CThru.com Presents Tony Ward

Museums

Posted by Harvey Finkle

…….A conventional view of museums might see them solely as institutions that house works of art, and as places for elites to view these works.

Ad Reinhard

But museums are communities.

Communities

Besides enhancing our insights into the human condition and providing us with an historic vision of the evolution of our development socially, economically, culturally and creatively, they house activities that go far beyond these roles.

Man With Sculpture

Many activities of a community take place at museums; romance, relaxation, performance, protest, education, dining. In many ways, they are our melting pots, accommodating people of all ages and backgrounds

Carol

There was no intention of producing a documentary or photo essay about museums. These photos were taken over time and location without any thought of a unified body of work. The locations include Philadelphia, Paris, Barcelona, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. The time span covers a period of over 20 years.

www.HarveyFinkle.com

1958 Chrysler 300D

……Like many of the objects Michael Furman has photographed over the years, photographing automobiles has become a symbol of his perfectionism and unrelenting attention to light and detail. The vision he has created over 30 years has placed him atop the world’s best car photographers.

He has worked and collaborated with many blue chip automotive companies that include; Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, BMW and General Motors to name a few. He has also photographed the Ralph Lauren automobile collection as part of an exhibition and book entitled, Speed, Style and Beauty, the Cars of the Ralph Lauren Collection, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and recently was interviewed by another famous car aficionado, Jay Leno.

TW recently contacted Mr. Furman to ask him a few questions about his successful career.

1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza

MICHAEL FURMAN INTERVIEW

TW: You are nationally known as a master of photographing inanimate objects for many years. What made you turn your attention specifically to motor vehicles?

MF: About 10 years into my pro career, I felt the need to specialize, and to do so with a subject that I always appreciated. In fact, I first picked up a camera as a young boy to photograph a car.

2. What is the most unique or rare car you have ever photographed?

Many of the cars we shoot are famous or one-of-a-kind. This past summer we shot one of the six Bugatti Royales while it was in California.

3. You are obviously passionate about your love for photographing cars. Is passion the key to your success?

My great passion is for light. and my subject is cars. I find the cars and their histories fascinating. Being passionate is critical to being successful at anything.

1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe

4. Do you have any interest in photographing vehicles in motion?

Not really, I have a hard enough time capturing them when they are static in the studio.

5. Do you think GM will regain its global leadership in the production of motor vehicles in 2010?

I think GM will return as a much better company, producing much better cars. It will probably take longer than just one year. They have a lot of work to do.

6. If money wasn’t a factor which car would you drive daily?

Porsche

1951 Hudson Hornet

7. Which part on a car do you think was the most inventive post 1970s?

The addition of computers. It has allowed for extraordinary improvements in efficiency, safety and features.

8. Which car is Michael Furman driving these days for fun?

My Mini Cooper S.

9. What advice can you offer the student of photography on how to earn a living as a professional, like the Michael Furman’s of the world?

Be very dedicated to your craft. Do not accept “good enough” as your standard. Never be satisfied, and always realize that you could do better.

1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible

10. What is the most difficult task in photographing a car to meet your standards of creating a perfect image?

The control of the space in which we are shooting. The car is highly reflective, and therefore shows everything in the studio. Managing that problem is the only way to achieve quality work.

1957 Ferrari 625/250 TRC

….To learn more about Michael’s work, log on to www.MichaelFurman.com….

True Love

Posted by Alex Remnick

The series is called “Mike and Kate” and it depicts an actual couple, who have been dating for over a year now. While shooting, I worked with the following guidelines in mind.

•Neglect the inclination to overly display or emphasize the presence of nudity
•Attempt to realistically and objectively depict the dynamic of a relationship outside of the public eye
•Draw symbolism from the seemingly un-symbolic space in which the shoot took place
Nothing in this shoot was set up, except for the fact that Mike was nude. I left for a few minutes to get more film, and when I got back, Mike was playing his guitar. Kate removed her bathrobe in the last few images because she thought she looked silly in her bathrobe.

Mike And Kate

These images are about true love, and what that term really means. Not true love in the fairy tale sense of the word where a poor young orphan meets a prince and they live happily ever after, but rather, what love truly means. Mike and Kate have definitely had their share of fights, but they can always count on being able to come back to these moments. They can always hang out half-clothed on a Sunday afternoon, do nothing, and be happy just to be together.

…….Alex Remnick is studying photography at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kalina Isato: Spiders

….The studio is pleased to announce that Kalina Isato, a photography student at the University of Pennsylvania who was featured in an earlier blog, participated in a Undergraduate Juried exhibition and won a Jurors Choice award for this series of images. We congratulate your achievement Kalina……..

Elizabeth Cunningham

…..In an ongoing effort to support student art, it is with great pleasure that the studio introduces you to the photographs of Elizabeth Cunningham. Elizabeth is studying photography at the University of Pennsylvania.

Series: The Misrepresentation of Identity
While trying to find the common thread running through my work, my initial thought was that it is an exercise in finding the beauty in the grotesque. While this is partially true, I think my unconscious intentions went further than that, to instead question the idea of identity and misrepresentation. How much does the body play a part in the two?

