Archive for April 2008
Remain in Light
Copyright (c) Ed Panar All Rights Reserved
Remain in Light, not the Talking Heads masterpiece from 1980, but rather the new publication of contemporary photography, announced a couple weeks ago the twenty photographers they have selected to feature in the independently funded publication. You can see who they are here. It’s interesting to see who RiL has chosen to represent contemporary photography in 2008. What does this branding mean anyway when referring to photography? Is there certain criteria that needs to be met in order to be included in the contemporary club? Just curious. Maybe someone can enlighten me. Actually, I think I grasp the concept of what most consider contemporary, but wonder why a lot of what is, feels so similar in tone to me. Maybe my eye is just not as sophisticated as it should be. I’m working on it. More importantly, I just don’t like that such a narrow slice of visual expression and creativity is put on this pedestal called contemporary, thus seemingly elevating it above all else, leaving all other photography as, well something else, but not contemporary.
Copyright (c) Yann Orhan All Rights Reserved
This being said, I am really inspired and excited by a lot of photography that is considered contemporary. I’m a fan. I think it’s the exclusive label that bothers me.
Looking through the work of the twenty photographers via the provided links to each artist’s website, I was truly blown away by some of the work. There was also some work that made me scratch my head and wonder what it is that made them stand out and be included. However, my ass was blown away more than puzzled. This is not meant to disparage any of the artists. It is only my humble, unsophisticated opinion. I challenge anyone to love all twenty of the photographers included in this project.
Copyright (c) Shawn Records All Rights Reserved
A few of my favorites from the twenty are Ed Panar, Yann Orhan, Anne Lass, Shawn Records, Nicholas Haggard and Richard Barnes.
Check out the Remain In Light website, or the above links, to see more work by the twenty photographers included in the project. With an open mind, I think you will enjoy some of the work. If not, I’m sorry you wasted a few minutes reading this.
If you do like what you see, take a look at Jonathan Saunders work here (his personal work is mixed in with his editorial so you have to look for the real gems). He’s a friend of a friend that I have had the pleasure of meeting a couple times. A tremendous talent. Check out his blog too.
Mini-series 1: Cemetery
I can’t sleep. I was tired all day. I don’t understand. So if my words don’t make sense, you’ll know why. Anyway, here are some relatively new photos. I’ve been working on putting together a collection of these different…shit, I don’t know what to call them, groupings, mini-essays, mini-series…whatever, call it what you want. I’d like to someday put them all together into book form as a collection of these different series.
I like to spend a little extra time, in between all the other stuff I have to do, at places I find interesting, places most people would find quite ordinary. I try to make as many interesting photographs I can, hoping I can get a handful that I like, and create some sort of narrative. Maybe narrative is not the right word. Maybe they are simply small details or documents of a certain place, at a certain time, that moved me enough to make a photograph. I don’t know if they will really work for other people or not. I’ve never really shared them. Maybe somebody will like them. Here’s the first one. Maybe I’ll share more in the future.
Copyright (c) 2008 Matthew Ratajczak All Rights Reserved
For Jessica
Molly’s watching, waiting for you to come home. We all miss you.
Findings
Copyright (c) Hiroshi Watanabe All Rights Reserved
I recently received Hiroshi Watanabe’s new book “Findings” in the mail. It’s been a while since a body of work has moved me and inspired me so much. Enough to at least write about it here, not as a review, but as a brief ramble to celebrate Watanabe’s vision and to hopefully inspire a few of you reading this to invest some time with his work.
Copyright (c) Hiroshi Watanabe All Rights Reserved
Copyright (c) Hiroshi Watanabe All Rights Reserved
I keep coming back to the 61 black & white photographs almost every day, usually at night before I try to sleep.
Copyright (c) Hiroshi Watanabe All Rights Reserved
This is fitting since he seems to have stepped into our dreams, eyes wide open, receptive to all the possibilities before him.
Copyright (c) Hiroshi Watanabe All Rights Reserved
Copyright (c) Hiroshi Watanabe All Rights Reserved
I hope you enjoy these quiet observations as much as I am. Thank you Mr. Watanabe.
Convergence Part 1
From my ongoing project “Convergence.”
Copyright (c) 2008 Matthew Ratajczak All Rights Reserved
Meditation
I don’t meditate. I wish I could, but I just can’t seem to do it. Same with yoga. tried it once, it felt great, but it just doesn’t work for me. I think maybe I’m just lazy and unmotivated when it comes to those things. I did go on a hike Sunday afternoon in Halpatiokee Park. It was a beautiful day in south Florida. This is what clears my head, slows me down, calms me. I need to do it more often. I also brought my camera, which I don’t always do. I was able to make a handful of nature photographs I like.
A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I really enjoy doing this kind of work and I do a fair amount of it, but most people just don’t see it that often. I’m not really influenced by other nature/outdoor photographers when it comes to these types of photographs, but rather photographers like Gueorgui Pinkhassov and Hiroshi Watanabe (more on him and his new book in another post). Anyway, here’s a few from Sunday.
