Introduction: After a previous "Random Excellence" posting, I got into an argument in the comments with two readers who didn't like my choice. At the end of the conversation, I made them an offer: I told each of them that they could pick a "Random Excellence" of their own, and that I would post whatever they chose. One participant (very courteously) begged off, and the other was Bruce Robbins, whose choice—and I agree it's a great one!—is presented here. —Mike
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Dave Beckerman, Taste of Snow
By Bruce Robbins
It's a fair bet that many TOP readers would love, given the chance, to make their living from photography. However, anyone who's actually tried selling prints over the web will tell you that it's not an easy thing to do. I remember once emailing a photographer with a great online portfolio to ask him how many prints he'd sold. Back came the message, "To date I have sold zero prints." And that guy's work was superb.
One man who is "living the dream" is New York snapper Dave Beckerman. He's one of the few photographers I've encountered on my travels around the internet who makes his living entirely from print sales. Of course, it helps that he's based in New York: if he'd been born in Duluth, Minnesota, he might have made a few sales but his market would have redefined "niche." It also helps that he's got a great eye, without which the greatest urban environment on the planet would have been of little assistance.
Dave turned his hand to many jobs before settling on photography. His own biography lists screenplay writer, taxi-cab driver, bus-boy, can-carrier in a movie lab, custom color lab printer, programmer, and lighting director on feature films. There are other jobs too boring to own up to. Of his journey to online print sales, he says, "After working as a programmer in the corporate world for ten years—I was propelled one day—or compelled—to try and make a living at photography. Part of what propelled me back into photography (after my programming stint) was the sudden realization that a properly mounted and framed photograph was a finished product; and that there was a good chance that I would get more satisfaction from this bit of art than weeks or years of managing programmers.
"Art existed whether anyone liked it or not. Whether anyone bought it. Whether anyone saw it. No matter. It existed. It was complete. Photographs don't need a committee of producers or vice-presidents to give them the okay. In the beginning, I was very happy to simply show my work to friends, and not try to make a business of it." He's been selling prints on the web since, as he puts it, last century (1999) but, even if he weren't, he'd still be roaming the streets of New York with his Canon DSLR in hand capturing the vagaries of life in the Big Apple and producing his "finished product."
His philosophy about photography is straight to the point: "I don't believe that you need to go to school to learn photography. It is more important to have something interesting to say about life, or if not interesting, funny. When people ask me about where to study photography, I tell them to study literature or music instead."
The photograph above is called "Taste of Snow." I love the timing here. Not only has Dave caught the decisive moment in the girl's attempt to land a snowflake on her tongue but he's also snapped her against the dark hood of the boy in the background. Had this supporting character not been there, the girl's action would have been lost against the light-color taxi in the background. Some might put that down to luck but I know from my own experience that when you're in the zone, photographically speaking, these are the little details you are actually conscious of at the moment of releasing the shutter.
___________________
Bruce
Hear, hear to Mike, Bruce and Dave.
This is the photography that I dream of being able to do. That photo with the girl and the snowflake can tell so many stories. I love it.
Brian
Posted by: brian | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 10:42 AM
These are some of the best images I've seen recently. Beckerman has a real eye.
Posted by: Jay | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 11:00 AM
This is a great photo indeed, and thanks also for the excellent description of what it means to "be in the zone".
Being interesting or funny is difficult. Are there funny landscape photographers?
Posted by: JH | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 11:07 AM
What a great portfolio. Bookmarked for future reference.
Posted by: Dave Kee | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 11:35 AM
Kudos to Bruce for suggesting Mr. Beckerman. I have been an avid follower of his work for a couple years now, after being introduced to him by another fine Photographer Richard Vanek - http://www.piskoftak.com/
The reasons I admire Mr. Beckerman are numerous, his eye, his subjects, what he captures in the Greatest City In The World, how he does, his endless exploration of his medium, experimentation, always trying to broaden his photographic vision and bring more to his work, his passion, his humor, his candor, and selfless sharing of his talent and experience... just an all in one excellent source and stop for anyone who enjoys and loves Photography. Just an endless source of inspiration.
