2011 Photo Shoots

May 2011 Photo Shoots

My book

I am always looking to add to my book. I have access to studio and equipment. If you are interested I am currently doing Trade For Prints and Trade For CD's.

Self Portrait

Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keeffee

Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O’Keeffe:

More than Meets the Eye

"Alfred Stieglitz had the multifold abilities of a Renaissance man. A visionary of enormously wide perspective, his accomplishments were remarkable, his dedication awe-inspiring. A photographer of genius, a publisher of inspiration, a writer of great ability, a gallery owner and exhibition organizer of both photographic and modern art exhibitions, a catalyst and a charismatic leader in the photographic and art worlds for over thirty years, he was, necessarily, a passionate, complex, driven and highly contradictory character, both prophet and martyr. The ultimate maverick, he inspired great love and great hatred in equal measure," (Gavin).

Today his artwork still sells in giant numbers, “Eight of the nine highest prices ever paid at auction for Stieglitz photographs (as of 2008) are images of Georgia O'Keeffe. The highest-priced photograph, a 1919 palladium print of Georgia O'Keeffe (Hands), realized US$1.47 million at auction in February 2006. At the same sale, Georgia O'Keeffe Nude, another 1919 print by Stieglitz, sold for $1.36 million,” (PhotographyMasters). Capitalism at it's best. A shame they are not still here to share in this exchange.

As an artist and photographer myself I dream of working towards this same path. “Designers choose things for a living. Type and image. Color and texture. This goes with this. This is out of place. This is where it wants to be. To isolate one aspect of all this choosing, to be able to think about images only, to arrest time, frame the moment – that’s a great luxury for a designer,” (Graphic Eye). Stieglitz was a designer like this. He liked to explore in his art and document the world.

Stiegliltz photographed with great conceptual pieces, documentary and nudes. “As a patron, as a true believer in individual expression, he brought Modernism to America.” (Charles). He photographed nature’s art, architecture, and Georgia O’Keeffe. I am most intrigued with his photographs of Georgia O’Keeffe and their relationship. “From her appearance as a provocative young artist in Alfred Stieglitz’s photographs to her depiction as a grande dame of the art world in silkscreens by Andy Warhol, O’Keeffe captured the imagination of the media,” (Gavin). “Stieglitz took the first photograph of her when she traveled to New York in 1917 to see the first solo show of her work. The portrait radiated a smouldering self-assurance…Stieglitz went on to produce 350 photographs of his protégé before he died in 1937,” (Gavin).

O’Keeffe was an artist who became Stieglitz’s mistress and then his wife. The relationship between these two artists is reminiscent of stories today, like Tiger Woods or Jesse James and Sandra Bullock. “He was consumed with O’Keeffe the person, but also with photographing her. And Steiglitz exhibited them in 1921 to great acclaim, but also a lot of sensationalism as well. Remember, too, that in 1921, Steiglitz and O”Keeffe are living together. Steiglitz is still married to his first wife, so that too added another element of scandal to the affair….Steiglitz is showing her, exposing her in a way that certainly was very uncommon for an artist to be seen at that time…he was obsessed with her as an as an object…not just the artist, but the art, which many saw in sexual and Freudian terms. Such interpretations infuriated her. She claimed she was merely capturing nature.” (Charles).

“What is art? It was… a symbol of liberation to a whole generation of young American artists, the birth of cutting edge art, something Steiglitz had dedicated his life to.” (Charles). I admire Stieglitz for his courage, his creative expression, and they they he created what I call STUDDED IMAGERY. It's everything you want surrounding you, aspiring and inspiring.

Jerry Metellus Photography

I just met Jerry Metellus the outgoing photographer that has paved his way into the Las Vegas main stream. It is always exciting to meet people who you look up to. He spoke to a classroom of art students today about business in photography, rights and usage, service and processing. How do you price a photo? Jerry answered our questions and demonstrated full guest satisfaction and reminded us, “Everything is business.”. I too, dream of having my own art show in a hotel suite, champagne, hors d'oeuvres flowing, and my pictures on the wall. Someday I will because I have the passion to be a digital photographer professional.

Jerry’s usual camera he shoots with is his Cannon 5D Mark II. His usual subjects are professional dancers from Las Vegas shows and top notch models. He works in a digital world and directs his models using dance moves. Their dance moves usually include not actually touching their feet on the ground. The movements come out looking so graceful and elegant.

Jerry displayed his website for us at www.JerryMetellus.com.

I am from Southern California myself and was interested in the two processing firms Jerry mentioned. A & I and Icon Processing in Hollywood. He also named drop Dave Hill, http://www.davehillphoto.com, who is an amazing photographer as well. David’s works range from music, to advertising, to personal. I love the music section of Dave’s website. He has posted images from the Ying Yang Twins to Panic at the Disco.

Jerry was very personable and outgoing. His adventures seem to run parallel lines up with mine. We have both traveled the world and been to some of the same places. Jerry told me after the lecture, he has lived in Japan, Milan, the Bay Area of California, and now Las Vegas. Jerry reminded all of the students at his lecture “Do it seriously. Don’t take it seriously.”