Long Meadow #2, 2010 by Joseph O. Holmes

Happy December greetings! We're beyond excited to celebrate the season with the opening of Joseph O. Holmes' The Urban Wilderness this Friday, December 10th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jen Bekman Gallery. The Urban Wilderness features twelve photographs by Joseph O. Holmes and will be on view from December 11th, 2010 through January 23rd, 2011. This is Holmes' first solo exhibition at the gallery.

As many of you know, Joe has held a pretty special place in the JBP family for some time now: he was a HHS! Ne Plus Ultra back in 2006, and the only person to ever win the competition twice (in the Fall of 2005 and 2006). He is also one of 20x200's superstars, with fourteen editions over the past several years—many of which have sold out. So, come join Joe and the JBP team this Friday evening to take in the dreamy landscapes of The Urban Wilderness.

Looking a little further on the horizon, we've also been busily preparing for 2010 Hot Shots' forthcoming exhibition. Save the date: the 2010 Hot Shot! Showcase will open at Jen Bekman Gallery on Friday, February 4th, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Jen Bekman Gallery
6 Spring Street
(between Elizabeth + Bowery)
New York, NY 10012
e: info@jenbekman.com | w: www.jenbekman.com | p: +1.212.219.0166

Pink Pillows, 2007/2010 by Dorthe Alstrup

If you think you know the artist behind these photographs, you're probably not mistaken. Five years ago (has it really been that long?!) we selected contender Dorthe Alstrup as one of our Fall 2005 Hot Shots. Since then she has appeared regularly on our blogs, released two popular 20x200 editions, and shown at JBG. It's exciting, today, to come full circle and share completely new work from Dorthe in the place where we first discovered her images.

Dorthe describes her latest work as such:

What interests me are the nuances and subtleties of human relationships. I stage photographs that depict the ways in which individuals interact. What captures my attention are moments of pausing, examining what happens in between action and conversation, because of either contemplation or overlapping of events. I investigate connections between the architectural environment and the people who inhabit it, such as ways in which space has an effect on the individual.

What brought me to these images was exactly that: the powerful geometry and formal composition of the spaces Dorthe photographs. In the subdued image above, a couch uncannily extends the ornate textures of the tapestry behind it, but two flat blocks of color—(the Pink Pillows from which the image gets its name)—draw the composition back to the wall. Though there is an abstract study of color and pattern in the image, the push and pull of space leads not to further abstraction, but to wondering: what exactly goes on here?

Fair #9, 2007/2010 by Dorthe Alstrup

I'm reminded of contender Mark Lyon, whose surreal juxtaposition of doctor's offices and nature murals lead to a questioning of whether or not the environments we design for ourselves are sense or nonsense. Dorthe's images are less jarring, but when stared at they slowly reveal themselves. In Fair #9 the curves of a roller coaster and overlaid with and the straight angles of the power-lines

LJ and Chris, 2007/2010 by Dorthe Alstrup

When people are thrown into the mix (or, rather deliberately set up) they introduce a whole new element of space and interaction—in addition to the environment. Always looking away from the camera, their gazes create angles which extend backwards in space and move your eye through the frame. Drawing your eye and strongly sustaining that interest, these are images worthy of contemplation.

You can see more of Dorthe's work at her website, her Fall 2005 HHS! Profile and 20x200.

If you're in New York, American ReConstruction, a group show including photographers Matthew Albanese, Jowhara AlSaud, Jeremy Kost, Mark Lyon, Curtis Mann and Cara Phillips, opens tonight at Winkleman Gallery in Chelsea. The exhibition "features artists who construct photography-based work through an array of pre- and post-printing considerations or processes."

Foldings (guided tour, Golan Heights), 2010 by Curtis Mann

Curtis Mann will be showing new works titled Foldings, which resemble the ink blotches of Rorschach tests. However, he has created these graphic reinterpretations by applying bleach to images printed off of Flickr and folding the paper in half.

Untitled Ultraviolet #60, 2010, by Cara Phillips

Images from Cara Phillips' series Ultraviolet Beauties, which are captured using the same method that plastic surgeons use to expose flaws in their patients skin, will be on view alongside works from her Singular Beauty series of cosmetic surgeon offices.

On Saturday, June 5th, Cara will also set up her UV studio at the gallery and offer collectors the opportunity to commission an Ultraviolet portrait. For cost and scheduling information, and to reserve your spot, you can email info@winkleman.com.

You can view a full set of images and read more about the exhibition at the gallery's website, and, of course, check it out in person tonight!

