Writer/Photographer Ricky Powell posted this bonkers interview with Janette Beckman, which they did together while wandering through Central Washington Square Park last summer, chatting about the musicians, scenes and fans Janette has photographed in her brilliant career. It is a really really good read!

As Ricky says of JB, "Peep her shit. You'll be like, "Whhhaaattt?!""

Skinheads © Janette Beckman

I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Itkoff this week. Stella Kramer is organizing a panel discussion for the upcoming FotoFusion event in West Palm Beach this coming January and we are both on it.

Michael is the founding editor of Daylight Magazine, and he's also a fabulous, well-published and -exhibited photographer in his own right. In 2008 he published his monograph 'Street Portraits' with the Milan-based art book company Charta.

"Michael has traveled the world since 2002 taking portraits of everyday people in the street. In Itkoff's photographs a makeshift backdrop is held behind each of his subjects... This technique, normally reserved for celebrity and commercial portraiture, creates a striking aesthetic isolating the subjects from their urban contexts and allowing them to exist in a shared visual space as part of the same extended family."

Buy it here.

Henny Garfunkel © Michael Itkoff

Rob Hann's been working on a lovely project for the last year or so and has just published a Blurb book entitled 'The Child Gone'. The story is of "16 year old Seta and her friends in and around the town of Montclair, New Jersey. Seta added her own artwork and poetry to the project. The result is an extended portrait of Seta - part portrait, part self-portrait." - Rob Hann

I truly admire Seta for being able to express herself like this and being a pretty cool artist already, and Rob of course for engaging with these teenagers and giving us a glimpse of what losing one's childhood looks like these days.

All photos © Rob Hann

Artwork © Seta Morton

Over the last year Melissa has shown me her portfolio of spellbinding images from two series, 'Behind the Glass Curtain' and 'Somewhere Between Sleep and the Clouds'. I've watched the progression and development, and relished her enjoyment of and enthusiasm for her personal work. During a portfolio review recently, we discussed 'lucid dreaming', a talent some people have for taking control of their dreams whilst in them, which could be great fun.

From 'Somewhere Between Sleep and the Clouds':

"Inspired by the mythical worlds in films and fairy tales, the photo montages in this series evoke our timeless penchant for escapism by using imagination and whimsy as a counter point to the banality and stresses of the modern condition. Through these interwoven images, I attempt to create a surreal and illusory world of boundless possibilities and unbridled creativity."

Every image within each montage is created by Melissa.



© Melissa Lynn

A moment's reflection is required. If you can't keep a dry eye looking at these, you know they're great portraits; and, we need them, to remind us.

"For the past 7 years on Remembrance Day I have been shooting portraits of veterans. The portraits are all shot in the same style, crop etc. I am aiming to keep shooting it for at least another 3 years. The project is based around the concept of The Unknown Soldier."

'They That Are Left', taken at The Cenotaph, London, Remembrance Day 2010.

All images © Brian David Stevens

Robert Rutoed is a prolific Austrian photographer and filmmaker. Prints from his project 'Less is More' are currently on view at the New Orleans Photo Alliance Gallery in a group show titled 'WoRK', curated by our pal Andy Adams at FlakPhoto. Since I find myself craving work with a sense of humour, I'm happy to publish a small selection of Robert's photographs.

Robert has ecommerce nailed, so go take a look at some interesting limited edition book/print combo purchases available on the Rutoed website.





All images © Robert Rutoed

John announced a "merciless edit" of his blog. Upon visiting, I fell for this photo. Ahh, New York City.

© John Marshall Mantel