Title: Illuminated
Posted on December 14, 2012
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The Illumination
Group Art Exhibition
December 15, 2012 to January 5, 2013
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Copro Gallery – Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave. T5
Santa Monica, CA. 90404
Happy Holidays
Posted on December 9, 2012 by Jack Ward
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……….When the moon is full in Montana during the winter and there has been a fresh snowfall everything is bright and pristine and I love the white.
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I have done many winter snow shoots and they are tough. Shooting in zero degree weather with the wind blowing was not a joy. But I love the white and my blood bubbles at the sight of the shapes snowdrifts make.
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In the west during the winter it seemed as though everywhere I turned there was an image to be photographed.
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Everything about this location and the time of day was perfect. The dark sky, long shadows, virgin snow and a perfect log house. It almost seems like moon light.
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Once we were able to set up on the side of the cabin where I would not see the foot prints and getting inside to light the windows, I only had one shot at bringing the cowboy in from the right in the virgin snow, we either had it on the first take or not.
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As it turned out everything about the photograph is perfect and it was used around the world in different languages as a Christmas card.
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Photography by Jack Ward, Copyright 2012..
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About The Author: Originally an artist of the brush, Jack studied painting and design at Cooper Union in New York City, and color theory under the tutelage of Josef Albers at Yale University, where he received an MFA degree in Color Theory in 1958. It was during a stint in the Air Force – flying the observer (weapons control officer) position in F-100F, F-101F, F-102F, and B-57 aircraft off of Cape Cod and in North Africa, that Jack’s interest in photography became a passion.
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Editor’s Note: To learn more about Jack Ward’s photography, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.
Photo: Francesca Nichol
Posted on December 5, 2012 by Francesca Nichol
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……….In this series I wanted to look at a way to commercialize sexual aspects of the body like penises and breasts using media we are all used to. Advertising is a huge part of any business and brands, particularly in fashion, use of the idea of sex in order to make their products appealing. I explored the idea of sex and nudity becoming more accepted in advertisements and created an underwear brand that doesn’t hold back with its message. The brand name itself was created from my middle name Ysabel and the logo was developed in as a phallic emblem mirroring the erotic content in some photos. The resulting advertisements attempt to sell underwear with a twist. Stripping back the not so subtle subtleties of images seen in magazines, movies and billboards I pushed beyond the boundary set by exposure rules in advertising and fully exposed the message behind the image. Selling products with sex.
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Photo: Francesca Nichol
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The slogan “More than underwear” not only describes the obvious physical appendages that are being shown but also relates to wider selling points of successful advertisements. Indeed advertisements sell products, but more than that they often attempt to sell a lifestyle. They imply that buying a certain brand gains you access to an elevated or more luxurious lifestyle where you might be as desired, sexy and beautiful as the models advertising such products. Similarly these photos advertise YSBL underwear along with the possibility and encouragement to look that good while adding thoughts of foreplay and sex to the mix. Selling just underwear is one thing but the erotic nature of these advertisements sells passion, foreplay and sex appeal.
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Photo: Francesca Nichol
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Wanting to give the photos a lighthearted twist, the slogans “Pick your colour” and “What’s under yours?” adds a cheeky narrative to a subject that some may find shocking. These types of ‘advertisements’ are not commonly hung on giant billboards or used in magazines, but the subject matter can be fun and not pornographic.
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Photo: Francesca Nichol
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With so much sexual content in mass media and the increasing commercialization of eroticism in literature and film tolerance for nudity has increased. While these photos certainly go beyond the “acceptable” level of tolerance my aim is not to offend or disgust an audience but rather to show the viewer a distinction between erotic photography and pornography, to really analyze what distinguishes these two genres, and in light of the increase in commercial eroticism in literature and movies to present erogenous zones in the most commercial way possible, in an advertisement pushed one step beyond the norm.
Editor’s Note: Francesca Nichol is a senior enrolled in the College at the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2013. Ms. Nichol plans to work in advertising, photography and related fields upon graduation.
Photo: Amanda Stevenson
Posted on November 29, 2012 by Francesca Nichol
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………..A couple of weeks ago, our Digital Photography class at the University of Pennsylvania had the opportunity to meet Amanda Stevenson, an internationally renowned photographer based in Philadelphia. Amanda retraced her journey to becoming a photographer, in the process showing us her own work while giving her honest opinions on the photography business, and offering advice helpful to anyone wanting to pursue photography in a professional capacity.
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Our first introduction to Amanda came when she generously joined the class in critiquing our current projects. Her perspective as a female photographer gave us new insights into the ways we could approach and interact with our subjects in order to achieve a better visual connection with a potential audience.
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Photo: Amanda Stevenson
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After the critique, Amanda demonstrated her range of interests and skills by presenting a large portfolio of what she called her “scrap work.” While we were able to see many of her own creative projects involving ballerinas, fashion, and beauty, there were also sports, family, and travel themes present in her repertoire. Commenting on the range of her photography, Amanda described the notion of keeping three things in mind, – big clients, creative work, and pro-bono work – in balance.
