Hey, Hot Shot! - Links: This week, Dith Pran passes, Syracuse residency accepting applications, Leica lamp, and thoughts on art and money

Dith Pran, Photojournalist and Survivor of the Killing Fields, Died at 65, on Sunday. The New York Times ran one of their is-it-eerie-or-is-it-amazing pre-death video-interviews, "The Last Word." In it, Dith speaks of his mission, his role in assisting New York Times reporter Sydney Schaberg in reporting on survival under the Khmer Rouge, in the "killing fields." Together they reported on the war and the collapse of the country. "I began to realize that he was just as obsessed a reporter, just as determined and driven as I was," says Schanberg. "Coming from a whole different angle. His reason was that he was convinced that the rest of the world just didn't know what his people were going through, what they were suffering. That was his mission." Dith worked as a photographer for The New York Times from 1980 until 2007. This video was shot in March 2008.

Apartment Therapy writes of the Perspektiva Lamp by Transparent House. Made from a vintage Leica and a tripod, the lamp is simple and sort of stunning. A unique, if obvious, light source. I'd love it in my home, but if I could afford a vintage Leica, I'd probably go for one I could shoot with first.

Via Rachel Hulin , comes word of Light Work's Artist-in-Residence program for photographers to pursue their own projects in Syracuse, New York. Past residents have included Renee Cox, James Casebere, Cindy Sherman, Dawoud Bey, Max Becher and Andrea Robbins, Laurie Simmons, and Joel Sternfeld, to name a few.

There is no formal deadline, but "The next review process will consider all portfolios we have received by the end of April. We are currently scheduling residencies for 2009, although one or two spots remain for 2008."

Hello, I'm Rachel considers the following: "...does thinking that a recession is bad for art mean that you also think throwing money at an artist makes their work good? I’m not sure the two go together…but then, that’s why this work is in a gallery, asking me to think about these things days later," while viewing Jennifer Dalton's work at Smack Mellon. It's a good question and a good read, click through and consider it.

Links: This week, Dith Pran passes, Syracuse residency accepting applications, Leica lamp, and thoughts on art and money