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June 1998 - May 1999
Disclaimer
The following listings contain links that are not being checked for current status. Some may not work. Please email me if a link is no longer operating, content no longer matches the description or if the URL has changed. I will update as my limited time permits. Thanks, and happy browsing!
June 1998 Top Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
July 1998 Top Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
Facing Death: Portraits from Cambodia's Killing Fields
Tuol Sleng prison camp, in Cambodia, was the final place thousands of
Cambodians saw before
being murdered by the Pol Pot regime. For many of them, however, there was
one more stop
to make before they met their fate: they were photographed, moments after
being taken off
transports and their blindfolds removed, and just before being killed.
Their haunting faces appear here.
Bob Bennet Art Portfolio
In this age of Photoshop, commercial photographer Bob Bennet has created
spectacularly
surreal photo montages using good old reliable darkroom equipment. No
computers were
used to create any of the photos shown here!
Panopticon Photographers
Panopticon, a Boston-based photo lab, has created an awesome online gallery
with a
generous selection from photographers their gallery division represents.
Included:
Jazz musician portraits by Lou Jones; Nubar Alexanian's documentary of
Peru; street
photography around the world by Laura Lakeway; Bradford Washburn's Alaskan
vistas;
many more. Plan to spend a lot of time with this site.
Sight
A small, somewhat mysterious group show of photos taken in Singapore,
Thailand, and
other countries in that region. Two frames, no navigation or credits, but
nice photos.
Philip Starke's Photo Gallery
A small, simple collection of refreshing, well-composed people pictures.
Worth a quick visit.
Art Cards by Crazy Bits
As we all try to figure out how to make money on the web (after all,
everyone says we can),
it's good to look at sites that try a little harder. Mike Coombe's site
combines commerce
with photography. The photos, fine snippets of Australia, are well-done and
presented
well. But we'd all like to know: how's business?
Hans Grimm Photo Gallery
Hans Grimm mixes styles and film stock for a versatile display of his work,
which ranges from
photos of art in a different context to candids and Infrared landscapes.
This site is
especially well designed, and easy to move around.
John Collett Photography
High-concept design and excellent presentation complement and enhance the
scenic work shown here. Cool navigation devices and good use of quotes make
this site stand out as an example of extraordinary web design. Good how-to
articles, opinion pieces and other writing give this site added utility.
We have an international collection of Black & White Photography web sites this month, with sites representing Malasia, France, Italy, The Netherlands, the UK, USA and Spain. It really is a black & white world.
Hamlet
Adi Soon's perceptive street photography is accompanied by opinionated and often informative text. If you want a well thought out perspective on street photography by a practitioner, check out the photographer's essay on the topic. Lots of good, if somewhat large, images, mostly made in Singapore.
Alan Morton Portfolio
New Zeland-based Alan Morton's architecture and nature photos show a good eye for patterns and well-balanced images.
Nathalie Joulault
French photographer Nathalie Joulault's portraiture sticks to the facts, without idealization, although her subjects are somewhat enigmatic. Some color.
Terrific Pictures! Photography by Priscilla Forthman
This streetwise photographer's work lives up to her website's name. Garry Winogrand's influence can be seen in her photos in airports, at parties and at aquaria--as well as in her concise writing about photography. Her series "The Dogs" shows that Elliot Erwitt's influence has finally reached the Internet.
Enrico Natoli's Portfolio
This Italian photojournalist focuses on Immigrants in Italy, Kids from Belarus, photos taken in Yugoslavia and portraits. Good work, simple website design and navigation.
Francis Laping's Portfolio
This site is a 40-year retrospective of the work of Philadelphia-based, Hungarian-born photojournalist Francis Laping. His work ranges from traditional '50s photo essays to portraiture, politicians campaigning, features and magazine cover shots. Some color, mostly B&W.
Marc Deneyer - Photographs
A small but interesting selection of photos of the most active glacier in the norther hemisphere. French photographer Marc Deneyer spent a summer in Ilulissat, Greenland and brought back photos of natural beauty of Titanic proportions.
HIP Gallery: Henri Brekveld
Toned, somewhat out-of-focus and mysterious, Netherland-based Brekveld's enigmatic work includes haunting portraits, a dark children's world, and ghost-like icons.
Simon Larbalestier
This British photographer's commercially-oriented explorations into B&W photography have landed him key assignements including album covers for The Pixies and several commissioned, previsualized works.
Jean-Philippe Poli
Poli offers a street photo-influenced view of the world that comes through in his people portraits, pictures of animals, port workers and bullfights in Spain. French language site.
October 1998 Top Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
Documenting America:
Photographs from the FSA-OWI, 1935-1945
The U.S. Library of Congress has put over 45,000 photos from the Farm Securities
Administration-- which generated some of the greatest images of this century--online
in a massive database that you can acces from here. See the epic story of the
great depression, the machine age, and World War II as shown by legendary photographers
like Gordon Parks, Russell Lee, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Carl Mydans and
many, many more. This site is a must bookmark for any student of documentary
photography.
