Andy Guthrie at Joe's Pub

© Amy Stein 2006

I know this is a photography blog, but life isn't all about photography. I take pictures, but I also dig music. If you love music and live in New York, please go to Joe's Pub this Monday to see Andy Guthrie. Ok, Andy is my cousin, but don't hold that against him. He is one supremely talented singer/musician/songwriter. See him now before he's wearing leather pants and selling out Madison Square Garden.

Listen to Andy: Milk and Waste

Andy Guthrie
Monday April 2, 7:00 PM
Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette Street
New York, NY

What Makes a Great Photo?

Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1968 © Robert Adams

Joerg Colberg of Conscientious fame asked a number of photographers to help him answer the eternal question: what makes a great photo? Joerg's inquiry prompted some very thoughtful answers and produced some truly great photos. There is no recipe for a great photo and most folks, myself included, wrestled with describing their emotional response to the photo rather than defining the technical elements that made the photo great. Ultimately, the photographs mentioned have nothing in common except the punch-in-the-gut response they elicit. The truest answer to the question of what makes a great photo may be as equivocal as Justice Stewart's definition of pornography: I know it when I see it.

Fabulous Photo Find

© Thomas Tulis

Sunday we journeyed up the Hudson to visit Dia:Beacon. Unfortunately, we spent way too much time antiquing in Cold Spring and Beacon and missed last call at Dia. On the positive side, the drive was beautiful and we got very lucky with a number of choice finds at the antique stores including a signed photograph by Thomas Tulis. The people in the store just knew the image as "that picture of the old guy on Flag Day" and let us walk away with it for a ridiculously low price. If anyone knows Thomas or has any information about the photo, please let me know. I would love to learn the provenance and try to figure out how a piece by a well-regarded Southern photographer ended up in an antique store in Beacon, New York.

Cheap Thrills with Lisa Kereszi

DJ Booth, South Beach © Lisa Kereszi 2002

My best advice to those just starting out in the photography world is to reach out to photographers who are where you want to be and bug them for advice. A couple of years ago I did this with Lisa Kereszi and she was more than generous with her time and input. She challenged my work and pushed me to advance my vision and focus my career path. Lisa's wisdom and experience has a had a profound impact on my development as a photographer.

I mention this because last tonight I attended the opening of Lisa's new solo show, Cheap Thrills, at Yancey Richardson. The joint was packed and the prints looked amazing. Lisa has a gift for finding and elevating amazing little secrets hiding out under our nose. She is also the nicest and most sincere person you will meet and I consider myself fortunate to call her a good friend.

I should also mention Lisa Kereszi's fabulous husband, Ben Donaldson, who is a very talented photographer in his own right. A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to assist for Ben at the ICP. His current show, Summerland, at jen bekman gallery is not to be missed. Talk about your power couple.

The show at Yancey Richardson proved doubleplusgood because another friend, Sarah Schorr, was showing work in the project gallery and that brought out the SVA crew en mass. It was wonderful to see everyone and see Sarah's work.

Photo of the Week: Rhinecliff, NY

© Amy Stein 2005

Photo March Madness

Chad Muthard has put together a bracket for Photo March Madness. Despite my scrappy low post play I don't think I am long for the tourney. My final four: Sternfeld, Evans, Wall, and Arbus.

Monitors!

I'm not talking Komodo Dragons; I'm talking about the computer variety. And more specifically, monitors made for photographers. I'm looking to upgrade and have been told the EIZO ColorEdge and the LaCie 321 are the mack-daddy Cadillacs for photographers. These suckers don't come cheap, so I'm wondering if anyone is currently using one of these monitors and would recommend the investment. Or, have you found color happiness with another monitor? Any advice or wisdom is welcome and appreciated.

Photo of the Week: Fireman's Parade, Port Jervis, NY

© Amy Stein 2005