To contact us Click HERE
I went to both sets and they were incredible. Yeah, it was pricey and I still hate Blue Note, but sometimes I gotta suck it up and it's usually worth the trouble. I admit that one set was satisfying and enough, but 2 was definitely twice as nice. While I saw some hardcore MMW fans listed a setlist, it seemed pretty improvised. When you add another great improviser to the mix it's bound to feel that way. Nels definitely fits in really well with them - it was as if he was always in the band.
3 Ocak 2013 Perşembe
MMW + Ribot set 1 @ Blue Note 12/13/12
To contact us Click HERE
Ribot! As much as I absolutely loved the night before with Nels Cline, I loved this 10 times more. I didn't know that was possible until I saw the 1st set. The set seems like it may have been similar to the night before, as an idea, but then with Ribot they went in all kinds of different directions.
Chris has a way of making the bass sound like a theremin. He uses a stick, perhaps a drumstick, held vertically behind the strings at the base and the bow in the same area of the strings. It sounds great.
Billy had all the stuff he had the previous night: the aquasonic without water, basic drumkit, table gongs, those shaky things I still haven't found out the name for (not a shakere), a tambourine and this night he also had some kind of tribal whistle. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
John had most or all of his various keyboards. He sounded great.
It was phenomenal.
Ribot! As much as I absolutely loved the night before with Nels Cline, I loved this 10 times more. I didn't know that was possible until I saw the 1st set. The set seems like it may have been similar to the night before, as an idea, but then with Ribot they went in all kinds of different directions.
Chris has a way of making the bass sound like a theremin. He uses a stick, perhaps a drumstick, held vertically behind the strings at the base and the bow in the same area of the strings. It sounds great.
Billy had all the stuff he had the previous night: the aquasonic without water, basic drumkit, table gongs, those shaky things I still haven't found out the name for (not a shakere), a tambourine and this night he also had some kind of tribal whistle. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
John had most or all of his various keyboards. He sounded great.
It was phenomenal.
MMW + Ribot Set 2 @ Blue Note 12/13/12
To contact us Click HERE
It just gets better and better. It was as if their musical memory kicked in suddenly and they took it all to another level. I don't even know how it's possible to top that amazing 1st set, but they did it. It went to places only the 4 of them could go. Forget my same setlist theory, this set was completely and totally different. It really belonged in a standing/dancing venue. There was also a dofference in that there were talkers there this set. You could only hear them during the quieter moments, but it was wierd and annoying. The music was too good to remember you were with other people.
They ended it with an amazing "Hey Joe".
I'm kicking myself for not buying tickets for the show with Mary Ehrlich and the straight up MMW. My loss as I heard they were awesome.
http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/11/29/new-guests-added-for-mmw-blue-note-residency
Senegalese percussionist Aïyb Dieng and multi-instrumentalist Marty Ehrlich will join Medeski, Martin & Wood as special guests during some of their upcoming Blue Note residency shows. Dieng will play with the group on December 11, while Ehrlich will sit in on December 15. As previously reported, the modern jazz trio will also be joined by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline on December 12, guitarist Marc Ribot on December 13 and saxophonist Bill Evans on December 14. Their final residency shows on December 16 will be pure Medeski, Martin & Wood. The trio will play two shows per night throughout the residency, with one show at 8pm and one at 10:30pm.
It just gets better and better. It was as if their musical memory kicked in suddenly and they took it all to another level. I don't even know how it's possible to top that amazing 1st set, but they did it. It went to places only the 4 of them could go. Forget my same setlist theory, this set was completely and totally different. It really belonged in a standing/dancing venue. There was also a dofference in that there were talkers there this set. You could only hear them during the quieter moments, but it was wierd and annoying. The music was too good to remember you were with other people.
They ended it with an amazing "Hey Joe".
I'm kicking myself for not buying tickets for the show with Mary Ehrlich and the straight up MMW. My loss as I heard they were awesome.
http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/11/29/new-guests-added-for-mmw-blue-note-residency
Senegalese percussionist Aïyb Dieng and multi-instrumentalist Marty Ehrlich will join Medeski, Martin & Wood as special guests during some of their upcoming Blue Note residency shows. Dieng will play with the group on December 11, while Ehrlich will sit in on December 15. As previously reported, the modern jazz trio will also be joined by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline on December 12, guitarist Marc Ribot on December 13 and saxophonist Bill Evans on December 14. Their final residency shows on December 16 will be pure Medeski, Martin & Wood. The trio will play two shows per night throughout the residency, with one show at 8pm and one at 10:30pm.
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O @ Jazz Standard 12/18/12
To contact us Click HERE
It was Matt Wilson, Bill Frisell, Jeff Lederer, Paul Sikivie and special guests playing Christmas tunes their own way. Joe Lovano played soprano sax on one. There was a 7 person choir on a couple. A male vocalist joined them on the last one. It was fun and a great show. I also felt more in the holiday spirit as a result.
It looks like there were different guests the next night, looking at the NY Times blog post below.
