July 2012 Archives

Chris Marker died on Sunday, his 91st birthday. This 27-minute film is one of his best known masterpieces, but he was prolific and profound during his whole life. The film includes the original French narration, but you can choose subtitles (CC) to enjoy the richness of it in your own language.

Lens Culture just published a high-resolution slide show of 115 images presenting portfolios of the 12 finalists for the prestigious Prix Pictet. The broad theme this year is Power.

One of the many delights of attending smartly curated photo festivals, such as the yearly Krakow Photomonth in Poland, is discovering a previously unknown (to me) genius. This year, I was knocked out by a wonderful retrospective of the wildly creative and experimental work of Jerzy Lewczynski, who was born in 1924, and was present and pleasantly talkative at the opening of his exhibition in 2012.

The retrospective is accompanied by a limited edition book, as well as a catalog that includes a great interview with the photographer. Lens Culture is honored to be able to share many of the images, as well as the full text of the interview (in Polish, as well as in an English translation).

Discovering this lifelong body of work all at once was really stunning. And I walked away with great appreciation for Lewczynski's visionary sense of humor, respect for history and humanity, and love of the photographic image.

At age 10, Japanese-born Chino Otsuka was sent away to a progressive private boarding school in Suffolk, England. For her first two years at the school, she was allowed to do nothing. Then, following her own interests, she started to pursue education with an unrelenting intensity. A book she wrote, at age 15, about her culture-shock and quest for personal identity, made her an instant hero and celebrity back home in Japan. (Twenty years later, the book is still a "must read" for many young Japanese students.) She went on to pursue photography at the Royal Academy of Art, and began a life-long career exploring ideas of identity, memory, and mental time travel, through photography and video and writing.

A brilliant retrospective of her work fills the entire photography museum at Huis Marseille in Amsterdam. And an equally inspiring photobook has just been published: Photo Album by Chino Otsuka.

See and read more in Lens Culture.

Photographers:

Are you ready for success in the international marketplace?

Registration is now open for Lens Culture FotoFest Paris 2012, the 3rd annual international photography portfolio reviews in Paris on November 12-14, 2012.

The event will bring together more than 50 influential photography experts and 150 photographers from five continents. Last year, 163 photographers from 36 countries participated — making it a truly international cultural exchange — with many, many success stories resulting from the meetings.

The three day program — November 12-14, 2012 — is organized by Lens Culture (Paris) and FotoFest International (Houston), in cooperation with Paris Photo, the leading international fine art photography fair, which takes place November 15-18. The portfolio review will again be hosted at Spéos Paris Photographic Institute, 8, rue Jules Vallès, 75011 Paris.

The goal of Lens Culture FotoFest Paris is to bring together serious, mid-career photographers and leading decision-makers in the field of creative photography – curators, publishers, gallery owners, festival directors, agency representatives, and art directors – who can aid the development and careers of the photographers by introducing their work throughout the world.

Reviewers will be attending from many important organizations including The New York Times, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Carnegie Museum of Art (US), Maison Européene de la Photographie (France), Stern magazine (Germany), Seoul Photo Fair (Korea), Ballarat International Foto Biennale (Australia), George Eastman House (US), Museet for Fotokunst (Denmark), Schilt Publishing (Netherlands), Alt. + 1000 Festival de photographie (Switzerland), Anthropographia (Montreal, Canada), Encuentros Abiertos de Fotografia (Argentina), Jackson Fine Art (US), among many others.

Julien Frydman, director of Paris Photo, is enthusiastic about Lens Culture FotoFest Paris:

“Each year, Paris Photo introduces important collectors to top galleries and photographers from around the world. In a similar way, the Lens Culture FotoFest annual portfolio reviews in Paris help connect emerging photographers with galleries, curators, publishers and other art world professionals who are always seeking new talent. Lens Culture FotoFest Paris is a perfect complement to Paris Photo, and we are proud to be partners in this important global cultural event since its inception in 2010.”

Participating photographers have the opportunity to get editorial assignments, book publication contracts, art gallery representation, and feature articles in magazines, online and in print. In turn, the expert reviewers hope to discover new talent as well as the latest work of photographers who are already established.

See the full details — and register to participate — at www.fotofest-paris.com.

This November, Paris will offer an extra special bonus for photography lovers. In addition to Paris Photo, and FotoFest Paris, the city-wide Month of Photography will feature more than 100 other exhibitions and special photography events at locations all over Paris.

As in the previous two years, we expect registration to sell-out well in advance, so don't miss your chance. Book your ticket today!