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This concept truly resonated with me as someone wanting to pursue photography and advertising simultaneously. She spoke about ways in which one can break into the photography world, sharing some entertaining anecdotes about her work as a photographer’s assistant in her youth with the likes of Annie Liebowitz and Francesco Scavullo, while we perused an elegantly crafted portfolio book which she often shows to prospective clients.
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Photo: Amanda Stevenson
Amanda’s visit was personally very eye opening as she made me aware of just how many applications photography can have, all the while providing an insight into the life of a professional working in the industry. As a class we would like to thank Amanda for her time and advice. We await her future work eagerly.
Photo: Amanda Stevenson
About The Author: Francesca Nichol is a senior enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2013.
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Editor’s Note: To learn more about Amanda Stevenson’s photography log on: www.AmandaStevensonPhoto.com
Photo: Jack Ward
Posted on November 25, 2012 by Elisa Gabor
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……….Jack Ward – Advertising photographer for Marlboro Cigarette campaign for over twenty-five years. The “Marlboro Man” was created through his camera lens; changing the branding of cigarettes, advertising photography, and some say western-wear fashion for years to come. Jack graciously visited our Fashion Photography class at the University of Pennsylvania last week. The students are working on projects for which they are required to develop their own brand. As young photographers in today’s market, they are being taught to take advantage of their multi-disciplinary talents, and to not only create amazing photographs, but to understand the importance of self-branding when it comes to finding one’s place amongst their competitive peers.
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Photo: Jack Ward
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Photo: Jack Ward
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Jack was fantastic and eager to get to know the students and overflowing with interesting stories from his times on the campaign. I was thrilled to listen to how excited he was about photography; about the thrill of watching the scenes unfold in the viewfinder. It became clear that the only way that someone could do what he did for so long was through a genuine love for the medium and the American West.
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Photo: Jack Ward
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Photo: Jack Ward
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As the class looked through Jack’s portfolio (he had not seen this particular grouping for several years), the photographs of the cowboys and the sprawling, western landscape did not look like advertisements. Later we saw how Marlboro put their stamp on top of the images. But before they were processed with art directors, clients, and witty slogans, the photographs were of refreshing, humble scenes. Jack was right, real cowboys do have a certain “way” about them that only cowboys can have.
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My favorite story that he told us was how the campaign managers had hired a former professional football player to model in the shoots. Jack commented, although the former New York Giants quaterback was deathly handsome, apparently he could not ride a horse with precision, so from that point on, Jack only photographed real cowboys.
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Photo: Jack Ward
This is what made the Marlboro photographs successful in my view: the posture of the men on top of their horses, the coarseness of their hands, the fact that the general public was observing them doing actual work. Yes, there was a product to sell, but regardless of this, the artfulness of the imagery and the sincerity of the people involved transported me to Marlboro Country.
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Photo: Jack Ward
Photos: Copyright 2012 by Jack Ward.
About The Author: Elisa Gabor is enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program, University of Pennsylvania.
Jessica Saint
Posted on November 16, 2012 by Elisa Gabor
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……….I met the four girls in front of the Penn bookstore per TW’s instructions. Two models were booked from Main Line Models, Karly Brownstein and Dyana Baurley. They appeared drastically different than their photographs from the agency indicated; a hint at what we would learn later in class. They were impressively effervescent for being students themselves at the end of a long day of classes. The other two girls, who were lugging around what looked like a folded-up director’s chair and several large, rectangular cases made their way over. One of them pushed the wooden legs from the chair along the pavement with her foot as it slipped from her overly ambitious hand. These were the make-up artists: Jessica Saint and her assistant Toni Burke .
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Photo: Anjani Vedula
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Photo: Dan Murphy
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Inside the lab, students of Tony Ward’s Fashion Photography course bustle around, checking out equipment, scouting locations around UPenn’s campus, waiting to see what’s in store for the day. Although I was dying to know how exactly Jessica managed to apply her cat eye liquid eyeliner with such surgical precision, that was not the imperative topic for the day. The girls were there to demonstrate how they professionally apply make-up to models working with fashion photographers.
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Photo: J. Antonio
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Jessica’s impressive resume and background in make-up includes everything from time with my favorite broadway show, The Lion King, to high profile, high fashion shoots, to owning her own make-up artistry business. She gave the students tips for working with make-up artists, forming relationships in the business, and how to handle shoots when the make-up becomes an obstacle on set. The models bravely sat facing the class in their chairs as the artists busily painted their faces.