Copyright (c) 2008 Matthew Ratajczak All Rights Reserved
This Will Make You Millions
I was recently going through some boxes full of odds and ends I’ve carried around with me over the years. You know, that junk you don’t need, but just can’t seem to get rid of. Old magazines with photographs you thought were inspiring, rolls of mystery film, photos from a drunken Halloween party back in 1998, trinkets from various states and countries, film developing tanks you thought might make a good pen holder, etc… Every year, to the delight of my girlfriend who is always looking for more storage space for her clothes and shoes, I’m able to throw more and more away.
In doing this, I came across a real treasure. Actually a treasure map. Well, more of a diagram. And supposedly worth millions.
My memory is cloudy. But I’m sure there were several pitchers of beer involved as we sat in one of the booths at our favorite pizza/beer joint in Columbia, Mo. My professor/mentor/friend and I were having one of our many unofficial weeknight meetings where I could listen to a new joke, he has thousands, and we could talk freely for hours about photography, movies, music, art and life in general. Some of the best times ever. They were comical, insightful, educational and almost always inspirational. Below is what he left me with one night on the back of a beer coaster. A studio lighting diagram. I haven’t been able to toss it. Call me sentimental. Although this hops and barley induced wisdom hasn’t made me millions, to me it remains priceless. Thanks KK.
For Cecelia
My thoughts are with you, your brother and your family.
Copyright (c) 2008 Matthew Ratajczak All Rights Reserved
Gouge Away
Who doesn’t love the Pixies? I don’t know anybody who doesn’t. OK, maybe a few people. What about Radiohead? If you’re fans of these two incredible bands, two of my all-time favorites, check out Pitchfork’s new sister site Pitchfork.tv to see a live Radiohead performance of “Bangers & Mash” in Nigel Godrich’s basement, and for one week, watch “loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies.” The site just launched Monday. So if you have tons of time, or maybe just a few minutes, to waste in front of the computer, check it.
If You Don’t Know Me
Here are some things you might want to know. Or maybe not.
I am originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’ve always had a few drops of creativity in my blood. It’s been both a blessing and a curse. More of a blessing though. After a brief stint in music school following high school, I moved back home, played in some bands and eventually became interested in photography. After a few years in a small fine art photo program in Grand Rapids, I moved to Missouri and studied journalism and photoj at at the University of Missouri.
I graduated in 2000 and moved to sunny south Florida to begin my career as a photojournalist/newspaper photographer with the intention of only staying a couple years or so before moving on to a new job, in a new city and in a new state. I did move on, but stayed in Florida. Those plans never quite work out the way you envision them. I’m also at a crossroads professionally, figuring out what new path photography will take me down next. It’s a crazy mess in my head sometimes as I contemplate my next move.
Lucky for me I have Jessica, my amazing and beautiful girlfriend, and her two miniature pinchers (it was a package deal folks). I also have a wonderful family and an amazing group of friends near and far that support me, unfortunately not financially.
I’m also an editor for an online photography magazine called Blueeyes Magazine that was started by my friend John Loomis five years ago. That doesn’t support me financially either, but it does help support my mental health. It’s a joy to be a part of something so inspirational.
When I’m not putting in my 40-hours-a-week at the fourth estate, I like to spend a lot of time with Jessica, the dogs and our friends.
I listen to and buy a lot of different music, too much to list here, but do check out this band I’ve been listening to a lot. I love movies. I finally got around to watching Sicko this weekend. I know Moore gets a lot of criticism for being biased and one sided, and I agree he is sometimes. But holy shit man, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing.
I also love to cook, and eat. Although, this curry I made this weekend is KILLING me right now. It was yummilicious though.
I’m a photo book freak. Just wish I had more money to blow. I’m trying to make it a priority to work on more personal photography projects, this blog being an extension of that goal. With companies like Blurb and others, self-publishing is definitely in my future. You all should purchase Milwaukee based photographer Kevin Miyasaki’s new book(let) “38″ here.
I guess that’s it for now. If you visit the blog ever again, you’ll surely get to know more about me, my life and my photography. Thanks.
Here are a couple random photos I was working on today that are part of two different projects I’m putting together.
Copyright (c) 2008 Matthew Ratajczak All Rights Reserved
And So It Begins
I’ve resisted this for so long. Why? Different reasons I suppose. I won’t bore you with the details. What’s important is that I’m finally doing this, carving out a new creative outlet for myself (with a little encouragement from friends. Thanks John, Alex and Romain). And that’s what this is really about, a personal outlet for me. But I hope others will come along for the ride now and again and find some interest in the thoughts I express and in the photographs I share, most of which have no home anywhere else at the moment and would go unseen if not for this blog. Here is one such photograph from the other day. Thanks for visiting.
Copyright (c) 2008 Matthew Ratajczak All Rights Reserved
