Jenny Danziger. 2000 - 2012

Photograph by Elliott Erwitt

In her relatively long and eventful life, our dog Jenny had the pleasure of being photographed by Elliott Erwitt and The Sartorialist. She had an outsize personality and an even bigger heart and will be deeply missed by just about everyone who knew her.

For my 50th birthday, my wife surprised me by commissioning Eliott Erwitt to photograph Jenny with our kids and while I wasn't there for the secret sitting, apparently Erwitt startled my children even more than Jenny by getting down on his hands and knees and barking at Jenny before each picture!

Photograph by Elliott Erwitt

Several years later, I persuaded Scott Schuman to photograph our brood for a Christmas card and the result, with Jenny focused on something out of frame, captured her perfectly.

Photograph by The Sartorialist

One of my own favorite pictures of Jenny was taken in Bellport where Jenny liked nothing more than to go exploring and get as dirty as possible!

As one of my son's friends was kind enough to text me after hearing the news of Jenny's passing "She was the best dog ever!"

George Tice and Gaslight Anthem

For this Sunday's New York Times Magazine, George Tice was commissioned to photograph the indie band Gaslight Anthem. It was a good pairing - the band considered to be the righteous heirs of the Springsteen tradition photographed by New Jersey's unofficial photographer laureate.

In there increasingly multi-media world that is the new reality of magazines, there is also a nice short video which you can see below which not only shows the shoot but presents a well edited selection of the pictures that Tice is so rightly renowned for

Seeing Stars

For fans of Jack Pierson and the website 20 x 200, there's a new edition released today of two drawn images of stars.

I'm pleased to say I snagged the first print in the large (16 x 20 inch) edition but that still leaves 49 large prints at $600 a pop as well as some rapid sellers in the smaller sizes. (Quite a bargain as Pierson's work goes well into 6 figures.)

For those unfamiliar with Pierson's work, the statement on 20 x 200's website is a pretty good description:

Jack Pierson makes photographs, word sculptures, installations, drawings and artist’s books that explore the emotional undercurrent of everyday life, from the intimacy of romantic attachment to the distant idolizing of others. Many works register as melancholic, their beauty speaking to nostalgia for dreams left unfulfilled. Using friends as models, Pierson has consistently engaged star culture through his work, whether the stars are from the screen, stage or art world. Refusing cynicism or irony, Pierson relates to his viewers by seeming to admit his own attraction to the fantasy life depicted in his artworks.

And for those unfamiliar with 20 x 200, it's a two year old website dedicated to selling affordable art prints by decent artists at super-reasonable prices.

The Return of the Weekend Video

In true Olympic spirit, The Year in Pictures proudly presents the latest viral video - Australian Michelle Jenneke's pre-race warmup routine in the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championship in Barcelona last weekend. Not just a pretty face (and figure) the 19-year-old dominated her event - the 100-meter hurdles. And while Jenneke is not competing in the London Olympics, until her chance in 2016 sports fans will have to be content with what the video creators described as "an overt celebration of Jenneke and her dancing and running presented in gratuitous slow motion, and with an awful song over it."

The Storm in Pictures

There's nothing like a good storm to bring out the best in photographers and yesterday's mega-storm in New York City was a doozy! Among the best shots were the landscape above by Inga Sarda-Sorensen.

And this Instagram shot taken from a plane leaving LaGuardia by former Giants football player Dhani Jones.

This anonymous picture has a good Batman feel.

And less you don't believe that squirrels use their tails as umbrellas, check out this other photo below!

Sharon Core

I've never been a big Facebook user. For a long time my blog has been my way of communicating with the outside world. Someone described Facebook as the greatest way of wasting time ever invented but there's also something to be said for the benefit of wasting time and Facebook can be a lot more productive than opening junk mail or organizing your sock drawer. In particular I love seeing what random pictures photographers put up and I was recently struck by a selection of images posted by the estimable photographer Sharon Core whose recent homages to 19th century American still life paintings are about to be published in what looks like a ravishing book. (See above.) Anyay, I particularly like the randomness of her selections and it's always fun to draw the connections between an artist's work and their inspiration boards.

Color Chart

If you ever wondered why a certain shade of blue is called "royal" - British VOGUE's helpful and witty chart should explain why. The magazine noted every outfit worn by the Queen over the last year and found that 29 per cent of the coats, dresses, suits and hats she wore over the last 12 months were predominantly blue..

Although not a color, floral was next with 13 per cent, followed by green and cream each at 11 per cent. Pink and purple - 10 per cent - red, yellow, orange - four per cent - and black - two per cent - were next.