American ReConstruction

May 7 - June 12, 2010
Opening Reception, Friday, May 7, 2010

Winkleman Gallery
621 West 27th Street (NEW LOCATION)
New York, NY 10001

Rincon Artificial Island and Pipeline, Ventura, California by Ian Baguskas

Hope it's not too early to say, Happy New Year everybody! There are only eight days* in the new year to take in Mixtape at Jen Bekman Gallery, which runs through January 9th, 2010. Mixtape is a delirious, kaleidoscopic show, but one reason we're so excited about it is that nearly every photographer included, going back half a decade to our first round in 2005, has held the rank of Hot Shot.

On-screen reproduction just does not do this work justice, but for those of you who can't make it to the gallery, I've taken the liberty of linking up the following list to each photographer's piece in the show so that you can click through and get a peek at the work:

Jessica Eaton—2009 Second Edition
Mike Sinclair—2009 First Edition
Michelle Arcila—2009 First Edition
Colleen Plumb—2008 First Edition
Yijun (Pixy) Liao—2008 Second Edition
Gregory Krum—Summer 2007 Edition
Scott Eiden—Fall 2007 Edition
Kate Bingaman-Burt—Summer 2006 Edition
Ian Baguskas—Spring 2006 Edition
Joseph O. Holmes—Fall 2006 & Fall 2005
Matthew Tischler—Spring 2005 Edition

Another thing to note is that many of the prints in the show are genuine 20x200 editions. If you see something you like at the show, it may be more affordable than you think! Make sure to check the Mixtape page on 20x200 to see what's available for collecting. Stay tuned for news about out 2009 Second Edition Hey, Hot Shot! Showcase which is set to open in early March 2010.

* The gallery is closed on January 1st but will reopen from 12–6 on the 2nd

Untitled by Kelli Anderson

You're probably used to seeing Hot Shots pop up on some of your favorite blogs and in galleries across the globe but it's not every day that you see Hot Shots on TV. Later this month, Summer 2005 Hot Shot Kelli Anderson will be featured on the Brooklyn Community Access TV show "Caught in the Act," which despite its saucy title, she promises "is not as risqué as it sounds!" The episode, which was filmed last week, includes an interview with Kelli about her work and life and then follows her on a shoot for her latest project.

All of the photos in the series in question are taken in extremely organized places—library stacks, the supermarket, an office, museum storage, etc.—where you have these long aisles set up for targeted browsing. I take an object from these aisles and retrofit it like a simple marionette, styling it so that it looks alive. Through the analog magic of invisible fishing line, I can then tie up the object so that it looks like it is floating in the space, escaping order.

A previous look into the process of Fall 2005 Hot Shot Curtis Mann (who is also, as was just announced, an invited artist to the Whitney Biennial 2010!) only added to the intrigue of the work but Kelli writes, "I hope that by filming the process we didn't suck the mystery right out of those photos. I feel like it is a very sustainable series and want to carry on."

Make sure not to miss this program, which will air later this month and will then repeat for the month of January. The BCAT TV Network cablecasts on Time Warner, Cablevision, RCN and Verizon cable systems in Brooklyn, and the channel designations vary between the systems. On Time Warner, BCAT can be found on channels 34, 35, 56, 57. On Cablevision, BCAT can be found on channels 67-70. On RCN, BCAT can be found on channels 82–85. On Verizon, BCAT can be found on channels 41–44.

July 22, 2009 :: Broadway by Joe Holmes

In addition to being ridiculously talented photographers, our Hot Shots (like Beth and Alison, among many others...) are fast developing a reputation for being experts in the field of self-publishing.

For example, last week we found out that Hot Shot Kurt Tong was awarded two spots in Blurb's highly competitive Photography.Book.Now competition.

Today, two-time Hot Shot, 20x200 edition-maker, and prolific NYC street photographer Joe Holmes is teaching a class on how to put together a photo book of your own. The class promises to "walk you through the process of editing your images for presentation in a hardcover photobook as well as show you tips and tricks to create the book you want." In addition, Allen Murabayashi, CEO of Photoshelter, will be talking about how to "promote your brand and market yourself as a photographer."

The class has a cover charge of $10, but that $10 will be automatically refunded in the form of a coupon towards your new AdoramaPix photo book, which they describe as having "high-quality silver-halide prints carefully bound to lay completely flat with no gutter or stitching to break up the view on double page spreads."

Space is limited; so if you are interested, make sure to RSVP online. If you're in New York today, this class could be just the push you need to start your book!

Monday, September 21, 2009
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Adorama
42 West 18th street
5th floor
New York, NY 10011

Psst! There's more to come from Joe today on 20x200... stay tuned.

Untitled (Max)
by Dorthe Alstrup

20x200 photographer Dorthe Alstrup was a Fall 2005 Hey, Hot Shot! winner and also a First Prize recipient in Center's 2008 Singular Image Awards in the color category.

