Some Links to Some Interesting Photographers

Carrie Mae Weems

A Black woman photographer, Carrie Mae Weems work has contributed to discussions of racism, gender, and politics. Her most familiar work may be from her Kitchen Table Series. Here are a couple from that series below. More can be found at: http://carriemaeweems.net 

http://carriemaeweems.net/images/gallery-images/kitchen-table/kitchen-table6.jpg

http://carriemaeweems.net/images/gallery-images/kitchen-table/kitchen-table7.jpg

Vallivana is a photographer that the Internet directed me to. I only know their works from their Visual Supply Company library but I found them stunning and rich in variety, color, and composition. Take a look, their photos will make you wish you could be where ever they are!

http://vallivana.vsco.co/grid/1

Estelle is a young lady from the country of Guernsey, and her photographs are mostly portraits but she also includes pictures of some landscapes. I am truly impressed by her photoshop and editing skills!

http://estellesphotog.tumblr.com/

Samantha Melin shoots a lot of patterns in the landscape and architecture that surround her. Her photos are edited to be vibrant and high contrast to really punch out the details in the subjects she shoots. 

http://sammelin.tumblr.com/archive

Grace Di Meo's photography shows that she likes shooting architecture, people, and the landscapes around her. I am most impressed by the colors and the sharp detail in her photos. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gracedimeo

Salar Kheradpejouh is an experimental photographer that uses bodies in twisted (literal and figurative) forms. The tone in his photos are very cool and his literary tone suggests struggle in human nature and the pain and metamorphosis the human body goes through every day. 

http://www.salarkheradpejouh.com/experimental

Alex Ekins is a photographer from the United Kingdom. I admire his street photography because he consistently shoots a certain subject that he sees and it turns into portraiture. 

http://alexekins.com/

Mahi Pemasani's photography is high in contrast, cool in tone, vibrant in color, and  beautiful in subject. He shoots with Fujifilm X100s or a Nikon L35AF.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mpemasani/#_=_

Extension of Mind is an analog photographer. They sell their photos usually in 8 x 12 formats. It's interesting to see Extension of Mind because they tried to shoot in digital at first but found solace shooting in film. I'm impressed by the beauty they capture without the convenience of being able to look back at what they shot. 

http://www.extensionofmind.bigcartel.com/

Jennifer R. Biggerstaff is an amateur photographer who shoots a variety of people, and events. What strikes me about her photos though are her alternative process photos. Despite having a wide variety in the subject matter she shoots, I do believe she knows what she is doing and she puts a lot of thought into the composition of her work. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/biggerstaffexposure/sets/#_=_

!!!*****~#####(14 weeks of) 14 Inspiring Photographers#####~*****!!!

14. Minor White was a male American photographer whose work strives to show abstract images with underlying metaphors or messages to them. White worked with photography to express his sexuality and to show his search for himself (in my opinion). 

http://www.atgetphotography.com/Images/Photos/MinorWhite/white-3.jpg

http://www.atgetphotography.com/Images/Photos/MinorWhite/white-13s.jpg

http://www.aperture.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/gm_34194601_web.jpg

http://www.aperture.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/gm_347444011_web.jpg

13. Emet Gowin is an American contemporary photographer whose work includes portraiture. Gowin's portraits are fun to look at as he shoots mostly familial subjects. In his photographs he shows the layers of familial life. His photographs show decisive moments and despite their still form, they come to life to me every time I look at them. More here: http://www.masters-of-photography.com/G/gowin/gowin.html

http://photonola.org/wp-content/gallery/emmet-gowin/emmet-gowin-elijah-and-donna-jo-danville-virginia-1971.jpg

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/images/full/gowin/gowin_nancy.jpg

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/images/full/gowin/gowin_twist.jpg

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/images/full/gowin/gowin_family.jpg

12. Diane Arbus was an American photographer who was very good a photographing in decisive moments of people she thought were interesting. That being said, Arbus often took pictures of differently-abled people or those whose existence was seen as different than the norm at the time. I like Arbus because she is forcing us to look at people we might not want to look at because society has dehumanized certain aspects of being a person into oddities that are not normalized (even though they should be) and they will be gazed at. Even if Arbus' photographs of these different people perpetuates gazing, I think it can also be used to help us tape over the exploitation that some people face because of their differences because she reminds us that these are just people nonetheless. They smile like us, they use hair curlers like us, and most of all they are living like us. 