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Photo: Evan Robinson
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Photo: Anjani Vedula
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After twenty minutes or so of what looked like brushes and powders colliding in a frenzy with the models’ skin, the shimmering dust settled, and the students took over. They took turns shooting the models against various back drops. Some allowed the dramatic eye shadow to create a context for the photograph; others used interesting architecture and even projections to create a narrative within the frame. I could tell they were enjoying themselves – looking through the lens and seeing the models’ faces transformed before them. I admit to feeling a little jealous of the fun they were having. Like all of the other skills they have learned in the class thus far, I am certain the students will run with this and bring amazing images to the next session.
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Photo: Brian Chaffinich
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Photo: Evan Robinson
Editor’s Note: Models courtesy Main Line Models: www.MainLineModelAgency.com.
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About The Author: Elisa Gabor is enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program, University of Pennsylvania.
UPenn: Photography & Fashion
Photo by J. Antonio, Copyright 2012
Photo: Madeline Miller
Posted on November 4, 2012 by Madeline Miller
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……….We’ve given it nicknames and spent hours of our days and nights within its walls. We often mention it with disdain and dread because it holds memories of boredom, unbearable stress and silence. It can also be lively and at times it teems and buzzes with procrastination induced chatter. So much more than books and research resources, Van Pelt is a hub of social interaction and isolated intellectual struggle. I have hardly ever considered this structure objectively or architecturally except to comment on the small, narrow, prison-like windows that dot its exterior. What does this space feel like when it’s empty, when it’s removed from its purpose, when it’s unfamiliar?
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Photo: Madeline Miller
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Photo: Madeline Miller
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Van Pelt is a functional space. It maximizes its square footage by placing uniform desks and carrels along every wall, so as to allow optimal room for housing an endless supply of books. Walking through the doors, riding the elevators and using the desks I have never really looked at this building, always distracted by the purpose it serves as a space for studying. I have come to learn that Van Pelt can also be an aesthetic space. During the early morning and late afternoon, the floor-to ceiling-windows throw light onto chairs and desks, causing them to glow. Instead of the austerity and darkness I associate with this building, the symmetry of the furniture and the linear shadows produce a sense of calm and order.
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Photo: Madeline Miller
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Photo: Madeline Miller
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My goal was to transform the way I see this building, which I often find stifling, claustrophobic, stressful and harshly lit. It was a chance to see the familiar in an unfamiliar way, stripping this space of its associations and creating a new representation of a place I walk through so frequently. With a camera, it became a bright, modern, geometric space, uncluttered by books, papers and computer cords and absent of stress and fatigue. This is how I wish I could see Van Pelt on a daily basis, as expansive and bright, but as soon as I pass through the turnstile the chaos and distress mar my vision of what I now know can be a surprisingly beautiful space.
Copyright 2012
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About The Author: Madeline Miller is a senior enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2013.
Upenn: Photography & Fashion
Posted on November 1, 2012
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Model: Sarah Liney
Agency: Main Line Models
Designer: Shawn Pinckney
Photography: Evan Robinson
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Copyright 2012
Photo: Evan Robinson
Posted on October 28, 2012 by Ali Immergut
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……….An elegant man with a white beard, dignified glasses, and a sharp, fashionable sports coat walked into our classroom a couple of week’s ago. He had a magnetic force about him, and my classmates and I agreed it was hard to take our eyes off of him.
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Photo: Brian Chaffinich
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Shawn Pinckney is a talented, charismatic couturier whom we had the honor of visiting our Photography & Fashion class, regaled us with stories of clients, the design world, and his vision for his collections. He explained, that all of his clothes aim to make a woman feel comfortable in her own skin. Pinckney doesn’t try to make his clients into Angelina Jolie or Heidi Klum, but rather tries to make her feel beautiful by herself. He doesn’t try to make the client into something she is not.
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Photo: Dan Murphy
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Photo: Brian Chaffinich
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He works with every type of woman and makes everything custom for his clients. Pinckney explained to us the different types of women he works with—ranging from beautiful, perfectly proportioned women to larger women to older women with hunchbacks to women with uneven proportions. It was extremely interesting to hear about how he caters to women with such different body types, and how each piece he makes is made perfectly to make that client comfortable.
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Photo: Max Wang
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After we finished the lecture, we had the privilege of getting to shoot some of his clothes in a beautiful, old hallway at Upenn’s College Hall belonging to the Philomathean Society. This setting seemed almost Fellini-esque. Pews filled one room, reminding me of either a church or an old courtroom. A library, filled with hundreds of old books and plush armchairs was also among the rooms of the society.
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Photo: Brian Chaffinich
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Photo: Ali Immergut
There was a very haphazard feel to the rooms—the red leather on the benches had seen better days, objects were left on the desks as if everyone had to leave in a hurry, and old glasses were almost everywhere we turned, with the tiniest bit of red wine left in the bottom.
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Photo: Evan Robinson
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Shawn Pinckney Couture
Models:
Sarah Liney
Natasha Canavarro
Mckayala Lalik
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Agency: Main Line Models