It has been a long year and long wait, but the books finally arrived last week, all 6 pallets of them! We have been busy moving the 4,500 pounds around the studio and getting books signed and shipped for the holidays. If you would like to order a signed book, you can purchase books direct from the studio at:
http://www.mantoani.bigcartel.com/
Tim Mantoani and Douglas Kirkland
I was blown away with the group that showed up at Ogilvy to support the release of Behind Photographs. It was great to reconnect with 29 of the photographers that are in the book and a couple hundred other supporters that braved the rain and wind. Here are a few pics from the party. I should have books in San Diego soon and will be posting info on book events in San Diego, LA and San Francisco. Thanks again to everyone that has supported and encouraged me over the past five years to see this project through to publication.
JIll Enfield, Douglas Kirkland, Barbara Bordnick, Guido Karp, Greg Watermann and Dan Kramer
Roxanne Lowitt and Tim Mantoani look over a wall of images
Keith Green with his portrait
John Iacono and John Dominis
Douglas Kirkland signing books while designer Mark Murphy and Sandro catch up.
Douglas Dubler signed books
Lois Greenfield and Ryszard Horowitz
May Pang and Tim Mantoani
Guido Karp made the trip from Germany!
Thom Mangelsen checking out Al Wertheimer and "The Kiss"
I have started an effort on Kickstarter to get some positive pre-sales rolling for my book which is due out soon. Please take a look. Books are priced with shipping at the same cost as retail + shipping, plus there are some other special offerings. This book has taken five years to shoot and get published. Thanks for taking a look. Click here to give me a “kickstart”!
LEROY GRANNIS
LeRoy Grannis is known for taking some of the most iconic surfing images of the 1960s and 70s. I photographed “Granny” at a retirement home in Carlsbad with his picture of Dewey Weber at 22nd Street in Hermosa Beach. This was one of two 20×24 Polaroids we shot. The room had a very low ceiling, so I had to pop out one of the ceiling tiles so the dark slide could come all the way up. Thanks Granny for your inspiration and your images, we will miss you.
20x24 Wisner Camera on Location
I first met Phil Borges a few years back when he sat for a portrait for me. I was very familiar with his work and had always found his images to have a quiet power and beauty. We caught up a couple of weeks ago while he was in town for a lecture and show opening at USD for his Stirring the Fire project. Stirring the Fire is a global movement to empower woman and girls through awareness and action. I found myself being very inspired by this project and having a clearer understanding that a photographer with a voice, vision and purpose can help to change the world. My hat is off to Phil for his passion and for using photography to force change. Please take a look at the project site www.stirringthefire.org and see how you can help.
Herman Leonard with his photograph of Dexter Gordon at the Royal Roost 1948
The work of Herman Leonard has had a great impact on the world of photography. Herman had a unique perspective and a thirst for technical perfection. Although his work was recorded in still photographs, his images often gave you a sense of sound. He will be missed dearly. Please pay him a tribute by viewing his work http://www.hermanleonard.com/
On the bottom of his Polaroid portrait he wrote, “It was early 1948 at the Royal Roost in New York. An afternoon rehearsal gave me a unique opportunity to photograph many giants of jazz with my trusty 4×5 Speed Graphic. What a great career! To do what you love and be entertained at the same time!”
Herman Leonard and Tim Mantoani
Steve McCurry
I was passed on this article today and must say it only seem fitting that Steve McCurry had this honor. Please take a moment to read about this historic event as yet another chapter closes in the history of photography. http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/14/1403115/last-kodachrome-roll-processed.html
Also, visit Steve’s blog, the images will blow your mind, http://stevemccurry.wordpress.com/
I have been getting a bunch of calls about Ron and the HBO documentary “Smash His Camera”. I photographed Ron in New York for my Behind Photographs Project a couple years back. After the shoot, Ron was kind enough to send me 4 different signed copies of his books. Like him or not, there are some amazing images in his library, he truly has documented a generation.
Ron Galella and his photo "Windblown Jackie" 10/4/1971
Here is a look at the HBO Trailer
Marty Lederhandler
It is sad to see another participant from my Behind Photographs Project pass away, but I am very thankful to have shared time with so many of these great photographers. Marty Lederhandler was a legendary AP photographer who had a career which spanned 66 years. I was introduced to Marty by Paul Waldman, founder of The Living American Masters Photographers Project, just over a year ago and was able to photograph him in New York. Paul has documented photographers for about 15 years and we first met when he came to interview and photograph Dean Collins around 1993. At the time, I was Dean’s studio manager. In addition to Paul shooting portraits of photographers, he has also been recording them to create an oral history of the photo industry. Please take time to listen to Marty’s famous pigeon story from D-Day that Paul shared with us and visit his site at www.thelampp.org. Pigeon Story
Paul Waldman with 3 of his LAMMP portraits
It’s mid April and most of us are scrambling to get funds in order to pay our taxes. This year, while getting his tax money out of the bank, photographer Kim Komenich, did a bit more than just that…..he stopped a robbery.
It is no surprise. Kim is an amazing person and a incredible photographer. Here is his portrait for my Behind Photographs Project. He is holding a book of this images from The Phillippines when he captured the fall of The Marcos Regime and won The Pulitzer in 1987.
Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographer Kim Komenich