We live in a society where we are perpetually focused on our bodies and how they define us. It is impossible to avoid exposure to the advertising industry that exists to reminds us our skin is the most important tool in representing ourselves to others. But what if our bodies actually said nothing about who we are? What if that false connection between body and identity was broken?

In my work I explore how one can manipulate and distort the structural elements of our bodies to create grotesque figures that can still be profoundly beautiful. Piecing together new forms, these bodies say nothing about one’s identity.

I decided to focus on images to the extreme end of the spectrum of identity: the hyper-sexualized images of the pornography industry. These subjects are defined by their attempt to be seen as single-faceted, sexual beings, ritualistically obsessed with what their bodies can do. Viewers remain in a state of suspended belief, choosing to think of these men and women as the sex objects their actions are hinting at, rather than a unique person with a complex person. A belief that this is not a job for them, this is who they are.  I removed the figures from their erotic context, and intentionally distorted them. These new disturbing and grotesque figures would be unlikely to be found in the pornographic world, and yet I ultimately wanted to create images that were still undeniably beautiful. Most importantly, these images emphasize that once again, the body is a shell; a beautiful and complex one that can be distorted and changed to represent a multitude of things, but one that says almost nothing of what is held inside.

Elizabeth

……I first noticed Todd on the streets of Philadelphia as he moved through the bustling city crowds with the assistance of a motor powered wheel chair. Todd and I met socially about two years later, at a body painting fetish party held at a nightclub in Old City that Todd frequented. I was fascinated by his strong sense of character and asked him if he would enjoy being photographed for the pages of Penthouse with one of my best models, Paulette Fallon. His grin was from ear to ear……… he loved the idea and said YES!
We scheduled a couple of meetings to discuss the series of photographs. A fetish shoot made sense, whereby Todd would play the role of a character who is submissive and Paulette would act as the dominant character. We agreed that she should play the role of a nurse, as they play a significant role in Todd’s life. The spontaneity of our thoughts, trust and friendship led to a most unusual series of pictures.

The Shave

Todd and Paulette were introduced the day of the shoot and couldn’t have gotten along any better. They truly embodied their roles in an improvisational play that was cast as a result of our chance meeting in a night club.
The dominant, loves to tease……….

In Front Of A Good Cause

……As a follow up to our earlier feature on the illustrious success of the anti-rape campaign, “THIS IS NOT AN INVITATION TO RAPE ME”, spearheaded by Creative Director Charles Hall. We decided to publish a follow up post on the continuing global reach the advertising campaign continues to impose. Rape crisis Scotland contacted Mr. Hall to use the campaign to bring awareness to rape conviction rates in Scotland, a deplorable less than 3%.

Upon arriving in Edinburgh, Charles was introduced to the METRO news headline of the day; “RAPIST OF GIRL AGED 10 FREE IN MONTHS”. This appalling court ruling served as a backdrop for the new task at hand for Charles and his creative team. He contacted regional artists Julie Cerise to contribute photographic images, and New York based graphic designer, Graham Clifford to contribute their talents for the new campaign. To learn more about Julie Cerise’s photographs, log on to www.juliecerise.carbonmade.com. To learn more about Graham Clifford’s graphic design, log on to www.grahamclifforddesign.com.

Anti Rape Campaign: Scotland

Anti Rape Campaign: Scotland

Anti Rape Campaign: Scotland

Anti Rape Campaign: Scotland

……..I had just left the studio for a brief walk to have lunch with a new model when I heard a scream from the backseat of a passing taxi. “Tony, Tony, Tony” she said as I noticed a waive from the passing vehicle. I quickly turned, a familiar face for sure, but couldn’t precisely place the context. The taxi came to a stop. A very attractive woman exited the vehicle and proceeded to run towards me as if in slow motion. My heart started to pound as the day suddenly became more exciting and invigorating.

I remembered who she was. Natalie, a stunning brunette that I photographed several years earlier told me it was such a coincidence to see me that day, because she was just talking to her girlfriend about my work and that she wanted to introduce me to her. I said, “sure just call the studio to set up an appointment.” That answer wasn’t good enough for Natalie. She insisted right then and there that I go with her to meet her friend, who was working just down the block from where I was about to have lunch.
We hurried to her friend’s place of employment, a classy restaurant in the heart of town where she worked as a hostess. Natalie insisted once I saw her, I wouldn’t be disappointed. She guaranteed that i surely would want to photograph her, and also mentioned that her friend had a desire to have nude photos taken. We entered the restaurant. I sat at the bar in anticipation to meet the new subject.
When she entered the room, it was almost if all the air had left it. I could already see through the clothes as my imagination transported me to an erotic journey with the woman I just met. I did everything to maintain my cool as I became instantly infatuated.
The new subject explained that she had been talking to Natalie about having erotic pictures taken to present as a gift to her boyfriend. The couple were recently engaged to be married. Because of her employment status, I suggested it would be wise to create a pseudonym for the set of pictures, as I was certain the pictures would be published. Norma Rockwell came to mind, as she reminded me of a character that could easily appear in a perverse version of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Norma In Love