Good for you, Bruce, for sharing this talent to a broader audience who may not have already been aware of Mr. Beckerman.
Posted by: JPH | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 11:43 AM
Bravo Bruce,
This is one of those cases where I recognized a number of photos but never knew they photogs name. Yes I spend WAY to much time trolling the internet looking at pics.
Dave is a bit of a New York classicist. A real good one at that.
Posted by: charlie d | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 11:48 AM
Just to add my "Bravo!" for this choice. Dave's work inspires me to get out and photograph in the streets. Great images, and he posts new ones almost every day.
Posted by: Chris Klug | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 03:00 PM
Bruce
Terrific photo and terrific website. Thanks for sharing. We all "stand on the shoulders" of those who came before and while Beckerman's work is clearly original, one can see influences of Frank, Atget and, of course, Cartier-Bresson. I've always thought that this type of photography is among the most difficult to carry off well, but he clearly does it. Another example of a talented photographer and artist that most of us have never experienced.
Posted by: David Ramsey | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 04:04 PM
Enjoy Dave's pictures...great antipication and timing, Maybe you/he could go further with his statement of " the sudden realization that a properly mounted and framed photograph was a finished product" I always find it frustrating to decide and prefer a finished product...to one that the customer may pick for a print size and matt/frame choice.
Posted by: Nicholas Von Staden | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 04:29 PM
Dave Beckerman's blog (a journal back in 2001) was the first blog I followed on the internet. I remember doing a search for the Contax G2 and discovered his site. Now I visit a couple of times a week.
Inspirational stuff!
Posted by: Ivan Petrovic | Saturday, 13 September 2008 at 09:26 PM
Thanks, I've been enjoying browsing his gallery. One shot caught my eye quickly. http://www.davebeckerman.com/Gallery-Places/source/dumbo1.htm
It was obviously taken a while ago, before DUMBO got 'hot'. Here's what the same block looked like on a Saturday almost a year ago, tree lined and jammed with shops, people and cars. http://galleries.moosemystic.net/Brooklyn/Things/All%20Things/slides/_MG_3306cr.html
Moose
Posted by: Moose | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 04:20 AM
I was very excited when I saw "David Beckerman" in my feedreader. I love this guy, and envy his eye for amazing photographs.
Great pick!
Posted by: a husband | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 06:32 AM
While I agree this is an interesting body of work one can't help feeling it's a bit cliched,how many shots of unknown people crossing NY streets,sitting in buses,riding the subway,etc etc does the world need?
Also one wonders would these type of images hold the same interest if taken outside of a few major capital cities.
Would be interested to hear the views of those more knowledgeable in this area!
Posted by: Michael | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 07:12 AM
Like Ivan, I discovered Beckerman back around 2000-2001. He had one of the first photoblogs. Great stuff back then, though I haven't visited recently.
Posted by: Jordan | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 09:00 AM
Nice choice. Dave's blog is one of the very few that I revisit nearly every day
Posted by: Rory | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 09:40 AM
Dave Beckerman's site and photography is always inspirational. It's one of the sites I regularly visit along with TOP
Phill
Posted by: Phill | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 10:14 AM
I also found Dave's online journal ("The Mother of All Photo Blogs," as I call it) back in 2001. I would occassionaly email him to comment on his excellent photos and ask for advice, and Dave always was gracious in anwering. He was one of two people who strongly inspired me to get back into photography after an absence of over 20 years.
His portfolio is so strong that it's hard to choose favorites, but this is one of his best. Great choices!
Posted by: Steve Rosenbach | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 10:19 AM
Hey Mike-
TOP and Beckerman are the two photo blogs I visit daily. Excellent content and regularity.
Didn't you go on vacation once? And Dave went on vacation once, but mostly you are at work everyday.
Quality, yea verily, excellence and reliablity. The two are an unbeatable combination.
xxx
Posted by: bill emory | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 12:16 PM
Being a picker of nits, I think the snowflake girl image could benefit from tighter cropping, but that is me and also just a nit....