Andre Sojourn Photography
Andre Sojourn's photos of his parents are semi-documentary, semi-impressionistic
images juxtaposed against quotes, some of which seem like non-sequitors at first
glance. Good presentation; real video clip of the photographer puts the work
in context.
Panoramic Photography by
Yorgos Kousagiannidis When you think panoramic photography, what is
the first subject you'd expect to see? Landscapes? Not here. Yorgos Kousagiannids
shows what happens when you cross street photography, documentary photography
and a super wide format camera. His uncaptioned work shows people living in
the poor section of an unnamed city.
DRIK 1998 Calendar
Shahidul Alam's photos of Bangladeshi families shows the gap between opulent
an impoverished and the ironies that can produce. These documentary images pack
a visual punch that is emphasized by the succinct but informative captions.
Lee's Photography
Well-composed black & white infrared landscapes. Go to the Infrared Black &
White links to see the work.
Skweegee the Magnificent
Sounds like Weegee, right? Well, that's the point. Skweegee is a street photographer
who admits to being influenced by Aurthur Fellig, the first Paparazzo. Good
street photography, but no headless bodies in topless bars.
Don Canning
Photobook
Environmental portraits taken on the streets of San Diego. Informally posed
images of interesting-looking people; solid execution, some humorous juxtapositions.
JD Hayward Portfolios
Photographer JD Hawyard combines negatives in the enlarger (no computer-altered
images here) to create some stunning, unexpected results in the tradition of
Jerry Uelssman.
Leo Touchet, Photographer
View a portfolio of selected images from Touchet's book, Rejoice When You Die,
which documents New Orleans jazz funerals; also on this site: a semi-abstract
series of photos of sand dunes. Marvelous work, versatile range.
Stephen Dominick Studio
Charming portrait, wedding and corporate photography by a professional studio
photographer who demonstrates his committment to black & white.
November 1998 Top Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
Soderquist Photography
A portrait studio that has embraced hand-colored black-and-white photography
'cause it's all the rage.
Jackie's Camera Page
Despite a slow-loading applet, this site is chock full of photos made by an
avid toy camera collector/user. Good info about each camera, and plenty of samples
of photos made with them.
Mesoamerica
A simple, no-nonsense site with solid documentary photos taken by Josh Estey
in Central America. Could use some explanation, but the photos stand on their
own.
Andrew Courtney | Photographs
Scenes where things are broken, damaged or left behind are transformed into
extraordinary images, thanks to Courtney's keen eye.
Images of New York
Tan Kah Heng has organized this extensive collection into related themes--windows
and doors, posters, subways and other more visually categorized sets. All nicely
done urban images.
Ze'ev Kantor, PORTFOLIO
Slices of life, street portraits and beach scenes, courtesy Israeli photographer
Ze'ev Kantor.
rj photo page
A nice selection of architecture, gardens, wedding and fine-art photos, some
of which have been partially or fully colorized.
Bill Schwab Photographs
Solidly executed medium format outdoor photos, many taken in snow. The theme:
nature subsumes development. Visit the "Darkroom" section to see a great series
of photos of stadiums. Good web site design.
Infrared People
Brett Russell's infrared photos of people are successful experiments that take
on a surreal sketchbook quality. Due to the way it captures the color spectrum,
Infrared causes interesting things to happen to the human face--especially when
combined with infrared flash and there's makeup involved.
21
Calling it the "defining age of innocence and maturity", photographer Laura
Hale's portraits of 21 year olds offers insight and arresting images. Snoop
around this site and you will also find collections of photos by Dorothea Lange
and Oscar Rejlander.
Back to Top
December 1998 Top Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
Whiny Dog Press
Whiny Dog Press is a strange greeting card company. Started by a Lea Murphy,
a graphic designer, the company evolved from a hand-made set of cards based
on black & white photos of everyday itesm which have been transformed into icons.
Buy 'em here.
The Looking Glass
Images by an anonymous photographer who shoots through doorways and windows
which affects what he percieves is on the other side. His words: "we look through
our own experiences, prejudices, vanities, perceptions on the world. By freezing
that viewing process for a decisive moment by way of a photograph, we can see
those elements at work."
Gallery 5 South
Looking to build your collection of 19th and 20th century vintage photography?
Gallery 5 South presents some classic images that it can purchase on your behalf,
and is willing to help you locate any image you're interested in. From Nan Goldin
to Tina Barney, Richard Misrach, Helen Levitt, Brett Weston and many, many others,
this looks like a place to go when you're ready for some serious wall decoration.
