Top Photographers #1

And my #1 photographer is.... the collaboration of Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz. I first discovered their work while I was researching for my thesis show. They have a series called Travelers that is all about being away from home, which is what my work was about. I actually sent an email to them asking more about their work. Paloma wrote back and gave me some more background on her work and encouraged me on mine. I love that there is a big sculptural component to their work because I've always thought if I weren't a photographer, I would be a sculptor. Plus they are kinda quirky...

Top Photographers #2

My second favorite photographer was actually my first favorite photographer ever. It was the first work that I saw and was instantly in love with. I first saw his work at Photographs Do Not Bend gallery in Dallas, which holds a special place in my heart because we used to go on field trips there when I went to Austin College. The photographer is Chema Madoz. The first series I did in grad school was heavily influenced by his work. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I suppose. The little images on the web do not do justice to his work. Not only are the images interesting and thought provoking, but the prints themselves are gorgeous, some of the most beautiful black and white prints I have ever seen.

Top Photographers #3

My #3 choice is Michael Kenna. I'm generally not a fan of landscape photography, but I think his are just gorgeous.

Top Photographers #4

My number 4 photographer is Gregory Crewdson. He sets up these very elaborate scenes in which he controls everything. The thing that I like about his work is that it is so narrative. I love looking at the images and making up a story to go with them. They are very thought provoking for me.

Top Photographers #5 again

The problem with listing my 5 favorite photographers is that I really only have 2. The other 3 are pretty much always changing. My number 5 changed this weekend, hence writing about #5 again.
Four years ago, I was living in LA and I went to an event called PhotoLA which is basically a bunch of commercial galleries showing off the work they sell. One of the booths there was Photo Eye which is a book seller. I found this little book by a photographer I had never heard of. The book was a small paperback that came with a limited edition print. This is the print I chose to buy.

I noticed that the artists contact info was in the back of the book and I was so taken with the work that I even emailed him to let him know how much I liked it. He wrote back and was very kind.

Skip ahead 4 years, Friday night I was at HCP's annual print auction preview exhibition. I have a tradition of walking through the exhibition and decided what I would buy if I had any money and which piece is my absolute favorite. I do this without looking at the labels so I'm basing my decision only on the art itself. This year, this monkey picture is my favorite.

So, I go up to the piece to look at the label and turns out it was the same photographer that I found at PhotoLA: Hiroshi Wantanabe.

Top Photographers #5

This week I am going to count down my 5 favorite photographers.

My number 5 pick is very different than the other 4. His images are based in science rather than fiction. Harold Edgerton uses photography for motion studies. His images teach us about the way things move and are fascinating to look at.

New favorite artist (of the week)

When I was in San Diego for Christmas, my family and I went to see a show at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego of Tara Donovan's work. I wasn't familiar with her work but it looked cool online so we all went. It was amazing! She makes work out of everyday objects on a monumental scale.

This was the piece that was on the website and made me want to go see it. It's made of styrofoam cups.

This was my favorite piece in the show. It was made of millions of drinking straw stacked against a wall. Some were pulled out at different lengths from the wall of its had a wavy effect. The coolest thing though was that as you moved around it looked completely different. You could only see the holes in the straws you were right in front of. The holes make the straws look brighter so as you move around, the bright spot moves around also. It was very neat!