Her website: http://diane-arbus-photography.com/

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll441115llgPRfDrCWQFHPKAD/diane-arbus-albino-sword-swallower-and-her-sister,-md..jpg

http://www.atgetphotography.com/Images/Photos/Arbus/arbus_6.jpg

http://www.atgetphotography.com/Images/Photos/Arbus/arbus_9s.jpg

http://www.atgetphotography.com/Images/Photos/Arbus/arbus_22s.jpg

11.Maud Sulter was a portraiture photographer who was a woman of Ghanian and Scottish heritage. Her photos seem to be similar but are beautiful in their simplicity nonetheless. More here: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/name/sulter-maud/4237/

http://media.vam.ac.uk/media/thira/collection_images/2013GK/2013GK0875_jpg_ds.jpg

http://media.vam.ac.uk/media/thira/collection_images/2013GK/2013GK0876_jpg_ds.jpg

http://media.vam.ac.uk/media/thira/collection_images/2006AG/2006AG5618_jpg_ds.jpg

http://media.vam.ac.uk/media/thira/collection_images/2013GK/2013GK0879_jpg_ds.jpg

10. Uta Barth is a German photographer whose work is mainly abstract as she uses light as her setting for most pictures. Barth also photographs blurry pictures, often making her photographs look like water color paintings other than photos. I've never seen anything like her work before and I think it's so cool how abstract she is. I often am instilled with a sense of nostalgia, fuzzy memories, and forgetfulness. See more here: http://www.artnet.com/artists/uta-barth/

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll807812llgDSfDrCWQFHPKAD/uta-barth-untitled-(2012.le)-from-%E2%80%A6and-to-draw-a-bright-white-line-with-light.jpg

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll111152llguvtCfDrCWQFHPKAD/uta-barth-untitled-(98.5).jpg

9.Ricardo Cases is a Spanish photographer that shoots still life, portraits, and landscapes. I really love the way Cases photographs his portraits because each one is different. In those differences I find that each portrait can hold a narrative that is unique to that picture. His website: http://ricardocases.es/

http://ricardocases.es/wp-content/uploads/ric_bellezadebarrio_f_011.jpg

http://ricardocases.es/wp-content/uploads/ric_bellezadebarrio_f_021.jpg

http://ricardocases.es/wp-content/uploads/ric_bellezadebarrio_f_031.jpg

http://ricardocases.es/wp-content/uploads/ric_serrano_f_131.jpg

8.Wolfgang Tillmans a German photographer who is known for his experiementalobservational type of photography. I think much of his work is an observation of the world around him and how he can manipulate it and how the world can also manipulate us. Tillmans sometimes photographs the abject and things that may not be aesthetically pleasing as a comment on photography and how we view ourselves as humans. His website: http://tillmans.co.uk/

astro crusto, a, 2012

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll907443llgkeTCfDrCWQFHPKAD/wolfgang-tillmans-astro-crusto,-a.jpg

The Cock (kiss), 2002

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll628127llgYP522CfDrCWQFHPKAD/wolfgang-tillmans-the-cock-(kiss).jpg

Nite Queen, 2013

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll942718llgtjTCfDrCWQFHPKAD/wolfgang-tillmans-nite-queen.jpg

Berlin Woods, 2005

http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll00146lldVBFJFgCZECfDrCWQFHPKcmenE/wolfgang-tillmans-berlin-woods.jpg

7.Andreas Gursky is a German photographer that is known for photographing in large formats with a range of color presented in his settings and landscapes. What draws me to Gursky is the color in his photographs. Recently, I stumbled upon a Sunny D display at Market Basket that I fell in love with and one of Gursky's photograph's reminds me of this display because it was taken in a store and it also has such vibrant color. I also love going grocery shopping so seeing Gursky's photos, his portraits of these vibrant displays of everyday items really resonated with me. More: http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=7806 

My photo from Market Basket

 99 cent 

https://i.embed.ly/1/display/resize?height=300&quality=95&grow=false&url=https%3A%2F%2Fd32dm0rphc51dk.cloudfront.net%2FNoNyvpkQQ4Es0vm8qaBE7Q%2Flarger.jpg&key=a1f82558d8134f6cbebceb9e67d04980

99 cent II

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/99_cent_II,_diptychon_-_Photo_courtesy_of_Sotheby's.jpg

http://www.moma.org/collection_images/resized/291/w500h420/CRI_199291.jpg

6. William Eggleston is a photographer well known for his strong incorporation of color photography in his work and using it and establishing it as a photo norm. What drew me to Eggleston's work was his photo "The Red Ceiling" because it's the cover of an album for the band Big Star, which I have a record of.  Eggleston is also a strong street photographer as he photographs with distinction and in the moment. More photos here: http://www.egglestontrust.com/

The Red Ceiling for Big Star's Album Radio City

https://pleasurephoto.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/william-eggleston_untitled-downtown-morton-mississippie2809d-ca-1970.jpg

http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbf5c1xAgs1qb5usb.jpg

https://pleasurephoto.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/william-eggleston-on-the-road.jpg

5.Jeff Brouws is a photographer that photographs the American landscape and its place in relation to capitalism. At least, those are the photos I like of his the best. Brouws takes photos of signs, strip malls, abandoned gas stations, and highways (amongst several other subjects) to capture the essence of not only consumerism and its place in our lives but its physical place in the world. His photos are sometimes stark but end up saying so much about the culture in which we consume to live and live to consume. His website! http://www.jeffbrouws.com/

