MICHAEL O'BRIEN: The Picture Review Conversation Series • Austin, Texas

"On More Than a Picture"

The Picture Review In Conversation with 

Michael O'Brien and Sean Perry

In our continuing series of talks on the process, craft and life of working in the visual arts, The Picture Review team is thrilled to announce that nationally renowned documentary and portrait photographer, Michael O’Brien, will be joining us In Conversation "On More Than a Picture, A Conversation with Michael O’Brien and Sean Perry" May 16th, 2015.

From his biography, “Michael O’Brien is one of the country’s premier portrait photographers. In a career that has spanned four decades, O’Brien has photographed subjects ranging from presidents to small-town heroes. His candid, unapologetic style captures the dignity and humanity of his subjects, whether they be celebrities or ‘ordinary’ people.”

Mr. O’Brien’s images have appeared in numerous magazines, including Life, Esquire, National Geographic, Fortune, the New York Times Sunday Magazine, Texas Monthly, Vanity Fair and the London Sunday Times. He has twice been the recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Award for outstanding coverage of the disadvantaged. O’Brien is the author of two books: The Face of Texas, 2003 and 2014, and Hard Ground in 2011, a collaboration that presents O’Brien's compassionate portraits with poetry by artist and musician Tom Waits.

Eighteen of Mr. O’Brien’s images have been selected for inclusion in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., five of which were recently featured in The Face of Texas exhibition at The Wittliff Collections: Willie Nelson, George Strait, Judge William Wayne Justice, Larry McMurtry, and Harvey Penick with Bud Shrake. His photographs are also held in the permanent collections of the International Center of Photography in NYC, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and The Wittliff Collection of Mexican and Southwestern Photography at Texas State University.

Our presentation includes rarely seen pictures from his early work and we will have the wonderful opportunity to preview images from his newest title, The Great Minds of Investing. Mr. O’Brien will also be demonstrating a few of his techniques for working with light and a book signing will follow.

To celebrate our special guest, we are pulling out all the stops with our first ever May Fair, featuring the Spring TPR Team's Light + Sound exhibition of large-scale prints, the debut of the ACCMe Studios photo booth, refreshments and a plethora of surprises and delights!

We look forward to seeing you there!

 ~

"On More Than a Picture: A Conversation with Michael O'Brien"
Saturday, May 16, 2015 • 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Austin Community College Photographic Technology

11928 Stonehollow Drive, Bldg 3000
Austin, TX 78758

Contact

THE PICTURE REVIEW: Kate Breakey In Conversation With Sean Perry

Sean Perry In Conversation With Kate Breakey

on the Process, Craft and Life of Working in the Visual Arts

Thursday, February 19, 2015 

6:30 PM to 9:00 PM (CST)

 Austin Community College

 

“I begin with a silver photographic image, a kind of evidence. Then I paint on this in many transparent layers of oil paint and pencil. If I am lucky, the media combine and become enmeshed, a curious union of what was real with my own exaggerations and embellishments, so I can show how beautiful it all is—the light, the form, the texture, and color—because I am a sensualist, and this is my deepest pleasure, my lovely addiction.” —Kate Breakey

Austin, Texas: For our ongoing In Conversation series, The Picture Review team is thrilled to host the singular and exceptional Kate Breakey, for what is sure to be a most inspired evening. We will be discussing the committed work of being an artist, and the remarkable career she has built doing so. Ms. Breakey is internationally recognized for her large-scale, richly hand-colored photographs, including her acclaimed series of luminous portraits of birds, flowers, animals, and insects. Since 1980, her work has appeared in more than ninety, one-person exhibitions and more than fifty group exhibitions in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, China, New Zealand, and France.

A native of South Australia who has also lived and worked in Texas, Ms. Breakey now resides and photographs in the desert outside Tucson. Her work has been beautifully represented in five books, including Birds/Flowers published in 2002 by Eastland Books and Slowlight published by Etherton Gallery in 2012. She has produced three substantial monographs in collaboration with The Wittliff Collections and the University of Texas Press, beginning with Small Deaths (2001), followed by Painted Light (2010) a career retrospective that encompasses a quarter century of prolific image making, and Las Sombras/The Shadows (2012) which is comprised of many hundreds of images, from a bald eagle to tiny moths and flies. This series is a continuation of her lifetime investigation of the natural world which in her own words is "brimming with fantastic mysterious beautiful things."