The listing:
Drummer Matt Wilson fires up his Christmas Tree-O, first heard on an enjoyable 2010 Palmetto CD, with reedist Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie—plus a very special guest in maverick guitarist Bill Frisell. You'll hear a number of holiday favorites filtered through a refreshingly edgy postbop lens.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/21/arts/music/matt-wilsons-christmas-tree-o-at-jazz-standard.html?_r=0
It was Matt Wilson, Bill Frisell, Jeff Lederer, Paul Sikivie and special guests playing Christmas tunes their own way. Joe Lovano played soprano sax on one. There was a 7 person choir on a couple. A male vocalist joined them on the last one. It was fun and a great show. I also felt more in the holiday spirit as a result.
It looks like there were different guests the next night, looking at the NY Times blog post below.
The listing:
Drummer Matt Wilson fires up his Christmas Tree-O, first heard on an enjoyable 2010 Palmetto CD, with reedist Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie—plus a very special guest in maverick guitarist Bill Frisell. You'll hear a number of holiday favorites filtered through a refreshingly edgy postbop lens.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/21/arts/music/matt-wilsons-christmas-tree-o-at-jazz-standard.html?_r=0
FIRST 3 LINO'S FROM CHIANG MAI TRIP
To contact us Click HERE
These are the first 3 lino's I've cut and printed based on the sketches from my trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand as part of the group Volunteer Positive. (And one linocut from my friend Phra Kritsada Prueprong) The first 2.5 weeks was spent in service which afforded me very little time to actually draw on my own, most of the prints from the full series were sketched out on my last week in Chiang Mai. The only 1 of these 3 lino's that was sketched during my actual service is the Elephant sketches print. We spent an afternoon at the BAAN CHANG ELEPHANT PARK in Chiang Mai where after a educational introduction to the Asian Elephants in residence we had lunch and a few minutes to digest our food before the 2-hour trek we were about tro partake in. Having not had much opportunity to do any prior sketch work, I had the foresight to bring along a few pieces of pre-cut lino and stole away for 20 minutes after lunch and did these sketches. Let it be known, elephants do not stand still, ever. It was a challenge to get a complete sketch, which explains why there are so many partial elephants in this print.
The print of the Monk is in fact a dear friend I made while in Chiang Mai. He is a 20 year old Monk named Phra Kritsada Prueprong originally from a village outside of Chiang Mai in Loei province. We were paired up as part of something called "Monk Chat" which is an event that creates the opportunity for local monks to practice their conversational skills with English speaking foreigners. On this particular morning, Kritsada and I took a tour of a few of the local temples and I decided that since he would share with me, I would share with him by having us both work on a lino sketch. I offered to take his drawing back to NYC with me where i would cut it out and print it for him. I had no idea that he could actually draw and was quite talented. It turned out to be an incredible opportunity for the both of us.
The print of the banners was from Wat Phrasingh in Chiang Mai. I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the banners, but if you look carefully, you will see representation of 3 Birth Year Animals. As there were many more banners there, I assume that's what they were there to represent.
SKETCH OF ELEPHANTS ON LINO
PARTIALLY CARVED LINO
INKED LINO
FINAL PRINT
PORTRAIT OF "DAVID" - BY KRITSADA PRUEPRONG
PORTRAIT OF KRITSADA - BY DAVID BERUBE
WAT PHRASINGH - CUT LINO
WAT PHRASINGH - FINAL PRINT
These are the first 3 lino's I've cut and printed based on the sketches from my trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand as part of the group Volunteer Positive. (And one linocut from my friend Phra Kritsada Prueprong) The first 2.5 weeks was spent in service which afforded me very little time to actually draw on my own, most of the prints from the full series were sketched out on my last week in Chiang Mai. The only 1 of these 3 lino's that was sketched during my actual service is the Elephant sketches print. We spent an afternoon at the BAAN CHANG ELEPHANT PARK in Chiang Mai where after a educational introduction to the Asian Elephants in residence we had lunch and a few minutes to digest our food before the 2-hour trek we were about tro partake in. Having not had much opportunity to do any prior sketch work, I had the foresight to bring along a few pieces of pre-cut lino and stole away for 20 minutes after lunch and did these sketches. Let it be known, elephants do not stand still, ever. It was a challenge to get a complete sketch, which explains why there are so many partial elephants in this print.
The print of the Monk is in fact a dear friend I made while in Chiang Mai. He is a 20 year old Monk named Phra Kritsada Prueprong originally from a village outside of Chiang Mai in Loei province. We were paired up as part of something called "Monk Chat" which is an event that creates the opportunity for local monks to practice their conversational skills with English speaking foreigners. On this particular morning, Kritsada and I took a tour of a few of the local temples and I decided that since he would share with me, I would share with him by having us both work on a lino sketch. I offered to take his drawing back to NYC with me where i would cut it out and print it for him. I had no idea that he could actually draw and was quite talented. It turned out to be an incredible opportunity for the both of us.
The print of the banners was from Wat Phrasingh in Chiang Mai. I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the banners, but if you look carefully, you will see representation of 3 Birth Year Animals. As there were many more banners there, I assume that's what they were there to represent.