Abandoned Gasoline Station No. 27, Fall River, Kansas

http://www.kochgallery.com/images/artists/contemporary/Brouws/26gas/No_27.jpg

Burning Car on I-40, Needles, California

http://www.kochgallery.com/images/artists/contemporary/Brouws/Highway/Burning_car.jpg

Strip Mall #7, Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania

http://www.kochgallery.com/images/artists/contemporary/Brouws/strip_malls/Strip_Malls_07.jpg

Society Cleaners, Las Vegas, Nevada

http://www.kochgallery.com/images/artists/contemporary/Brouws/signs/Society_Cleaners.jpg

4.Chris McKenney is a surrealist photographer whose photos I first discovered on the internet. Thank you, Internet. He photographs with the concept of death in mind and as morbid as it is, his photos are so captivating. He mainly does portraiture and illusions. Take a look at his work here:http://www.christophermckenney.com/

Some of my favorites are below! 

http://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/creepy-photography-ghostly-portraits-christopher-ryan-mckenney-2.jpg

https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3780/10949132505_ca10869d20_b.jpg

http://designcollector.net/files/ryan-mckenney-9-620x620.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/deIrvaC.jpg

https://valentinevoodoo.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/176566-9041825-16_jpg.jpg

3. One of my favorite photographers is Irving Penn. In high school I took a photography class and our final project was to compose a picture that the corresponding artist took. Below is Penn's portrait of Truman Capote. I chose to re-create this image (too bad I could not find it; must be somewhere; maybe I will find it later) but what originally inspired me to chose Irving Penn in the first place was his photo "Mouth for Loreal" which shows a pair of lips with different strokes of lipstick on them. When I first saw this photo, I became intrigued as to what other boundaries could be broken with photography. The lips are striking, but I doubt many find them beautiful. So, for my final photo project in high school I chose to emulate Penn with an attempt of my own as I tried to re-create his 1948 Truman Capote portrait as an homage to the first professional photographer I ever cared to really think about. I think I was so intrigued by Penn's lipstick photo because lipstick is commercial item that is sold to consumers; this photo uses a consumerist object but is not trying to sell it to me and I think that is pretty neat!

http://www.loeildelaphotographie.com/2014/04/18/exhibition/24690/venice-irving-penn-resonance

Truman Capote by Irving Penn (1948)

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/photographs/irving-penn-mouth-for-loreal-new-york-5054065-details.aspx

Mouth for Loreal by Irving Penn (1986)

2.In high school my very best friend and I would spend hours galavanting where ever our feet would take us because I did not get to use a car at my convenience until I was a senior in high school. Naturally, like most teenagers without a car we would sit and watch youtube videos until we peed our pants from laughter. Thus, our inspiration to become youtube stars was born. That segment of our lives ended quickly but a new one began soon after.

When I was in high school my dad gave me a Nikon D50, a few years after it had debuted in 2006. My interest was sparked in photography and I immediately became enthralled because the shutter speed was unlike anything I worked with before. Then I brought my camera to my best friend's house, and then he became enthralled. And that's how Hollis Johnson became so interested in photography he decided to major in it at MassArt in Boston, Massachusetts. During the 2015 Spring semester he was privileged to have to work on display at the Newspace Center for Photography in Portland, Oregon for its Radical Color Show. I am so proud of him and all the work he does, and I am happy to call him my best friend. 

Check out his stuff here >_> http://www.hollisjohnson.com or here: hollisjohnson.tumblr.com

http://40.media.tumblr.com/237983284a2fbcda82f629ea26fac38b/tumblr_nk3nup3pPu1tsftqgo3_500.jpg

http://36.media.tumblr.com/775e233c887765dfee614c3a9195d1f5/tumblr_njwcs5YO6r1tsftqgo1_1280.jpg

http://40.media.tumblr.com/4f915aa83ebf0a04c2123615b4c84bcd/tumblr_njd6e8HS731qe0lqqo1_1280.jpg

They're here

http://36.media.tumblr.com/344a785732bce387cdf90298e2618314/tumblr_nhh2y6YHZD1qcump3o1_1280.jpg

Untitled (Sleeve)

http://36.media.tumblr.com/ccd48e5a76a8ee1782c49886bd1d4d83/tumblr_n49f41gtnu1tsftqgo1_1280.jpg

1. In his 70th year of living, my dad still pushes me every day to use the Nikon D50 that he gave me when I was in high school. In his 70th year of living, my dad still pushes himself to take photos every week, if not every day. If it weren't for my father, I would probably never have been exposed to the art of photography. He gave me my first film camera, my first point and shoot, and my first DSLR. My dad isn't a photographer by career but sometimes he'll do some freelance photography. It's a hobby of his that he says if he ever had to do for money, he would probably end up not loving it anymore. 

My father takes pictures of sunsets, his family, animals (we have no pets so he takes pictures of wild animals), his gardens, and our dinnertime gatherings right before we start to eat. His photography is not anything I would call extraordinary or stellar but the fact that he has done this since he was in college and he has kept going for so long inspires me to not only do the same, but also to have a passion for something that keeps me going, keeps me happy, and keeps me sane.