Norma and I made arrangements to meet at a small, charming hotel where the photographic sitting would take place. I asked her to bring a few pieces of lingerie from her wardrobe for the erotic encounter.
As soon as we checked in to our room I asked Norma to put some of her items on the bed. I picked a few things knowing whatever we selected had to accentuate her statuesque body. The shoot progressed innocently at first and then the sexual persona of Norma took over as she began to gently play with her genitals. All for the love of a man she was soon to marry…….TW

www.BobShellTruth.com

…..I first met Bob Shell at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York city while attending a Photography Expo at the Jacob Javits Center back in 1995. At the time, Bob was the editor in chief of Shutterbug, one of the largest photography publications in America. We were introduced at the convention by a mutual friend, Reiko Ikeda a representative of MegaPress, a photography syndication group based in Tokyo. I was represented by Miss Ikeda as was Bob, so the three of us decided to meet back at Bob’s hotel after various convention activities to meet for drinks and dinner. I also asked Bob to review a portfolio of photographs that I brought along with hopes that Bob would review the pictures for an editorial he would later publish in Shutterbug magazine.

After that initial meeting in New York, Bob and I became friends. He lived and worked in Radford, Virginia, so we spent most of our time, over many years communicating by phone about photography and related matters. A regular part of our conversation centered around the use of various cameras and lighting techniques each of us employed when working with models.

There was a particular model that Bob mentioned quite often, her name was Marion Franklin. They developed a friendship and eventually became lovers. Ms. Franklin enjoyed being photographed by Bob and enjoyed modeling for him on numerous occasions. She apparently was a big fan of my book Obsessions, a result of Bob’s earlier recommendation to find a book publisher. We talked often about making a trip down to Radford to photograph Marion, as well as other models that Bob frequently worked with in the Radford area.

That trip was never meant to be. On June 3, 2003, Marion died during a photo shoot at Bob’s studio. He was later prosecuted, and convicted in September of 2007. He is presently serving a 32 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter and other charges.

Bob And Marion

Bob and I communicated numerous times after Marion’s death. He explained the tragic events of that fateful day and implored his innocence of the charges levied by his claims of an overzealous prosecutor who won conviction by jury trial on September 3, 2007.

MARION FRANKLIN BY BOB SHELL

After Bob’s conviction, I lost track of him for a while. I scoured the internet trying to figure out where he was sent to serve his sentence. A year passed and then a couple of things happened in the fall of 2008. I received an email from a friend of Bob’s, who also believes that he was wrongfully convicted. I was contacted because Bob had been asking about me and sought my help. I responded in kind, still believing in his innocence, I conferred with several of my attorney friends for advise and a course of action to have Bob’s case reopened.

At around the same time, I became friends with a renowned private investigator who has since offered support in having a closer look at Bob’s case. We have already uncovered various problems with the prosecutions case, especially in the area of mitigation and will keep readers informed of our course of action over the coming months. The habeas corpus clock is ticking for Bob. He has already exercised most of his standard appeals. Short of clemency from the governor of Virginia or a new trial, Bob is imprisoned for life unless someone that believes in his innocence takes action. To learn more about Bob’s case log on to www.bobshelltruth.com. TW

Lips - Self Portrait Kalina Isato

…..Kalina Isato always wanted to be an artist, but conservative Asian parents squelched her early dreams. They were not supportive of her interest in studying the Arts, and like many parents didn’t see an upside to studying Art in college. They encouraged her instead to study the Sciences, particularly computer science and engineering while pursuing her creative endeavors of photography and music production on the side. Her accomplishments in the sciences would make any parent proud, graduating from Boston University with a BA and MA in Computer Science in 1989, Magna Cum Laude and Phi Betta Kappa. During that same period, she completed an advanced course in logic programming at Harvard University.

All along Kalina continued to pursue her interest in the Arts and used the photographic medium as a vehicle to express herself, and her unique place in subcultural America. She’s currently studying photography at the University of Pennsylvania where the studio was recently introduced to her work. In her own words, Ms. Isato describes her current body of work and how the series “Clublife” evolved. This particular grouping of pictures is currently on display from November 8th to December 31, 2009 at the William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pa. To learn more about Ms. Isato’s work log on to www.KalinaIsato.com.
Posted By Kalina Isato

“Throughout most of my life, I knew that I was born different and it wasn’t until my teenage years that I came to terms with my transgender nature and started creating the image that people see today. Every time I go out bar or club hopping, I always take pictures to document the night. I never conscientiously wanted to create a public exhibit of my work, but over time the number of pictures I took and the fact that I was able to capture candid scenes – because my subjects were comfortable with me – convinced me that what I was creating was too important to keep in a scrapbook all to myself.

Lauren

My meticulousness made math and science easy for me and when it came time to study photography formally in 2007, I was prepared to handle all of the technical demands that photography requires.

Jacqui And Brenda

I believe that being both artistic and technical, I see things that some people who focus soley on one or the other cannot see.
I rarely mention my honors anymore, because it make me sound like a true geek:).

Transsexual Women's Hands