Several interesting things emerged from the Comments yesterday, and kept me immersed for much of the afternoon.
Apple ad featuring photo by "Chris F." (Chris Floyd) in the New York subway
Frecklehead
First of all, the "Frecklehead" story—I mentioned the latest Apple ads in the recent "iPhone Apocalypse" post and HowardH mentioned that British professional photographer Chris Floyd had his picture chosen for the ad series.
I get a lot of people contacting me about needing or wanting to get more attention for their work—many people feel under-appreciated (not to mention under-rewarded). It's a common part of being a photographer these days. (I heard from a mutual friend that even Mary Ellen Mark, in her last years, sometimes complained about work being hard to get.) So I thought it was especially nice to read an account of the opposite thing happening. Chris's casual Instagram shot has been seen in magazine ads and on billboards and bus stops around the world. And he wrote a nice account of the excitement so we can all vicariously take part in his gratifying experience!
Photo by Kelly Hofer
Next, in response to yesterday's post about the Amish woman wearing wraparound mirror sunglasses, Wes Cosand recommended the work of Kelly Hofer, a young man who struggled to be a photographer within the strict confines of a Hutterite Anabaptist colony in Manitoba. In the course of filming a BBC documentary on the colony, "How to Get to Heaven with the Hutterites" (scroll down at the link to get to the films), filmmaker Lynn Alleway turned reporter when she included Kelly "running away" from the colony. (It disrupts the documentary but also enlivens it.) A subsequent, shorter film on Kelly's page, "Queer Hutterite," fills in the blanks of the story. Quite long, but quite interesting—an acute instance of the difficulty creative people sometimes feel "fitting in." Kelly Hofer is now "out" (in several senses, I guess that would be) and a successful photographer in Calgary. A book of his pictures of the Hutterites is scheduled to be released in the Fall.
Y'all come back now hear?
Hard to believe it's Friday already, but yup. As you probably know by now, TOP is off on the weekends to allow me to work on writing a book. Don't forget our current book sale is still in progress...here's the page; enter the code 175212 for the discount. Have a nice weekend and please come back Monday!
Mike
(Thanks to HowardH and Wes)
Original contents copyright 2016 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
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Went to Chris Floyd's site and left a two comments. He put up the post in Feb and I'm the first to comment. Hard to believe. It reads as if Apple paid nothing for the rights. Easy to believe. Now you need to contact him about a print sale. Put me first in line.
Posted by: John Krill | Friday, 17 June 2016 at 02:15 PM
In regard to Mark's complaint about work being harder to get in her later years -- I found that by the time I had reached my mid-60s, most of the art directors and corporate communications people with whom I had built long-term relationships had retired or moved on to other things or other places. To the younger people who took their places it was "Who is this senior flatulence and why should I give him work? I would rather work with someone of my own generation."
Posted by: Dave Jenkins | Friday, 17 June 2016 at 02:28 PM
Glad I could point you in Chris' direction - his blog usually makes fascinating reading. I particularly liked his description of how he got this rather steely-eyed portrait of the usually very affable Paul McCartney https://www.chrisfloyd.com/good-weekend-monday/
ps being name-checked on TOP has made my day :)
Posted by: HowardH | Friday, 17 June 2016 at 03:58 PM
I agree with Dave Jenkins. I was a photo major at Pratt in the mid 70s and ended up becoming a sailmaker instead (plus a photo dabbler and avid TOP follower). Over the years most of those who I cultivated as contacts have aged out of the game and trying to be kool enough to the newer generation is, well, I'm working' in it. Hoping that older and wise maintains some validity in my marketplace. So it's not just photography. It's keeping a place in our fast forward world.
Enjoy your weekend reprieve Mike and happy father's day to you.
Posted by: Chris Wentz | Friday, 17 June 2016 at 04:04 PM
Tad ironic that competent work can get worldwide acclaim and recognition depending on equipment used, while extraordinary work can be doomed to relative obscurity despite quality, relevancy or accomplishment.
Posted by: Stan B. | Friday, 17 June 2016 at 04:30 PM
For those who prefer the direct link to Kelly Hofer's documentaries How to Get to Heaven with the Hutterites (and it's there in 720p).
https://youtu.be/d2omDlZlO_s
and Queer Hutterite
https://youtu.be/JZtIAo6juLY
Posted by: Kevin Purcell | Friday, 17 June 2016 at 04:35 PM
Speaking of Calgary and Hutterites, George Webber has some nice work:
http://www.georgewebber.ca/documentary.html
and has a book published of the work:
https://www.amazon.ca/World-Within-Intimate-Portrait-Hutterite/dp/1894856600/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1466203011&sr=8-4&keywords=george+webber
along with another book on the Blood Reserve (Canada's largest native reserve):
https://www.amazon.ca/People-Blood-Decade-long-Photographic-Canadian/dp/1894856988/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EE132DH8ZVCHHB0KRD5Y
Posted by: Collin J Orthner | Friday, 17 June 2016 at 06:42 PM