So what does all of that have to do with you? Well, my dears, Review Santa Fe, Project Competition and the Singular Image Awards are calling on all talented photographers (that's you) to enter their contests now. The deadlines are less than a month away, so don't delay!

REVIEW SANTA FE
Event date: June 4-6, 2009

PROJECT COMPETITION
Jurors: Alice Gabriner, Time Magazine; Karen Irvine, Museum of Contemporary Photography; and Maarten Schilt, Mets & Schilt publishers

SINGULAR IMAGE (3 CATEGORIES)
The Curator's Choice judged by Corey Keller, SF Museum of Modern Art
The Editor's Choice judged by Simon Barnett, Newsweek magazine
The Publisher's Choice judged by Michael Mack, SteidlMack

AWARDS INCLUDE
$5,000 cash; exhibition at the Photographic Center Northwest; tuition to a week-long workshop at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops and much, much more.

Good luck!

Untitled (Max) by Fall '05 Hot Shot Dorthe Alstrup

Dear Jen,

The next time you receive a 20x200 newsletter that contains a piece of art you really really want to buy, you need to just buy it. You do not need to first e-mail Jen B. to say, "OMG. I really really love today's 20x200 edition! I am going to buy it right now! XO, Jen S."

When you write notes like that and then click back to 20x200 to buy the edition in question it might be sold out in the size you want. I'm just saying. For next time, remember: purchases first, exclamations second.

Love,
Jen

P.S. I bought this one instead.

A New Understanding (Rock), 2007, c-print by Hot Shot Curtis Mann

And not just any show. The phenomenal Dawoud Bey curated Are We There Yet?, a group exhibition of photo and video based work that features Fall '05 Hot Shot Curtis Mann. The show will be up at the Hyde Park Art Center (5020 South Cornell Avenue, Chicago, IL) until September 28.

Be sure, also, to check out Mann's blog.

Fall '05 Hot Shot Megan Cump has work featured in Working Space 08, currently on view at the Cuchifritos gallery inside the Essex Market. Go see Megan's work and stop in at Shopsin's and Saxelby Cheesemongers too.

anhm #30 by Hot Shot and Ultra Joseph O. Holmes

Without fail, each batch of Hey, Hot Shot! entries includes work made inside the American Museum of Natural History. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. We love the museum too. Just a fun fact. And maybe something to keep in mind when shooting. Those scenes have probably been shot before. If you must shoot there, make it work in your own way. (Another day we will discuss shopping carts, for you seem to also really love shopping carts.)

My favorite example of AMNH work is from Fall '05 Hot Shot and Fall '06 Ultra Joeseph O. Holmes. His diorama series is splendid, and can be found on 20x200 as well. (There is only one print of this edition left!)

The Museum itself recently launched an online portal into its own archives of photographs, "Picturing the Museum: Education and Exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History." It is worth a look.

Shoot The Blog reprints a great Sugimoto quote about the dioramas:

"Upon first arriving in New York in 1974, I did the tourist thing. Eventually I visited the Natural History Museum, where I made a curious discovery: the stuffed animals positioned before painted backdrops looked utterly fake, yet by taking a quick peek with one eye closed, all perspective vanished, and suddenly they looked very real. I'd found a way to see the world as a camera does. However fake the subject, once photographed, it's as good as real." - Hiroshi Sugimoto

Service Entry by Fall 2005 Hot Shot, Joseph Holmes

amnh 1 by Joseph Holmes

I am envious of Joseph Holmes' ability to produce such a large quantity of excellent images. All one need do is visit his photoblog to see that he is one of those photographers who generates quantity and quality—a rare breed. Hot Shot Joe was a winner in our Fall 2005 Edition and showed off his amazing amnh series taken inside the American Museum of Natural History. "These images strip the components of traditional street photo down to the barest cues: silhouettes gazing out over vast, artificial veldts and jungles."

Since the showcase he has exhibited around the country, been published frequently, was included in this year's photography now: one hundred portfolios, and manages to maintain a site with 916 photographs. Impressive? Our Hot Shots usually are. Joe is going in for round two, this time with a new body of work taken on the streets of fabulous Manhattan. Oh and how he has a way for words...

There are mornings when I'm wandering through Soho or Tribeca or Chinatown, when the sunlight is fine and diffuse and the air takes on an unfamiliar tint, when the hydrants and street debris seem a little too purposely arranged, maybe a little coy or ironic, and it's at those times that I'm seized by the feeling that the whole city is a film set. I imagine a crew of little film-set elves passing through during the night, sprinkling film-set dust everywhere and preparing the street for the arrival of camera operators, focus pullers, and little elf teamsters in their little denim jackets and white Adidas. On those days, we all live in a film set and I'm the set photographer.

Find inspiration in your competition. Enter today!