A. White

  White explains:

  This project explores the constant battle between the power of the ocean and the mainland, and it documents the irreversible change taking place on the Holderness coast. The speed of the erosion has increased significantly in the past decade, thanks to rising sea levels, which is linked to climate change.

  Some of the inspiration and ideas for the project has come from the history surrounding the coast line. I also see this work as a historical record. Today, the village experiencing the severest threat is Skipsea. With a population of around 600, many homes there are set to disappear completely in the next five years. The average annual rate of erosion is around two meters [nearly seven feet] of land per year. What drew me to this coastal area, though, is not just its reputation as one of the fastest eroding coastlines in Europe, but also because it is very close to where I grew up; I visited the area on family trips.

  Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2011 by Neil A. White

  Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2011 by Neil A. White

  Neil A. White (b. 1972) is an English-born photographer and teacher currently living in London, U.K. His interest in photography began in his early twenties while working and traveling in Australasia and Asia. Perhaps the roots of this interest, though, go back even further than that. As a child, Neil's parents would give him their Kodak Instamatic to take family portraits because they believed he always took the best pictures. Neil never liked posed shots or unnatural smiles; when his parents indicated they were ready to be photographed he had already taken the picture. Growing up in the north of England, Neil would escape to the countryside whenever he could. This fascination with the natural world and contrasting environments is at the heart of his photography and is an infinite source of inspiration. His work explores the relationship between nature and the modern world, and how they co-exist, sometimes harmoniously, more often in conflict with one another. He sees this conflict as one of the key dilemmas of modern day existence. When taking pictures of landscapes, he tries to connect with the land, to feel the air and the light and to bring those feelings into his photographs. Neil's work tends to be reflective and is often quiet and deeply personal. The relationship humans have with the natural world is of great interest to Neil and this is a common thread that runs through much of his work. When he is not photographing or teaching, Neil still takes every opportunity to escape into the countryside. He is also interested in politics and environmental issues and is committed to promoting practical solutions to environmental challenges.

  Untitled, from the series Lost Villages, 2012 by Neil A. White

  
  

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  HHS! Contender: Emma Gluckman

  Posted: 9-May-2012, 7:53pm CEST by Charlie Fish

  Using her 35mm camera and the installations she creates, Contender Emma Gluckman aims to capture moments resembling hypnagogia, the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep.

  band aid, 2010 by Emma Gluckman

  sewing lesson, 2010 by Emma Gluckman

  Gluckman explains:

  Dissociative behavior, repressed memories, insomnia, the aftermath of assault—all things that come and spin like gumballs in my subconscious while the world around me is muted, like my psyche is wearing earmuffs. I second-guess my memories and scrutinize my body. I try to hush my internal clamor by reaching for my camera. I find ritual catharsis when I arrange objects, bodies and bedrooms; paste, stretch and twist; and take a damn picture so I can stop thinking about it already. Sometimes I shoot spontaneously. Sometimes a found moment beckons an emotion I am unable to articulate. Frequently my images are carefully posed, or temporary installations I've documented photographically. I am interested in the notion of a photograph as evidence of a moment, and the moments I'm attempting to transcribe are flashes of my subconscious, the way a hypnogogic brain reassembles images from a wakeful experience to manifest disquieting scenes. Each scene exists in a room in the flesh dollhouse of my body, connected by ethereal hallways. My aim is not to lead a viewer through my specific narrative—rather I wish to evoke an emotional reaction that mirrors my own state. I encourage a viewer to explore that which may be grotesque or melancholy in themselves, and the difficult-to-acknowledge parallel reality of the subconscious.

  red phone, 2010 by Emma Gluckman

  pelt, 2010 by Emma Gluckman

  horse, polaroids and chair, 2009 by Emma Gluckman

  Emma Gluckman was born and raised by a painter and a psychiatrist, and she was given her first camera (the one she still uses) at the age of 16. A Brooklyn-based photographer, she is interested in the idea of temporary psychological landscape. She often constructs installations before shoots, and she utilizes discarded objects and distorted bodies to conjure scenes from the subconscious and hypnagogic states.

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  Upcoming: Mike Sinclair's Debut NYC Solo Show at JBG + News

  Posted: 30-April-2012, 5:21pm CEST by Charlie Fish

  Fourth of July #2, Independence, Missouri, by Mike Sinclair

  Photographers, mark your calendars! 2009 Ne Plus Ultra Mike Sinclair's debut solo show in NYC, at Jen Bekman Gallery, is but mere days away. An opening reception for Public Assembly will be held on Friday, May 11th, 2012, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and the show will be on view Saturday, May 12th, through Saturday, June 24th.

