we’re moving all our blooging to tumblr. Goodbye wordpress…. hello seamless transition!

Terrific interview with photojournalist Jason P Howe over on the FotoEvidence site

“We all come out of this line of work scarred and damaged, probably for life. My theory is that if I accept that as the price of recording history, I will never feel short changed.”

Just in time for The Masters, here’s a shoot we did a few weeks ago for Golf World’s backspin issue with 1968 Masters Champion Bob Goalby. Shot at his home in Palm Springs, we asked Bob to take himself back to the 18th at Augusta. He beautifully relived the moment for us, allowing me to recapture that feeling of pure joy and satisfaction.

Sobering. That’s the first word that comes to mind, having just watched the documentary that takes you behind The New York Times. Maybe its because i love newspapers, always have. I love the pace, i love the passion, but most of all i love the topicality of it all. Whatever your working on, its the very thing people are talking about….. and i was there, to capture the very essence of it all. I’ve been working in newspapers and magazines for over twenty years now, and i look back to the frantic days at The Independent on Sunday and The Guardian with great pride. So i relate very strongly with the story of Page One, and if you love newspapers, you will too. Having said that, the argument of where things go from here, is a truly fascinating debate. To roughly quote one scene “its not whether newspapers should exist, its can they.” Truly a changing time. But i tell you, there’s no better way to for an ambitious twenty year old to start a career than racing across London, picture editor screaming in your ear, while you describe what you think is ‘the picture’ (remember this is well before digital and auto focus), editing barely dry negatives, and slapping five or six still wet 11×14 exhibition quality black and white prints onto the newsroom wall, while the picture editor, sports editor and editor in chief discuss which image not just tells the story, but does so with a visual poetry. Then seeing all that work come together on page one next day! More about Page One here, or watch it on netflix instant.
Showjumping World Championships, photographed for The Independent on Sunday, 1991.

If you’re a lucky photo editor or art buyer, coming soon to a desk near you…. our latest promo-zine ‘Fighters’. We hope you enjoy.

I’m proud to have been a contributor and part of the winning team for The Times Magazine which last night won Supplement of The Year at the The Press Awards. Thanks to photo editors Graham and Eithne, for some great assignments and the creative freedom to explore. Let’s keep it going!

“If you could go back 10 years, what advice would you give yourself?”
“Honestly? I would have told myself to get a government job with a nice retirement package so I could retire after 20-25 years and then do my photography while collecting my pension all the while. I don’t want to sound like sour grapes or anything but I’m approaching 39 and while I’m thrilled to have published books, have had exhibitions and the opportunity to travel to amazing places and meet wonderful people thanks to my career, I have no retirement plan whatsover. I didn’t know then that the industry would change so much and make it more difficult to survive. Frankly I’ve given myself a time limit: if by the time I turn 40 I’m not in the place I was hoping to be I will try a different vocation. I love animals and it’s not too late to go back to school to become a vet tech. This is realistic and pragmatic me speaking of course.”

Naomi Harris via THIS IS THE WHAT

here’s a fun, honest post on how to make it, from over on Chase jarvis’ blog:

“1. Declare yourself a photographer. That’s what you ARE in life. You’re not a student, not a finance-guy-slash-part-time-photographer, not a part time anything. You’re a photographer.

2. Be in business. Make it real. Get a business bank account. Otherwise it’s just a hobby.

3. Read every book you can find at the library or online about the business of photography. Understand the rules. Because if you fail at the business part, if you can’t SUSTAIN this business, you’re not a pro. You’re unemployed, or back to part-time this or that. Action is the only thing that matters.

4. Take photographs everyday and share them, pimp them, promote them like mad. Find YOUR voice through shooting. Aim to be different, not better than everybody else. Be brutal in your edit. Put forward only your best work around the the things you actually want to get paid to shoot. Action wins.

5. Repeat.”

via Chase Jarvis blog


…. and it’s probably not done like this!

“It takes time to find your voice as a photographer so persevere to find what it is that drives you to do this work. Never force the work, but strive to be your best self and the beauty that is within you will be revealed.”

via thisisthewhat.com

It seems appropriate in some way that his birthday lands on President’s Day, he kinda feels right for that role somehow. We shot him a few years ago now, and a big shout out to my assistant that day Bo B. Randulff for creating the ‘entertained’ off- camera glance. Nice work my man.

Youtube sensations Strawburry 17 and David Choi, photographed for German Der Spiegel magazine. Whoever said internet fame isn’t real fame and fortune…. these kids are having sell-out gigs and ridiculous CD sales. Quite unreal when you think of it. Homemade music gone HUGE. Kinda cool. Good luck to ‘em, and both real cool kids.

When you decide to express your Valentine-yness this year, do us all a favor and steer clear of those plastic balloons, which seem to inevitably end up bobbing around in the ocean, contributing to the Great Pacific Garbage Dump. That’s right, i’m referring to the floating island of never-gonna-go-away plastic trash near Hawaii that about the size of Texas. These were just three of many i saw on the beach in Santa Monica this time last year. Show some love for mother nature too!