SKETCH OF ELEPHANTS ON LINO
PARTIALLY CARVED LINO
INKED LINO
FINAL PRINT
PORTRAIT OF "DAVID" - BY KRITSADA PRUEPRONG
PORTRAIT OF KRITSADA - BY DAVID BERUBE
WAT PHRASINGH - CUT LINO
WAT PHRASINGH - FINAL PRINT
2 Ocak 2013 Çarşamba
The Travel Photographer's Own Favorites of 2012
To contact us Click HERE
With some difficulty, I've chosen five of my own favorite images made during 2012 to showcase here on my blog.
Since I've just been smitten by Hipstamatic's newly announced Tintype SnapPak filters and its accompanying Tinto 1884 camera, I pimped these images using Alienskin Exposure software to resemble that look as best as I knew how...just to indulge this passing whimsy. The purists won't like it...but it's fun.
1. The Kathakali Performer:
This image was made just before one of the most intense Kathakali performances I have ever witnessed during my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™. The performance and the earlier 3 hours make-up session took place at the Kalatharangini Kathakali School, near Thrissur.
Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, and originated in Kerala. Kathakali is a group production, in which actors-dancers take various roles in performances based on themes from Hindu mythology, such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
I asked some of the performers to pose adopting their signature gestures, and this performer was singularly adept at humoring the camera lenses.
2. The LGBT Pride March:
The month of June was chosen for LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots in NYC, which occurred at the end of June 1969. The Dance on the Pier is one the main events ending the LGBT Pride March on June 24, 2012.
I walked around the Hudson River Piers during that afternoon, and saw these two young women hugging; for a moment, totally oblivious of their surroundings. It's one of many in a gallery I titled LGBT Hip Hop.
3. Muay Thai Pugilists:
During The Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Chiang Mai, I initiated a couple of photo projects in the area known as Loi Kroh Road.
The area is known for its bars and a rundown gym with a decrepit ring. One got to the boxing ring by walking through a gauntlet of girlie and ladyboy bars. Badly patched up with duct tape and tarted up with adverts for Jack Daniels Whisky, the ring was the scene for play-acting fights, and reeked of sweat and the ambience of the sex for hire, ...and of course, shady nak muay, as the sport's pugilists are known. The Art of 8 Limbs is a photo gallery of these fighters.
4. The Bac Ha Soup-Eater:
This is one is probably my most favored amongst these favorites. I think it screams Viet Nam.
Whilst in Bac Ha during my Vietnam: North of the 16th Parallel Photo-Expedition/Workshop, I chanced upon this man enjoying his midday meal (perhaps a soup with meat and/or mushrooms in it), and chose to photograph the scene by standing directly behind him, and doing so as silently as possible. I used my M9 to snap a few frames of him, before he realized that I was on top of him. When he did, he looked up at me, smiled...and resumed his meal.
Every Sunday, Bac Ha has the biggest fair near the Chinese border. It is the largest and most colourful market in the area and attracts throngs of villagers from the surrounding hill tribes. The cups you see in the upper right corner of the photograph had local moonshine in them.
5. The March Jacobs Doll:
This photograph of a young Asian woman was made near 32nd Street (NYC's Koreatown) on November 1, 2012. This was 3 days following Hurricane Sandy causing lower Manhattan to be without electrical power. Many of the area's residents 'fled' to mid town hotels or other accommodations.
I found it somewhat incongruous this beautiful woman was so oblivious that only a few streets south of where she and I stood, lower Manhattan was eerily quiet and almost deserted. Seemingly disconnected from this misfortune, she's connected to her iPhone, carrying a Marc Jacobs shopping bag and sucking on candy. It also signalled to me that New York City carried on...no matter what.
From The Leica File (X Pro-1) gallery.
With some difficulty, I've chosen five of my own favorite images made during 2012 to showcase here on my blog.
Since I've just been smitten by Hipstamatic's newly announced Tintype SnapPak filters and its accompanying Tinto 1884 camera, I pimped these images using Alienskin Exposure software to resemble that look as best as I knew how...just to indulge this passing whimsy. The purists won't like it...but it's fun.
1. The Kathakali Performer:
 |
| Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved |
Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world, and originated in Kerala. Kathakali is a group production, in which actors-dancers take various roles in performances based on themes from Hindu mythology, such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
I asked some of the performers to pose adopting their signature gestures, and this performer was singularly adept at humoring the camera lenses.
2. The LGBT Pride March:
 |
| Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved |
I walked around the Hudson River Piers during that afternoon, and saw these two young women hugging; for a moment, totally oblivious of their surroundings. It's one of many in a gallery I titled LGBT Hip Hop.
3. Muay Thai Pugilists:
 |
| Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved |
The area is known for its bars and a rundown gym with a decrepit ring. One got to the boxing ring by walking through a gauntlet of girlie and ladyboy bars. Badly patched up with duct tape and tarted up with adverts for Jack Daniels Whisky, the ring was the scene for play-acting fights, and reeked of sweat and the ambience of the sex for hire, ...and of course, shady nak muay, as the sport's pugilists are known. The Art of 8 Limbs is a photo gallery of these fighters.
4. The Bac Ha Soup-Eater:
 |
| Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy- All Rights Reserved |
Whilst in Bac Ha during my Vietnam: North of the 16th Parallel Photo-Expedition/Workshop, I chanced upon this man enjoying his midday meal (perhaps a soup with meat and/or mushrooms in it), and chose to photograph the scene by standing directly behind him, and doing so as silently as possible. I used my M9 to snap a few frames of him, before he realized that I was on top of him. When he did, he looked up at me, smiled...and resumed his meal.