Her latest landscape work – Out of Darkness was showcased in a recent exhibition with photographer Keith Carter entitled Without and Within, these deeply felt landscapes becoming a metaphor for dramatic personal events that have recently changed her life. Ms. Breakey's work is held in many public institutions including the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos, the Austin Museum of Art, the Australian National Gallery in Canberra and the Osaka Museum in Osaka, Japan. This summer she will return to the prominent Santa Fe Workshops to lead a special course in The Hand-Colored Photographic Print, July 12th – July 17, 2015. – Sean Perry

Thursday, February 19, 2015 

6:30 PM to 9:00 PM (CST)

 Austin Community College
11928 Stonehollow Drive Austin
Photography Dept. Building 3000 | RM3112
Austin, TX 78758

Tickets Here

In Conversation: A series of Talks on the Process, Craft and Life of Working in the Visual Arts with Sean Perry

SEAN PERRY: Critical Mass 2014

 "Surfland" photolucida, 2009

08.07.04 #1 Abbey

Photograph © Joni Sternbach

"Findings" photolucida, 2005

White Terns, Midway Atoll, 2000 

Photograph © Hiroshi Watanabe

On the Wonder of Asymmetry, Part One

By Sean Perry

I am quite fond of the phrase asymmetric opportunity – parlance divined from a curious fascination with the renegade spirits who define finance. I am particularly inspired by the adroit Paul Tudor Jones, to look for and capitalize upon these succulent rarities whenever one can.

Critical Mass is part of photolucida, an outstandingly run arts nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. It's directed by the lovely Laura Moya and has a fantastic board and group of contributors. I will save the photolucida reviews for another time, today I want to tell you about Critical Mass.

You submit a 10 image portfolio with associated information to a pre-screening review committee of 25 jurors. They select 200 of the best portfolios and that is then sent to over 200 reviewers/jurors. Yes, 200! From the curated 200, the Top 50 are announced and awards are selected including a monograph. I have a sweet (and scarce) collection of titles from past winners, including Camille Seaman, Joni Sternbach and Hiroshi Watanabe. Another inspired detail, when you participate you receive a copy of their book even if you don't make the Top 50.

"The Last Iceberg" photolucida, 2006

Stranded Iceberg I, Cape Bird, Antarctica 2006

Photograph © Camille Seaman

I encourage the perusal of outstanding Reviewers, even if you feel your project is not yet ripe to apply. The Picture Review alumni use these calls as a little black book – it is a great way to know who does what, where and prepare for a time when perhaps you are ready.

My past submissions proved helpful in many ways, including tangible benefits to my career path and relationships. Also the important practice of presenting new work. I would love to win the book prize (of course!) but in truth, that's not the reason for doing this.

Potentially 225+ legit reviews of your work for $75.00. If you make the top 200, you have to pony-up to move forward. I believe $200.00, which works out to $1.22 per review/contact.

So beautifully asymmetric. You will find no better example in photography calls today asking the risk of little, in exchange for generous passage and potential. July 16th is the deadline to enter, I wish you all luck and triumph.

photolucida Critical Mass

Registration for Critical Mass 2014 is open until July 16th, 2014
Sean Perry Photographs

SEAN PERRY: Notes from The Picture Review

 Curator and Collector, Wm. Hunt, 2011  
"Go forth and build, speak to the wonder and joy 
that is so vacant in your adversaries"
Photograph © Elizabeth Paul Avedon

  

SEAN PERRY: Part I

I am restless – intrinsically. Annoying as of late more so, and in part by petty nemeses soon vanquished. It is in these times I refer to one of Mr. Hunt's sublime life lessons (adapted) – go forth and build, speak to the wonder and joy that is so vacant in your adversaries.

If we have shared time in a class together you may know I have a proclivity for books. I enjoy all lovely printed things, particularly photography, design and architecture books. I often partake in obscene amounts of caffeine and wander the aisles of book and thrift stores, seeking respite and delight in something beautiful discovered.

Another curricula of The Picture Review is the study and research of good photography through the culture of books. So many important considerations are at play – the languages of printing, design, typography, sequencing and more. Do you know the stereotype of trusting a corpulent chef? I believe we must eat well if meaningful art is to be had, whether consumed, created or espoused.

ThePictureReview.com

(Photograph: Sarah Wilson)

I recently had a conversation with Ms. (name redacted) at Half Price Books and have very exciting news to relay. While I work through this temporary over-restlessness, I shall occasionally select an exceptional book to share. HPB has generously agreed to offer this selection to you, with compliments of a discount in honor of The Picture Review initiative. I will feature the book in a post here and place it on hold under a nome de plume. Expiring that Sunday at close, (9pm) the first one to request the title from the counter using said alias has it.

Now let us begin this hedonism with proper grandeur. I have perused the current offerings at many locations there is much to devour. There are titles from Twin Palms, Steidl, University of Texas Press and Monacelli Press to name a brief few.

It is my joyful privilege to introduce The Picture Review Sunday Find. May a season of bounty and voracity be upon us.

The Life of a Photograph

SEAN PERRY: Part II

Filled with the sweet nectar of deep discounts and haptic pleasure, did you empty your chalice? I most certainly did, trekking to all Half Price Books locations both far and wide. I imagine only eclipsed by the diligent Mr. Drew Lee, who valiantly sailed towards the dark secrets of San Antonio aboard a modern day Pequod. Fortuity favors the adventurous and prepared, he returned with a most stellar trove of fortunes.