  Mike impressed our panelists with his ephemeral portraits focusing on "crowds at sun-soaked fairgrounds, beaches and baseball games," and he adeptly captured a sense of nostalgic Americana that we simply couldn't get out of our heads and hearts. Soon, he was creating limited-edition prints with 20x200 to share with collectors all around the world. We are thrilled for Mike's success, which includes being published in the New York Times, Metropolis, Architectural Record and Interior Design, as well as having his work in private and public collections in the U.S.

  

  + Photographer Daniel Seung Lee, who was a contender in a past round of our competition, was selected to participate with 20x200. Two of his photographs are now available as limited editions on the site.

  + April is almost over, and with it the Month of Photography Los Angeles (MOPLA). If you're in L.A., there are major ongoing exhibitions you can catch, like Robert Adams: The Place We Live and Fracture: Daido Moriyama at LACMA, as well as In Focus: Los Angeles, 1945-1980, Herb Ritts: L.A. Style and Portraits of Renown: Photography and the Cult of Celebrity at The Getty.

  + Smaller shows were also taking place across town that featured Jen Bekman Projects artists. You can still catch Taj Forer's solo exhibition, Stone by Stone at LeadApron through May 19th.
  

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  HHS! Contender: Kevin Tachman

  Posted: 25-April-2012, 7:08pm CEST by Charlie Fish

  Taking us from Brazil to Sri Lanka and back to New York, Contender Kevin Tachman's documentary photography captured the frenetic, energetic moments along his journey. His ability to bring viewers into the scenes lends itself to his various assignments, which include entertainment, music and fashion. To see more of his work, check out his photoblog, BackstageAt, which takes the viewer behind the scenes of world-renowned live acts and the backstage buzz of fashion shows.

  Colombo Market, 2008 by Kevin Tachman

  House of Xtravaganza Ball, 2009 by Kevin Tachman

  Kevin says of his submission:

  These images come from disparate parts of my experiences documenting different parts of the world, from the epic stillness at one of the busiest places on earth, to the flight of a bird on [the] other side of the world. At [its] core, my work aims to be transportive to a singular moment, [to] give [a] feeling of space and time that will, hopefully, stay with the viewer long after the image is viewed. These are fleeting glimpses of our connected world into the exotic, the tranquil, the forbidden, the foreign, the kinetic—each depending on your place in the world and how you view it.

  Ipanema Beach, 2011 by Kevin Tachman

  Kevin Tachman is an award-winning documentary photographer who has garnered wide acclaim for his work in the worlds of fashion, entertainment and music. His photos have appeared in print and online publications such as Vogue, NYTimes.com, Marie Claire Russia, The Daily Beast, Elle Decor, and the Wall Street Journal. Tachman's specialty is capturing essential moments that express excitement, beauty and drama. Tachman is also sought after as an on-set photographer, documenting exclusive shoots for Patrick Demarchelier and Norman Jean Roy, among others. Tachman has also been the official photographer for such musical acts as the Scissor Sisters and Coldplay. In 2008, he was accepted to the highly selective Eddie Adams Workshop.

  Tachman has won numerous awards for his work, including receiving the 2010 Award of Excellence from Pictures of the Year International, for his photo and first prize in PDN's 2011 The Look Contest, in the Runway/Street Scene category. He also won the 2010 Ultimate Music Moment Contest, sponsored by Billboard and PDN, for his photo of Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O onstage at the Music Hall of Williamsburg; Grand Prize in the Year in Music Moment Contest, also sponsored by Billboard and PDN, for his photo of Coldplay at Wachovia Arena; and First Prize in PDN's 2008 World in Focus contest, for an image from a personal project he shot in Sri Lanka.
  

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  HHS! Contender: Juliette Tang

  Posted: 23-April-2012, 7:13pm CEST by Charlie Fish

  In the series Still Life with Book, Contender Juliette Tang bridges the gap between being a bibliophile and also an image-maker, creating still lifes from some of the most beloved literary novels. Whether channeling a character in the book or seeking to capture an ambiance, each of the works visually represents varying elements from the literary masterpieces that resonated with her as a reader. To see if your favorite book got the still life treatment, check out Tang's Flickr set.

  Still Life with Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, 2011 by Juliette Tang

  Still Life with Albert Camus's The Stranger, 2011 by Juliette Tang

  Juliette explains:

  First I read a book that inspires me. Next I construct an installation featuring the book in a milieu that is symbolically connected to the text. Then I photograph this in the manner of a still life. The goal is to capture the abstract world of a book as a concrete image, with help from the realism of everyday objects. I focus on a book's narrative rather than physical qualities. My photos are informed by the language, events and details that I notice in the complicated tapestry of word combinations that exist on the written page. In some pictures, I put myself in the place of a character and arrange the composition as if through their eyes. In other pictures, I try to somehow identify with the author or evoke what I think the author's spirit or intention might be, through my own visual interpretations. My literary still life photos are subjective to my private experience as a reader and reflect my own interpretations of themes, meanings and intentions found in the texts. They are images of books taken by and seen through the eyes of a deeply appreciative reader.