Every Sunday, Bac Ha has the biggest fair near the Chinese border. It is the largest and most colourful market in the area and attracts throngs of villagers from the surrounding hill tribes. The cups you see in the upper right corner of the photograph had local moonshine in them.
5. The March Jacobs Doll:
 |
| Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy- All Rights Reserved |
I found it somewhat incongruous this beautiful woman was so oblivious that only a few streets south of where she and I stood, lower Manhattan was eerily quiet and almost deserted. Seemingly disconnected from this misfortune, she's connected to her iPhone, carrying a Marc Jacobs shopping bag and sucking on candy. It also signalled to me that New York City carried on...no matter what.
From The Leica File (X Pro-1) gallery.
Magdalena Solé | The Mississippi Delta
To contact us Click HERE
"To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi". William Faulkner
The other day I found an invitation in my mail from the Leica Gallery on Broadway for The Mississippi Delta exhibition by photographer Magdalena Solé.
The invitation described the exhibition as being a photographic exploration of the Delta communities in the Deep South. Communities such as the sharecroppers, plantations, and conjuring up the sound of the Blues. The area is known for its small wealthy gentry, and the "large impoverished underclass living in dilapidated house and tilting trailers". Naturally, Ms Solé worked in Clarksdale, which has been historically significant in the history of the Blues, and is now a mecca for those photographers and other documentarians who seek to document this musical genre, and lifestyle.
Her photographs also formed the basis for her book New Delta Rising, which won a prestigious award in France. She used Leica M8 and M9 cameras for the project preferring them because they're small, and portable...while allowing her to remain virtually invisible. The photograph used in the exhibition's invitation (above) is really fabulous...the expressions of the two men (and the dog), and the juxtaposition of all the characters in the frame is just perfect.
Magdalene Sole was born in Spain and raised in Switzerland. She arrived in New York City in 1984 where she still lives.
I'm not terribly fond of attending exhibitions as such, but I certainly intend to drop by the Leica Gallery for that exhibition, which runs from January 11 to February 23, 2013. I will post about what my impressions are when I do so.
 |
| Photo © Magdalena Sole-All Rights Reserved |
The other day I found an invitation in my mail from the Leica Gallery on Broadway for The Mississippi Delta exhibition by photographer Magdalena Solé.
The invitation described the exhibition as being a photographic exploration of the Delta communities in the Deep South. Communities such as the sharecroppers, plantations, and conjuring up the sound of the Blues. The area is known for its small wealthy gentry, and the "large impoverished underclass living in dilapidated house and tilting trailers". Naturally, Ms Solé worked in Clarksdale, which has been historically significant in the history of the Blues, and is now a mecca for those photographers and other documentarians who seek to document this musical genre, and lifestyle.
Her photographs also formed the basis for her book New Delta Rising, which won a prestigious award in France. She used Leica M8 and M9 cameras for the project preferring them because they're small, and portable...while allowing her to remain virtually invisible. The photograph used in the exhibition's invitation (above) is really fabulous...the expressions of the two men (and the dog), and the juxtaposition of all the characters in the frame is just perfect.
Magdalene Sole was born in Spain and raised in Switzerland. She arrived in New York City in 1984 where she still lives.
I'm not terribly fond of attending exhibitions as such, but I certainly intend to drop by the Leica Gallery for that exhibition, which runs from January 11 to February 23, 2013. I will post about what my impressions are when I do so.
Introducing The Digital "Wet Plates" Photo Gallery!
To contact us Click HERE
I took advantage of the lull during the past few days to work on a personal (and fun) project I've been wanting to do for a while...and made some progress in it. .
I've been quite public with my recently found affection for the Hipstamatic's new Tintype SnapPack and it's accessory films, and if the weather hadn't been so cruelly cold in New York City, I would've indulged in much more street photography using this combo last week. I've also been very impressed with Alien Skin's Exposure 4, which allowed me to process some of my photographs to look like pseudo-Daguerreotypes or wet plate images. It was especially effective when I produced Hilltribes In The Mist; a multimedia piece featuring my photographs made in Vietnam's Sapa and Bac Ha regions.
So it was a natural progression to start The Digital Wet Plates; a new blog-based website of a collection of travel portraits I made during my numerous photo expeditions. Not all the travel portraits lend themselves well to being processed in that fashion, and it's hit and miss with many of them...so I have to process the photograph and then decide whether it looks authentic or not.
This gallery is far from being complete, and I'll go as far as possible in my inventory of photographs. I will eventually organize these portraits in pages according the regions.
Oh, and another thing...in a previous post I mentioned a company called PostalPix who fuses iPhone photographs on thin aluminum sheets of varying sizes, and I thought that it may duplicate not only the wet plate look, but also its feel. The company responded and sent me a discount coupon to try the service out. I emailed back the photograph of the Rebari Herdsman you see in this post, and we'll see what it looks and feels like when it's returned to me.