Whatever the color choice, it's clear the Queen is aware of the visual impact she makes - a boon to royal photographers.

A Sweet Note

There are many wonderful things in the iGavel auction of photographs from the collection of Dody Weston Thompson (ending tomorrow - Tuesday - so act fast.) Dody was the ex-wife of Brett Weston, a protege of his father Edward Weston, a co-founder of Aperture, and a skilled photographer herself.

The Weston men were legendary womanizers, but there is one auction lot in particular which sheds an endearing light on Brett's character. A Christmas card he sent to Dody showing himself in front of his new ranch house has the handwritten inscription on the reverse "A happy Xmas for Dody - with warm memories of five wonderful years, Brett. PS am sending you a thousand dollars in a few Days."

I don't really know much about their relationship, but there seems to me to be a fondness and a generosity to the note not often found in cards to the ex!

When Harry Met Eleanor

Eleanor Callahan, wife and muse of the late Harry Callahan died yesterday at the age of 95. I don't think there was a photographer who loved his wife more or longer than Harry Callahan loved Eleanor. The couple met in 1933 when both were working at Chrysler in Detroit. She was 17 and he was 21 and for more than 50 years Harry photographed her the way his hero Ansel Adams photographed mountains - with respect, and awe, and love, at all times of the day and night and in all kinds of weather.

Eleanor's plain beauty made the photographs timeless. Her faith in her husband's taste and judgment allowed the most intimate pictures. Here's hoping that a match made in heaven continues where it began.

And the winner is ....

Watching the Oscars has always been a major pleasure and unmissable tradition for me. (And I've seen the awards in quite a range of places.) I've been a guest at Swifty Lazar's famous party at Spago in L.A., hosted an Oscar bash with my wife at The Mercer Hotel, and watched my good friend Doug Wick get the Oscar for Best Film (for "Gladiator"). But if I had to pick my favorite way to view, I think snuggling in bed with your family or loved one is the best of all.

Recently though the speeches seem to be getting more mundane. Perhaps it's the weight of the fashion choices and instant judgment that makes the participants less spontaneous. Perhaps the winners themselves are less joyous. To see what I mean click here to watch my absolute favorite moment - Roberto Benigni's acceptance speech for 1999's Best Foreign Film, followed moments later by his surprise win for best actor.

Chico and Rita

This past weekend, inspired by a great review in The New York Times, I went to see the animated movie "Chico and Rita". A full length feature set against the Cuban music scene of the late 1940s and 50s, the film is a love story not only of its two protagonists but also to Havana, Cuban jazz, and creative film-making.

Directed by Fernando Trueba, the filmmaker responsible for the cult Cuban jazz documentary “Calle 54”, and designed by Javier Mariscal, a Spanish graphic artist and designer, at first you wonder why it wasn’t simply made as a live action film, but the quirky hand-drawn animation quickly wins you over and an early car chase scene is so realistically done you actually find yourself flinching.

The music, combining Cuban jazz standards with new compositions by the great pianist and composer, Bebo Valdes, sticks with you long after the film is over – as does the sultry sexiness of the animated Rita – who gives Jessica Rabbit a run for her money (while displaying the full frontal nudity which is really the only reason the movie would not be child-appropriate).

While the film moves as far afield as New York and Las Vegas, the other star is the exquisitely rendered and vibrantly colored Havana. The filmmakers spent several months shooting on location in Havana, and their attention to detail produces a feeling that is both realistic and seductive. I can’t wait to visit Cuba.

While foremost a love story, the film doesn’t sugar-coat the place and time. Chico and Rita, both black Cubans, have to deal with discrimination and exploitation as they work their way up the commercial ladder and without giving anything anyway, their story is bittersweet.

Most surprising of all, though, “Chico & Rita,” has been nominated for an Academy Award as best animated feature – usually the sole province of family oriented fare. In a film year generally acknowledged as one of the most lackluster, it will be interesting to see if “The Artist” and “Chico and Rita” show that breaking out of the box sometimes gets you to the Oscar stage.

Clint

Keeping Up With The Web ...

An interesting piece in today's New York Times (click here) about the most watched video on YouTube. Over 417.6 million views! Hard to fathom when you see what it is.

Meanwhile, as those who know me can attest, I'm not much of Facebook user (this blog being my outlet). But I find the pictures people post interesting and was struck by the recent underwater theme. Top photo by Phiippe Paoli; second photo by Seth Casteel, and bottom, this classic fashion photograph for VOGUE in 1948 by the late Toni Frissel.

Back in the Saddle Again!

I have been quite rightly called out for not keeping this blog up to date. But I’ll explain. Two things. One – it takes a lot of time and I’m just very busy. Two – if something really good or fresh comes around, I’ll let you know. This month there have already been a couple good things passed on to me which I’ll now share with you.