  Still Life with Jean Rhy's Wide Sargasso Sea, 2011 by Juliette Tang

  Still Life with Marcel Proust's Swann's Way, 2011 by Juliette Tang

  Juliette Tang is a photographer based in San Francisco, where she lives in a Victorian house the color of an apricot macaroon. She is a recent graduate of Dartmouth College and holds a BA in english. English [is], in fact, her second language, though she only faintly remembers Mandarin, her first. Juliette is inspired by books, Dutch still life paintings and Merchant-Ivory productions. She is also a writer and filmmaker.

  Still Life with The Bhagavad Gita, 2011 by Juliette Tang

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  HHS! Contender: Ken Brown

  Posted: 19-April-2012, 5:33pm CEST by Charlie Fish

  Let the music play. Contender Ken Brown draws from his cinematic influences and love of photographing cars to create these stylized, sleek shots of jukeboxes. "I was hired by a museum to photograph their collection of jukeboxes. I shot these because I thought it was interesting to isolate the design accents that the creators of these machines took the time and skill to think about," he says of the series, which include Filbens and Wurlitzers among the 37 images.

  1937 Wurlitzer Model 24 January 9, 2012, by Ken Brown

  1937 Wurlitzer Model 24 January 9, 2012, by Ken Brown

  Born and raised in Southern California, in the household of a classic car enthusiast, Ken Brown learned to appreciate the sways of a tailfin and the sparkle of a chrome bumper at an early age. California's film industry influences and attracts its young citizens. And for a while, Ken thought that would be his endeavor. A graduate of UCSC in Film Studies, his career path took a detour when he discovered still photography. Though his first love is the cinema—particularly Film Noir, Chiaroscuro and German Expressionist Cinematography—his still images retain the influences of this cinematic orientation. Ken's work represents the merging of these influences into automotive imagery. He lives and works in New York City.

  1946 AMI January 10, 2012, by Ken Brown

  
  

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  HHS! Contender: Andrew Querner

  Posted: 12-April-2012, 7:41pm CEST by Qian Ma

  Qendrim, Trepça, 2011 by Andrew Querner

  Documentary photographers have to get close enough to their subjects to almost become one of them, but also stay just far enough to have a perspective. The intellects of a project are just as important as the aesthetics. Perhaps what's fascinating about documentary photographers is that they are all semi-professional (if not full-on) sociologists. In fact, Lewis Hine, often regarded as "the father of documentary," started his career as a sociologist. His photos of child labor not only helped the National Child Labor Committee's lobbying efforts to end the practice, but they also pioneered the concept that photography could be used as a tool for social change and reform. In today's world of visual overload, it's still captivating to see photographers get interested and involved in situations that are seemingly unrelated to their own backgrounds. Introducing Contender Andrew Querner, a Canadian reporting from Kosovo.

  Miners' Change Room, Trepça, 2011 by Andrew Querner

  For his project The Bread With Honey, Querner writes in his statement:

  The Stan Terg mine located in Trepça, Kosovo, was once the jewel of a giant Yugoslavian mining conglomerate. Two thousand miners supplied factories and smelters throughout the region with lead, zinc and gold, among other metals. Power struggles in the 1990s—which resulted in the break-up of Yugoslavia and culminated in the civil war of 1999—crippled the mining operation. Since the end of the war, Stan Terg has struggled to survive, the victim of fallout from tensions between Kosovo's Serbian and Albanian population, political tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and post-independence growing pains. Over time, Stan Terg has reflected the history of the region's ethno-political strains. Often to the detriment of the operation itself, the forces at the mine's helm also tended to hold regional control. As a photographer, this relationship offered a point of entry to explore this ongoing struggle for power through the experience of the mine's current gatekeepers and the town above. More than a metaphor for the region's complex politics, however, the mine has come to represent the potential for an economic independence, a symbol of hope that, in my experience, embodies the driving sentiment of Kosovo's 1.8 million people.

  Engineer, Trepça, 2011 by Andrew Querner

  Andrew Querner holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University of British Columbia and is currently based in Canmore, Alberta, working as a portrait and documentary photographer. His editorial work has appeared in such magazines as TIME, Monocle, The Saturday Telegraph and Report on Business.