Note: I'm not compensated in any way by Alien Skinware, nor by PostalPix (except for the $15 coupon it sent me).
 |
| Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved The Digital Wet Plates Gallery |
I've been quite public with my recently found affection for the Hipstamatic's new Tintype SnapPack and it's accessory films, and if the weather hadn't been so cruelly cold in New York City, I would've indulged in much more street photography using this combo last week. I've also been very impressed with Alien Skin's Exposure 4, which allowed me to process some of my photographs to look like pseudo-Daguerreotypes or wet plate images. It was especially effective when I produced Hilltribes In The Mist; a multimedia piece featuring my photographs made in Vietnam's Sapa and Bac Ha regions.
So it was a natural progression to start The Digital Wet Plates; a new blog-based website of a collection of travel portraits I made during my numerous photo expeditions. Not all the travel portraits lend themselves well to being processed in that fashion, and it's hit and miss with many of them...so I have to process the photograph and then decide whether it looks authentic or not.
This gallery is far from being complete, and I'll go as far as possible in my inventory of photographs. I will eventually organize these portraits in pages according the regions.
Oh, and another thing...in a previous post I mentioned a company called PostalPix who fuses iPhone photographs on thin aluminum sheets of varying sizes, and I thought that it may duplicate not only the wet plate look, but also its feel. The company responded and sent me a discount coupon to try the service out. I emailed back the photograph of the Rebari Herdsman you see in this post, and we'll see what it looks and feels like when it's returned to me.
Note: I'm not compensated in any way by Alien Skinware, nor by PostalPix (except for the $15 coupon it sent me).
FIRST 3 LINO'S FROM CHIANG MAI TRIP
To contact us Click HERE
These are the first 3 lino's I've cut and printed based on the sketches from my trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand as part of the group Volunteer Positive. (And one linocut from my friend Phra Kritsada Prueprong) The first 2.5 weeks was spent in service which afforded me very little time to actually draw on my own, most of the prints from the full series were sketched out on my last week in Chiang Mai. The only 1 of these 3 lino's that was sketched during my actual service is the Elephant sketches print. We spent an afternoon at the BAAN CHANG ELEPHANT PARK in Chiang Mai where after a educational introduction to the Asian Elephants in residence we had lunch and a few minutes to digest our food before the 2-hour trek we were about tro partake in. Having not had much opportunity to do any prior sketch work, I had the foresight to bring along a few pieces of pre-cut lino and stole away for 20 minutes after lunch and did these sketches. Let it be known, elephants do not stand still, ever. It was a challenge to get a complete sketch, which explains why there are so many partial elephants in this print.
The print of the Monk is in fact a dear friend I made while in Chiang Mai. He is a 20 year old Monk named Phra Kritsada Prueprong originally from a village outside of Chiang Mai in Loei province. We were paired up as part of something called "Monk Chat" which is an event that creates the opportunity for local monks to practice their conversational skills with English speaking foreigners. On this particular morning, Kritsada and I took a tour of a few of the local temples and I decided that since he would share with me, I would share with him by having us both work on a lino sketch. I offered to take his drawing back to NYC with me where i would cut it out and print it for him. I had no idea that he could actually draw and was quite talented. It turned out to be an incredible opportunity for the both of us.
The print of the banners was from Wat Phrasingh in Chiang Mai. I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the banners, but if you look carefully, you will see representation of 3 Birth Year Animals. As there were many more banners there, I assume that's what they were there to represent.
SKETCH OF ELEPHANTS ON LINO
PARTIALLY CARVED LINO
INKED LINO
FINAL PRINT
PORTRAIT OF "DAVID" - BY KRITSADA PRUEPRONG
PORTRAIT OF KRITSADA - BY DAVID BERUBE
WAT PHRASINGH - CUT LINO
WAT PHRASINGH - FINAL PRINT
These are the first 3 lino's I've cut and printed based on the sketches from my trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand as part of the group Volunteer Positive. (And one linocut from my friend Phra Kritsada Prueprong) The first 2.5 weeks was spent in service which afforded me very little time to actually draw on my own, most of the prints from the full series were sketched out on my last week in Chiang Mai. The only 1 of these 3 lino's that was sketched during my actual service is the Elephant sketches print. We spent an afternoon at the BAAN CHANG ELEPHANT PARK in Chiang Mai where after a educational introduction to the Asian Elephants in residence we had lunch and a few minutes to digest our food before the 2-hour trek we were about tro partake in. Having not had much opportunity to do any prior sketch work, I had the foresight to bring along a few pieces of pre-cut lino and stole away for 20 minutes after lunch and did these sketches. Let it be known, elephants do not stand still, ever. It was a challenge to get a complete sketch, which explains why there are so many partial elephants in this print.
The print of the Monk is in fact a dear friend I made while in Chiang Mai. He is a 20 year old Monk named Phra Kritsada Prueprong originally from a village outside of Chiang Mai in Loei province. We were paired up as part of something called "Monk Chat" which is an event that creates the opportunity for local monks to practice their conversational skills with English speaking foreigners. On this particular morning, Kritsada and I took a tour of a few of the local temples and I decided that since he would share with me, I would share with him by having us both work on a lino sketch. I offered to take his drawing back to NYC with me where i would cut it out and print it for him. I had no idea that he could actually draw and was quite talented. It turned out to be an incredible opportunity for the both of us.