First (courtesy of my brother) – a series of colorized photographs by Swedish artist Sanna Dullaway. While Dullaway’s main business is restoring old family photographs, she has taken to re-imagining iconic images with enough skill and verisimilitude that the issue it addresses is not colorization (of course it’s dumb) but about the power of black and white photography. In a world of color, it’s amazing what effect black and white has. Perhaps this why the film “The Artist” has taken such a hold on people. Dullaway’s motive is simple. She writes on her Flickr site: 'Hi. I take coloured photographs. If I stumble upon colourless photographs I colour them.' If only all creative types could be so straightforward!

BOOTSY HOLLER

Second, my friend and bike coach Angela Sherry introduced me to the work of Bootsy Holler. A Los Angeles based editorial and fine art photographer, Bootsy has created her own personal time machine by inserting herself in her old family photos, but not before painstakingly costuming and making herself up in period appropriate get up.

Her series, Visitor, takes the Zelig-ian fantasy but transports it to a personal and emotional place where we can visit those we loved, or never knew.

In my gallery, people are constantly questioning the use of photoshop, which is something I don’t really pay much attention to. There aren’t many photographers these days not using that or some other kind of digital intervention in one way or another. It's just another tool and when it works it’s great and when it doesn’t it sucks.

That's Bootsy on the left.

That's Bootsy behind the screen door.

For more Bootsy click here.

Don't Miss This Show - Nan Goldin at Matthew Marks

The one exhibition not to miss before Christmas is Nan Goldin's show at the Matthew Marks Gallery. Juxtaposing images from decades of her own work with her recent shots of artworks in the Louvre, the show is divided into two parts – one a display of prints, and then in the darkened almost cinema-sized screening room, one of Goldin’s trademark slide shows.

For much of 2010, The Louvre allowed Goldin access to its collections on Tuesdays, when the museum is closed to the public. Goldin wandered through the galleries, focusing on the paintings that most spoke to her, revisiting certain pieces again and again, to the point where she started to see them as human rather than historic objets d'art. The connection that developed became "one of the most sensuous experiences" of Goldin's life – which is saying something because Goldin is primarily a sensualist (secondly a colorist, and thirdly a natural born photographer).

My favorite part of the experience was the slide show where in picture after picture one can only marvel at Goldin’s ability to turn everyday moments into vibrant works of art.

DO NOT MISS!

night At The Museum

Paris Photo

The Grand Palais seen from the Pont Alexandre II.

Simply put - Paris Photo was amazing!

This year the long running French art fair moved from the basement of The Louvre to the Grand Palais and the event was transformative. 150 dealers from all over the world gathered in the turn of the century building whose original purpose was in fact to house the great artistic events of Paris. The main space - the length of two and a half football fields, was constructed with an iron, steel and glass barrel-vaulted roof (needed for large gatherings of people before the age of electricity).

The light, the scale, the space, and an incredible run of good weather seemed to put everyone in the best possible mood and from both my own personal experience and what I gather from colleagues, business was booming as collectors and curators from Brussels to Beijing made the rounds.

The fair also signaled Paris' increasing dominance in the world of photography. Once New York was where it all happened, and not to be self-promoting here - but other than New York's photography dealers (who still dominate the medium) - the interest, commitment, visibility, enthusiasm, discovery, and love for photography all seem greater in Paris. Correct me if you think I'm wrong.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the event and a few highlights. As a participant rather than an observer, I was busy all the time so there are fewer snaps than I would have liked. Sorry.

The sign says"Your waiting time is about an hour from this point" and people were lined up well past here!

The interior of the Grand Palais.

My booth.

My fantastic assistant Charlotte, and our helper Pascal.

Every year the fair celebrates the photography of one culture and this year it was Africa. Here the late Depara from Kinshasa, Congo - another revelatory discovery in the field of African photography.

James Barnor - who took fashion photographs in London for the African magazine, Drum.

Shomei Tomatsu from “Acqua” an exploration of the theme of water in photographs sponsored by Giorgio Armani - one of several non-selling booths at the fair.

An Andy Warhol "stitched" photograph. Warhol's inventiveness never ceases to amaze.

An extraordinarily vivid new super-sized Massimo Vitale at Brancolini Grimaldi.

The "Acqua" booth from outside.

And inside an interesting dialog between Garry Fabian Miller's seminal 1976 horizon pictures and Hiroshi Sugimoto's 1980s prints (recently printed large).

And to end - a beautiful Paolo Roversi of Natalia Vodianova.

See you next year?