What is larger than life is the absolute perfect capture of a defining moment that image represents....it can't be planned, one is simply present and prepared, tripping the shutter, when a gift of this magnitude is received.....
"Success = preparation + opportunity"
Bravo to D.Beckerman for his work and TOP
for leading us to him.
Best wishes,
Posted by: Greg Smith | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 12:48 PM
I also want to offer my thanks to Bruce Robbins, and Mike, for spotlighting Dave Beckerman's work. This is some wonderful work, made all the richer for the variety of cameras and techniques Dave used to capture these images. This is probably a fine example of the Web not being a faithful medium to adequately display the subtle differences that must exist between these images.
Michael: "While I agree this is an interesting body of work one can't help feeling it's a bit cliched,how many shots of unknown people crossing NY streets,sitting in buses,riding the subway,etc etc does the world need?
Also one wonders would these type of images hold the same interest if taken outside of a few major capital cities. Would be interested to hear the views of those more knowledgeable in this area!"
I don't know if I'm more knowledgeable but I'd like to take a swing at this. Yes, many of Dave's scenes have been photographed many times over the past 100 years. It's almost unavoidable since he's shooting in one of the most over-snapped places on Earth. But I think it's important to keep in mind that Dave is trying to feed himself with his photographs. Mementos sell much, much better than art.
But in that same vein take note of just how many genuinely novel scenes Dave has captured in familiar locations. Dave clearly has his own eye, and a darn good one at that. How much better does it get than this: http://www.davebeckerman.com/Gallery-Places/source/citycloudssky.htm ?
Lastly, I personally enjoy reading the narratives that Dave provides with many of his images.
Excellent choice.
Posted by: Ken Tanaka | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 01:04 PM
Ken, thank you for your considered reply your points are valid and well made.
Michael
Posted by: Michael | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 02:05 PM
Like Bill Emory, TOP and Beckerman are the two photo blogs that I visit every day.
Love 'em both!
Posted by: Bill Mitchell | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 10:14 PM
And I always enjoy visiting Bill's, too.
Mike J.
Posted by: Mike J. | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 10:26 PM
Thanks Mike and Bruce for providing another excuse for me to add to my (bloated) "Favorites" list ... The morning surf just keeps on getting longer ... and more inspirational.
Bruce, I've thoughtfully considered your explanation of why you like it, but for what it's worth, "Taste of snow" just doesn't do it for me. In fact I almost didn't bother jumping to Dave's site when confronted with that particular sample image. I'm very happy that I eventually did.
The bulk of Dave's work is wonderful. Extremely original. I'm even enjoying some of his IR work, which I usually find as yawn inducing as messy photos of pretty young girls attempting to catch snow flakes on their tongues ... sorry ... I've got a killer flu ... and I'm grumpy.
Cheers and thanks again
Greg
Posted by: Greg | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 11:30 PM
Wow... that guy is good. It's humbling. I've been thinking about this stuff on well-organized photography websites and poorly organized ones, and I had an idea. Maybe in a future post you could link to some examples of very good photo websites with logical, user-friendly layouts, and explain what about them works so well. What'cha think? Thanks,
Eric
Posted by: Eric Ford | Sunday, 14 September 2008 at 11:33 PM
Brilliant. So effortless it seems...
May I suggest a personal favourite which is in a simlar vein to these but with a sometimes numinous, intensly atmospheric edge?
Richard Whitelock's projects leave me breathless...particularly
http://www.brfuk.com/finallybrethren/
Posted by: John | Monday, 15 September 2008 at 08:58 AM
John,
Thanks for Richard Whitelock's website. I've never seen that one before and there's some great stuff there!
Posted by: Bruce Robbins | Monday, 15 September 2008 at 02:09 PM
Black and white images often capture the "feel" of a city better than color images. The example above is a good one. It would likely not have the same impact were it a color photograph.
I also think that the current wave of online microstock companies selling thousands of images cheaply has made it much more difficult for any photographer to make a living from print sales alone. I applaud those who are still able to do it.
Posted by: Steve Minkler | Thursday, 02 October 2008 at 04:16 PM