The print of the banners was from Wat Phrasingh in Chiang Mai. I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the banners, but if you look carefully, you will see representation of 3 Birth Year Animals. As there were many more banners there, I assume that's what they were there to represent.
SKETCH OF ELEPHANTS ON LINO
PARTIALLY CARVED LINO
INKED LINO
FINAL PRINT
PORTRAIT OF "DAVID" - BY KRITSADA PRUEPRONG
PORTRAIT OF KRITSADA - BY DAVID BERUBE
WAT PHRASINGH - CUT LINO
WAT PHRASINGH - FINAL PRINT
I'm tired ... (a stream writing exercise)
To contact us Click HERE
Today is the first day since the Blogathon started that I'm really tired. It's been a long week at work, and writing a post seems almost too laborious at this point. But instead of lying here on my bed staring at my computer with sheer exhaustion lingering in my eyes at 11pm on a Friday, I'm writing about it.
This is what the Blogathon taught me last year—no matter how tired you are, or if you think you have nothing to write about—that blog post needs to be published! No thinking, just writing. Even if you write about how tired you are, well that's something. And look, I just wrote one hundred words. They may not be the best one hundred words I've ever written, but I wrote them, and now my post is done. Exercise complete.
Photo: Juliane Riedl
Today is the first day since the Blogathon started that I'm really tired. It's been a long week at work, and writing a post seems almost too laborious at this point. But instead of lying here on my bed staring at my computer with sheer exhaustion lingering in my eyes at 11pm on a Friday, I'm writing about it. This is what the Blogathon taught me last year—no matter how tired you are, or if you think you have nothing to write about—that blog post needs to be published! No thinking, just writing. Even if you write about how tired you are, well that's something. And look, I just wrote one hundred words. They may not be the best one hundred words I've ever written, but I wrote them, and now my post is done. Exercise complete.
Photo: Juliane Riedl
1 Ocak 2013 Salı
Frederic Vanwalleghem | Vodun
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Despite concerted efforts of Christian missionaries, this ancient belief system still has millions of adherents along West Africa’s former Slave Coast, from Ghana to parts of Nigeria, and especially in Benin. In 1996, Benin’s democratic government officially decreed vodun a religion, and ever since, thousands have openly practiced it. It's estimated that 20 percent of the population of Benin, or about a million people, practice pure vodun.
The belief system is called vodun in Benin, vodou or voodoo in Haiti and vudu in the Dominican Republic.
Frederic Vanwalleghem is a Belgian photographer; deeply interested in African religious traditions, and especially in vodun, a topic he has researched for years. He became interested in vodun when he first traveled to Cuba and discovered santeria, the Afro-Cuban religious tradition, and was subsequently introduced its secret ceremonies in Trinidad. Later, he traveled to Nigeria and Benin, to look for the roots of diasporic traditions like santeria, condomble and vodun.
An interesting article on vodun was recently featured in The New York Times, and a full interview with Frederic Vanwalleghem was featured in The Leica Camera Blog.
"Vodun practitioners worship a pantheon of gods and lesser deities that inhabit objects ranging from stones to waterfalls."Here's a short video made of moving images and stills by photographer Frederic Vanwalleghem made in Ouidah (Benin)of the ancient belief system of vodun.
Despite concerted efforts of Christian missionaries, this ancient belief system still has millions of adherents along West Africa’s former Slave Coast, from Ghana to parts of Nigeria, and especially in Benin. In 1996, Benin’s democratic government officially decreed vodun a religion, and ever since, thousands have openly practiced it. It's estimated that 20 percent of the population of Benin, or about a million people, practice pure vodun.
The belief system is called vodun in Benin, vodou or voodoo in Haiti and vudu in the Dominican Republic.
Frederic Vanwalleghem is a Belgian photographer; deeply interested in African religious traditions, and especially in vodun, a topic he has researched for years. He became interested in vodun when he first traveled to Cuba and discovered santeria, the Afro-Cuban religious tradition, and was subsequently introduced its secret ceremonies in Trinidad. Later, he traveled to Nigeria and Benin, to look for the roots of diasporic traditions like santeria, condomble and vodun.
An interesting article on vodun was recently featured in The New York Times, and a full interview with Frederic Vanwalleghem was featured in The Leica Camera Blog.
Aga Luczakowska I Female Islambul
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It was said that in the early 1930s Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (the first president of Turkey) thought of a Machiavellian way to persuade Turkish women to discard their yashmak ( diaphanous Turkish veils) as he regarded this Islamic tradition regressive and primitive. He simply issued a presidential decree that all prostitutes had to wear a veil.
Overnight, all the women in Turkey discarded theirs.
I thought this apocryphal story is a great introduction to Aga Luczakowska's Female Islambul, a collection of monochrome street photographs which depict the current resurgence of veils in Turkish society. She also features Istanbul Girls, a gallery of color photographs of modern unveiled young women in Istanbul night clubs.
Aga Luczakowska started her career as a staff photographer for the Polish daily newspaper "Dziennik Zachodni Polska The Times". In 2007, she traveled to Istanbul where she photographed for two years.Subsequently, she studied in Italy with NOOR Agency founder Stanley Greene, then continued to Romania to pursue various photographic projects in Romania.