I am joyous our chambers here echo greatly of treasures won – Keith Carter, Kate Breakey, Lee Frielander, Sébastien Meunier, Irving Penn, and Sam Abell among other giants. It is indeed a time of bounty and celebration, well done!

Many of us gorged on Mr. Abell's title, The Life of a Photograph. What an exceptional book and man. Picture Review Alumni will recognize the language, the title is an eloquent and well stated theorem of his work. Sam Abell is a esteemed mid-western born photographer known for his poetic amalgamation of subjects and styles, traversing photo-journalism to fine-art. He first worked for the National Geographic Society in 1970 at the age of 25, and went on to photograph over 20 features. He has published at least 9 titles I am aware of, likely more. Study the life he has woven around photography – as a photographer, author, teacher…. you will find no truer a storyteller and artist. His own words are best, and I implore you to read the interview with Mr. Blaustein below.

http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2013/09/04/sam-abell-interview/

I find his photographs so well seen and thoughtfully made. I am particularly thankful for a lesson he learned from his father, "compose and wait." It left a lasting impression upon me and is but one of a long list of gifts garnered from his generous teachings. Last year I made an image in Kyoto that I am deeply grateful for. Mr. Abell metaphorically by my side, I composed the frame as I was crossing the Kamogawa – then waited, for the unexpected gesture I needed to complete the image.

Three Crows, Kyoto Japan

Photograph © Sean Perry

The video below is not your typical Facebook distraction. No sir, it is rich with sustenance – 43 minutes of pure insight and excellence. The book can be had for a mere pittance on Amazon, and perhaps you may still find a copy or two here. Tarry not, it will be a loyal companion for you – for that I am sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceJ0S5P-Ybc

HOW I LOOK AT PHOTOGRAPHS: A Conversation With Elizabeth Avedon + Sean Perry

Skyping into Austin, Texas

 © Kim Felsher. All Rights Reserved

Photography Students, Austin, Texas

© Kim Felsher. All Rights Reserved

Many thanks to Sean Perry and his group of Austin Photography students, The Picture Review team, for hosting “How I look at Photographs, a Conversation with Elizabeth Avedon and Sean Perry” via Skype.

We first discussed our favorite photographs and their respective series, beginning with Perry’s choices including: Brassai’s “Paris at Night”, Irving Penn’s “Cigarettes” and “Mouth (for L’Oréal)”, Saul Leiter’s “Paris” as well as work by Hiroshi Sugimoto, Matt Mahurin, Doug and Mike Starn, Ken Schles and Joel Peter-Witkin.

I spoke about some of my favorite photographers and projects, including Mike Brodie's "A Period of Juvenile Prosperity", Emily Shur's "Untitled Japan", Deborah Luster's "One Big Self", Debbie Fleming Caffery's "The Spirit + The Flesh", Vivian Maier and many others. Also about my work and background on designing and editing for both the wall and the page “In The American West”, by Richard Avedon and the grande fashion images in, “Avedon: Photographs, 1947-1977”.

I shared my thoughts on design, editing, sequencing – how we connect with certain images and working with large groups of photographs, including an ongoing project I am designing and developing with Mr. Perry, Fotopolis.

Edition One - The Picture Review 

The Picture Review is a unique, interactive call for entry crafted by Sean Perry and Kathryn Watts-Martinez. It was awarded an Innovation Grant for it’s content, debuting during the 2013 Fall Semester in the photography program at Austin Community College.

Perry goes on to say, “It simply connects aspiring high school photographers with my students serving as mentors – focusing on the intersection of skills where contemporary practice is flourishing – language, visual literacy, technology, craft and community. It provides the opportunity for students to gain experience curating and editing previously unseen pictures – deeply challenging their visual language and skills. This type of exposure and cross-discipline learning offers a unique experience for my students and also speaks to the photography communities tradition of portfolio review.”

"The college students administer and run a call for entry, curate submissions into the department print show and produce exhibition prints from the images they select – including all of the details and considerations that demands. The team provides critiques and mentorship for all of the high school submissions, recording interactive screencast videos for each participant. These are uploaded for the high school students to receive privately, which they can then review and choose to share. In turn this process enhances the skill-set and language of my students, improving their own class critiques and photographic practice."

"Ms. Watts-Martinez and I are running this project as a journal and building additional course curriculum around it’s implementation. Edition One completes this Fall and Edition Two will launch in the new year. We have been thrilled with the creativity and quality of work we are receiving from the high schools and so proud of the work my students are doing! They have invested themselves fully and I see growth everywhere – it is inspiring and a joy to watch."

Sean Perry Website