May 2005 Archives

"Photographs are always a confrontation with reality, first by the person who takes them, then by those who look at them, adhere to them or reject them. You could say that our collections of photographs are what we like or can accept of life."

--Agathe Gaillard

Agathe Gaillard opened the very first photography gallery in Paris in June 1975. Last night, she celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Galerie with a magical party that extended out from the intimate exhibition space into a broad cobble-stone courtyard in the Marais, where the gallery has been attracting the best and brightest since its inception. Quite a few of the well-wishers were toting vintage Leicas, and greeted each other with wide smiles, hugs, kisses, and the warmth of long-time friendships.

Everyone brought photographs, too, at the request of Agathe. So in many ways, it was a wonderful way to get to know people, or for old friends to catch up with each other.

From the beginning, Agathe Gaillard helped to introduce the world to the ground-breaking visions of photographers like Jean-Philippe Charbonnier, Ralph Gibson, Henri Cartier-Bresson, André Kertesz, Edouard Boubat, Robert Doisneau, and Gisele Freund. She continues today to exhibit new, emerging photographers, along with the work of those whose work has been recognized and appreciated for decades.

Congratulations Agathe Gaillard, and thank you!

© Larry Towell, 2000, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Courtesy of Photo-London

The photographs being shown at the current world-photo exhibition in London may signal the point in time at which even the most isolated events in far-off places can be experienced in near-real-time by anyone who tunes in to a web broadcast of current news (or fashion or cultural fetish). The medium of photography, I think, is just now beginning to show its potential as a universal means of communication -- in all of its wonderful and various modes of sincerity, cynicysm, humanity, horror, and celebration of bizarre behavior. Have you taken a photograph this week? Why? Or why not?

Place des Vosges, May 2005

Two weeks ago we moved to Paris. It's a dream. Still stunned and amazed. Pleased to report that photography is flourishing here (as it has since the beginning of photography). Now that we're established in our light-filled 17th century editorial offices, we hope to crank up the volume a bit.

By chance, Ralph Gibson was in town last week and came by our place for dinner and conversation. An unexpected delight. He entertained us with original jazz compositions on guitar, and talked about his current photography project in Brazil, new books, and starting out with Dorothea Lange and Robert Frank. Jeff Cowen was here, too, and we talked until 3 a.m. Robert Frank's advice to Gibson (which he says he still takes to heart): "Start with a point of departure."