Her work appeared in various newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Moscow Times, Dziennik Zachodni, National Geographic Magazine (International) and more Polish newspapers and magazines.
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| Photo © Aga Luczakowska-All Rights Reserved |
Overnight, all the women in Turkey discarded theirs.
I thought this apocryphal story is a great introduction to Aga Luczakowska's Female Islambul, a collection of monochrome street photographs which depict the current resurgence of veils in Turkish society. She also features Istanbul Girls, a gallery of color photographs of modern unveiled young women in Istanbul night clubs.
Aga Luczakowska started her career as a staff photographer for the Polish daily newspaper "Dziennik Zachodni Polska The Times". In 2007, she traveled to Istanbul where she photographed for two years.Subsequently, she studied in Italy with NOOR Agency founder Stanley Greene, then continued to Romania to pursue various photographic projects in Romania.
Her work appeared in various newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Moscow Times, Dziennik Zachodni, National Geographic Magazine (International) and more Polish newspapers and magazines.
POV | Ersatz Wet Plate?
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And I recently stumbled on this short video (at the end of this post) of Ian Ruhter modifying a Holga to shoot 19th century style photographs based on the wet plate process. It's a fun project, and it doesn't seem too difficult...although I'm sure there a steep learning curve attached to it, but the more one practices it, the easier it gets.
Having also received an email from a company called PostalPix asking whether I'd be interested in having some of my iPhone photographs fused on thin aluminum sheets of varying sizes, I think I might be able to duplicate the wet plate look by sending a few images I snapped using Hipstamatic Tintype filter, and have them infused on metal sheets.
I know...I can sense the purists' hackles rising at this blasphemous idea, but it sounds like fun, and it's only ersatz 'wet-plate'. As Ian Ruhter himself says; "To live by rules that were created by others we may never find out who we really are."
And to endear myself to whoever is interested in wet-plate photography, here's Wet Plate Collodion Day website, which has galleries by dozens of photographers who work in this medium...as well as a list of resources. Ian Ruhter's Vimeo page also has a list of resources...where to buy, etc.
I will keep my readers posted once I hear from PostalPix.
Lights, Toy Camera, Action from Ian Ruhter : Alchemist on Vimeo.
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| Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved |
Ersatz means "substituting for, and typically inferior in quality to", e.g. "chicory is ersatz coffee". (Wikipedia)I mentioned it here on this blog, but I've experienced a sort of love epiphany (or is it epiphanic love?) with Hipstamatic's new Tintype SnapPack...which consists of a Tinto 1884 Lens, a D-Type Plate Film and a C-Type Plate Film. It's not for everyone or for every subject, but when the ingredients of a scene click together, it works well.
And I recently stumbled on this short video (at the end of this post) of Ian Ruhter modifying a Holga to shoot 19th century style photographs based on the wet plate process. It's a fun project, and it doesn't seem too difficult...although I'm sure there a steep learning curve attached to it, but the more one practices it, the easier it gets.
Having also received an email from a company called PostalPix asking whether I'd be interested in having some of my iPhone photographs fused on thin aluminum sheets of varying sizes, I think I might be able to duplicate the wet plate look by sending a few images I snapped using Hipstamatic Tintype filter, and have them infused on metal sheets.
I know...I can sense the purists' hackles rising at this blasphemous idea, but it sounds like fun, and it's only ersatz 'wet-plate'. As Ian Ruhter himself says; "To live by rules that were created by others we may never find out who we really are."
And to endear myself to whoever is interested in wet-plate photography, here's Wet Plate Collodion Day website, which has galleries by dozens of photographers who work in this medium...as well as a list of resources. Ian Ruhter's Vimeo page also has a list of resources...where to buy, etc.
I will keep my readers posted once I hear from PostalPix.
Lights, Toy Camera, Action from Ian Ruhter : Alchemist on Vimeo.
The Travel Photographer 2012 Most Popular Post
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And the most popular post of 2012 on The Travel Photographer's bog is:
POV: Fuji X1-Pro1: Is It A Threat To Leica? in which I replied that the answer might well be a qualified yes. I also predicted (wrongly so far) that Leica would come up with a mirrorless iteration at some point soon.
That said, Leica did come up with the new Leica M-E, a "bare-bones entry level" version of the M9 priced at $5500 or so. To my mind, this was Leica's attempt to dull the competition from camera manufacturers such as Fuji and others, to widen its target market, and to expand its accessibility to more photographers.
For what it's worth, PDN 2012 Photo Gear of the Year just published a few days ago nominated the Fuji X-Pro 1 on that list.
But here's why I think this particular post got so much attention:
1. Timing. The post was published whilst rumors were swirling about the imminent Fuji announcement. 2. Gear. Photographers love to read about gear.3. Provocative title of the post.
For galleries of my Fuji X Pro-1 photographs, take a look at The Leica File (And X Pro-1).
And with this, I bid my readers a very happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!
And the most popular post of 2012 on The Travel Photographer's bog is:
POV: Fuji X1-Pro1: Is It A Threat To Leica? in which I replied that the answer might well be a qualified yes. I also predicted (wrongly so far) that Leica would come up with a mirrorless iteration at some point soon.
