We Hear from Photographers

We've heard from a number of people we've written about recently.

• First of all, I was charmed to receive a gracious and warm note from Judith Fox, whose moving and beautiful book I Still Do: Loving and Living With Alzheimer's we reviewed in April. Judith sent her note as a comment, so I've simply added it to the original post, where you can read it.

• Next, I got a very nice email from Julian Sander, great-grandson of the great 20th Century photographer August Sander, in response to this post. He tells me that there have been three ranges of prints from August's plates and negatives—August's own, those made by his grandfather Gunther after WWII, and the modern prints made by his father, Gerd. He points out that although August's own prints have great depth, modern prints are more consistent, which is important because August's pictures were not intended to be seen as single images. For those who can attend, he recommends a visit to the show at the Tate Gallery in London, which he helped hang.

The magnificent 7-volume set of August Sander's work—still available at the same very advantageous clearance price—has been the surprise bestseller in the first half of the year among TOP readers. (Who would have guessed that a multi-volume set could out-sell everything else? Not me.) I've spent a lot of time now with my own set. It's a gorgeous production, and will probably stand for a very long time as the standard published source of Sander's work.

• Chicago Tribune photojournalist Alex Garcia wrote to thank us for linking to his article (here's his latest one, by the way: "7 Mistakes to Avoid as a Photographer"). He says he was "overwhelmed in a good way" by the traffic we sent his way, and that all the attention was welcomed by those "inside the building" (that is, at the Tribune) since the shooters there had just started their blogs the week before. 

Alex also mentioned an idea I think is very interesting. He thinks that "newspapers need to invest in their photographers more and to see them as brands to promote, just like their reporters and columnists." That makes almost too much sense. For example, I think of Stephen Crowley and Fred Conrad when I think of The New York Times. And now I'll think of Alex when I think of the Tribune. Anybody want to mention any favorite shooters—and what outlet they shoot for?

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2010 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Terry Manning]

Peter Read Miller, Bill Frakes and the rest of the Sports Illustrated guys are pretty awesome. I typically like Robert Hanishiro's work for USA Today.

And, in a nod to former colleagues I rank with the best photojournalists out there, Mickey Welsh of the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser and Bart Boatwright of the Greenville (S.C.) News newspapers.

[John Krumm]

We have at least three top-notch photo-journalists working for the Juneau Empire here in Southeast Alaska. The one who I always run into and have talked to a bit is Michael Penn. He also does regional work for the New York Times. Nice guy, and very much into different kinds of photography if you look at his website.

[Stephen Voss]

Todd Heisler and Damon Winter are daily inspiration to me at the Times. Also Scott Strazzante at the Tribune, Michael Robinson Chavez at the LA Times and Jahi Chikwendiu at the Wash Post.

[Bob Fisher]

I nominate Carolyn Cole at the LA Times. She's fearless (and I hope I got her name right. Haven't seen her work in a while).

[Craig Beyers]

Let me add Jonathan Newton of the Washington Post, a sports photographer who has an eye for art as well. He's showed that sports photography can be more than "just" photojournalism--it can be beautiful and inspiring, too.

[John Pozdro]

I love Jay Janner's work for the Austin American-Statesman-- he has tremendous range, and the work is always provocative. A real treat.

[Simon Mitternacht]

The local newspaper Sydsvenskan in Malmö, Sweden, where I lived until recently, has a fabulous photographer called Åsa Sjöström. Her style is instantly recognizable, and I am impressed that they have such a talented photographer at this relatively small newspaper. I didn't find any website of hers, but here is a link to the pictures she won a World Press Photo award for.

[John Ironside]

I always look out for work by Dan Chung at The Guardian.

[yunfat]

You can find my ten things to make you a photographer here:

http://www.artistwithlight.com/learn/index.html

I am with Alex, there is no reason photographers shouldn't be better marketed, our business desperately needs a few rock stars, if only to improve conditions for us all.

[Kalli]

It's worth mentioning Icelandic photographer RAX. He's done some great work and his name is well known, at least in his home country, and gets connected with the paper he works for, Morgunblaðið.

[Bill Bresler]

I nominate Bill Bresler of the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers. ; )

[Kerry Glasier]

Back in the Sixties, Don McCullin had regular esays in The Sunday Times(UK),unless my memory has let me down. I was always struck by the strength of the compositions, despite so many of them being made in conditions most of us would refuse to go into let alone make photos in. From Biafra to Vietnam, under war and famine. Extraordinary work, though I wouldnt ever have wanted to be driven to photograph those scenes.
KG
Cornwall UK

[Mark Gunion]

I've admired the work of Benjamin Benschneider in the Seattle Times ever since I moved to the area. In particular, his architectural photographs capture still moments in the life of a structure with great beauty, clarity, and conciseness, and always respect the esthetics of its architects and inhabitants.

www.benschneiderphoto.com
seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2002/1027/cover.html

[Lynn_B]

I nominate Nick Moir of the Sydney Morning Herald. Amazing work. His bush fire images are a standout.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/2002/10/31/1036026971847.html
http://www.oculi.com.au/photographers/nick-moir/