That said, Leica did come up with the new Leica M-E, a "bare-bones entry level" version of the M9 priced at $5500 or so. To my mind, this was Leica's attempt to dull the competition from camera manufacturers such as Fuji and others, to widen its target market, and to expand its accessibility to more photographers.
For what it's worth, PDN 2012 Photo Gear of the Year just published a few days ago nominated the Fuji X-Pro 1 on that list.
But here's why I think this particular post got so much attention:
1. Timing. The post was published whilst rumors were swirling about the imminent Fuji announcement. 2. Gear. Photographers love to read about gear.3. Provocative title of the post.
For galleries of my Fuji X Pro-1 photographs, take a look at The Leica File (And X Pro-1).
And with this, I bid my readers a very happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!
FIRST 3 LINO'S FROM CHIANG MAI TRIP
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These are the first 3 lino's I've cut and printed based on the sketches from my trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand as part of the group Volunteer Positive. (And one linocut from my friend Phra Kritsada Prueprong) The first 2.5 weeks was spent in service which afforded me very little time to actually draw on my own, most of the prints from the full series were sketched out on my last week in Chiang Mai. The only 1 of these 3 lino's that was sketched during my actual service is the Elephant sketches print. We spent an afternoon at the BAAN CHANG ELEPHANT PARK in Chiang Mai where after a educational introduction to the Asian Elephants in residence we had lunch and a few minutes to digest our food before the 2-hour trek we were about tro partake in. Having not had much opportunity to do any prior sketch work, I had the foresight to bring along a few pieces of pre-cut lino and stole away for 20 minutes after lunch and did these sketches. Let it be known, elephants do not stand still, ever. It was a challenge to get a complete sketch, which explains why there are so many partial elephants in this print.
The print of the Monk is in fact a dear friend I made while in Chiang Mai. He is a 20 year old Monk named Phra Kritsada Prueprong originally from a village outside of Chiang Mai in Loei province. We were paired up as part of something called "Monk Chat" which is an event that creates the opportunity for local monks to practice their conversational skills with English speaking foreigners. On this particular morning, Kritsada and I took a tour of a few of the local temples and I decided that since he would share with me, I would share with him by having us both work on a lino sketch. I offered to take his drawing back to NYC with me where i would cut it out and print it for him. I had no idea that he could actually draw and was quite talented. It turned out to be an incredible opportunity for the both of us.
The print of the banners was from Wat Phrasingh in Chiang Mai. I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the banners, but if you look carefully, you will see representation of 3 Birth Year Animals. As there were many more banners there, I assume that's what they were there to represent.
SKETCH OF ELEPHANTS ON LINO
PARTIALLY CARVED LINO
INKED LINO
FINAL PRINT
PORTRAIT OF "DAVID" - BY KRITSADA PRUEPRONG
PORTRAIT OF KRITSADA - BY DAVID BERUBE
WAT PHRASINGH - CUT LINO
WAT PHRASINGH - FINAL PRINT
These are the first 3 lino's I've cut and printed based on the sketches from my trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand as part of the group Volunteer Positive. (And one linocut from my friend Phra Kritsada Prueprong) The first 2.5 weeks was spent in service which afforded me very little time to actually draw on my own, most of the prints from the full series were sketched out on my last week in Chiang Mai. The only 1 of these 3 lino's that was sketched during my actual service is the Elephant sketches print. We spent an afternoon at the BAAN CHANG ELEPHANT PARK in Chiang Mai where after a educational introduction to the Asian Elephants in residence we had lunch and a few minutes to digest our food before the 2-hour trek we were about tro partake in. Having not had much opportunity to do any prior sketch work, I had the foresight to bring along a few pieces of pre-cut lino and stole away for 20 minutes after lunch and did these sketches. Let it be known, elephants do not stand still, ever. It was a challenge to get a complete sketch, which explains why there are so many partial elephants in this print.
The print of the Monk is in fact a dear friend I made while in Chiang Mai. He is a 20 year old Monk named Phra Kritsada Prueprong originally from a village outside of Chiang Mai in Loei province. We were paired up as part of something called "Monk Chat" which is an event that creates the opportunity for local monks to practice their conversational skills with English speaking foreigners. On this particular morning, Kritsada and I took a tour of a few of the local temples and I decided that since he would share with me, I would share with him by having us both work on a lino sketch. I offered to take his drawing back to NYC with me where i would cut it out and print it for him. I had no idea that he could actually draw and was quite talented. It turned out to be an incredible opportunity for the both of us.
The print of the banners was from Wat Phrasingh in Chiang Mai. I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the banners, but if you look carefully, you will see representation of 3 Birth Year Animals. As there were many more banners there, I assume that's what they were there to represent.
SKETCH OF ELEPHANTS ON LINO
PARTIALLY CARVED LINO
INKED LINO
FINAL PRINT
PORTRAIT OF "DAVID" - BY KRITSADA PRUEPRONG
PORTRAIT OF KRITSADA - BY DAVID BERUBE
WAT PHRASINGH - CUT LINO
WAT PHRASINGH - FINAL PRINT
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