Adolfo
Pardo: Filmmaker & Photographer
Pardo's strongest work is his architecture photos, which show a strong graphic
sense in juxtapositions among New York City skyscrapers in his Urbanism series.
Blatant Image
Despite overly large image files, this site offers some wonderfully witty people
photography. Brad Barber has captured some wonderful moments that have just
the right amount of irony to keep them from being corny.
Factory Photoworks
Gallery at the Torpedo Factory
Based in Virtginia, the Torpedo Factory is a community arts center with a really
nice web page. The photo gallery is just a small part of what they offer, but
the work--is consistantly good. This site is a great example of how local artists
can band together to take advantage of the easy publishing permitted by the
web.
Fresh Leather: A Photo
Essay of Daytona Bike Week '98
When Bike Week comes to Daytona, Florida, it brings with it leather-clad bikers
on 'Hogs and Hondas--and rich photo opportunities which Carl Brigandi doesn't
miss. Good solid photos and hilarious captions.
Innervisions: Radiographs of Nature
This may just be the ultimate alternative process: Steven Meyers photographs
flora...with an X-Ray machine. Meyers is trying to keep this art--practiced,
apparently, by precious few--alive. The effect X-Ray has on the subjects gives
them a delicacy that makes them extraordinarily different from any flower photography
you've ever seen.
Thomas Moran Collection
Photographer TJ Jones's photos of the desert southwest remind us of someone
else...hmmm, now who else could it be...someone named Ansel, perhaps? Anyway,
this online portfolio features meticulous, passionate landscapes that are alive.
Our higlight is an image called, appropriately, Flashdance. Check it out.
January 1999 Top Ten Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
SpiritArt:
Jonathan M. Rosen
How do you photograph life after death? We don't know either, but Jonathan Rosen
gives it a lively attempt and in the process has created a collection of meditative
images that he calls "Transcendental Landscapes." The work, which includes infrareds,
selective soft focus and other photographic sleight-of-hand, is an interesting
departure from his teachers, who include Edward Weston and Willard Van Dyke
of the f64 group.
Bob Hudak - Fine Art Photography
Fine art, indeed: Hudak's large format landscapes and closeups are beautifully
rendered, and almost abstract in composition. More great work in the tradition
of Ansel, Weston, etc. and some haunting photos that show the results of environmental
abuse.
Live and
B&W Gallery
If you like to see good close-up photos of musicians performing live, this is
an outstanding place to go. Al Jarreau, David Byrne, David Sandbourne, Cassandra
Wilson, Dianna Kroll are some of the performers included in this ecclectic,
well-photographed mix.
Lita Rawdin
Singer Photography
Lita Rawdin has traveled to China, Tibet, Nepal, Bali and other countries, and
brought back some stunning photography. Very collectable. 2 collections on this
site include a dozen B&W prints and a bunch of color Polaroid transfers.
Andrew Collings Photography
Are you a pro photographer who wants to strut your stuff on line? Go here to
see an example of a Chigago-based commercial photographer specializing in B&W
who did it right.
David Patrick Denny Photography
A small but well presented collection of photos that turn everyday objects into
abstractions. Mostly straight photography, plus some image manipulations that
are clearly labeled.
Zike's Place
For plastic camera fans, here's a guy who studied up on his Ansel Adams and
other Zone system/F64 type texts, then decided to chuck it all and shoot with
Holgas, Dianas and Lubitels. He calls it "the dark side" of photography. Find
out why.
James Soe Nyun, Photographs
The landscapes in James Soe Nyun's world may be beautiful, but they're definitely
not pristine. Soe Nyun examines how nature and artifacts of humanity interact,
and sometimes manufactures his own "landscapes", which are occasionally very
funny (see his Tofu/Spam tribute to Ansel Adams' Half Dome).
Obscura: Black and White
Street Photography
Tilted horizons, seemingly haphazard composition, people caught unaware--must
be street photography. Milton Garrison's work is a fine example of this under-appreciated
genre.
February 1999 Top Ten Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
Rodney Barnett Portfolio
Showing a strong influence from W. Eugene Smith and the Concerned Photography
school, Rodney Barnett offers a generous helping--over 200 of images--of photos
taken in India, Transkei, Johannesburg and beyond. A real discovery.
Bike Week
Part of the excellent JournalE web site, Bike Week is the results of a 30-year
project documenting the annual gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts in Daytona
Beach, Florida by legendary photojournalist and former Life staff photographer
Burk Uzlle. Witty, ecclectic and ironic. Beautifully designed site--be sure
to visit JournalE while you're in the neighborhood!
Bill Mattick
In the overall world of photography, Street Photography is often treated as
an unwanted orphan, and therefore it has to prove itself. If anyone wants to
understand street photography as the ultimate way to find order in chaos, check
out these images by this San Fransisco-based photographer.
Central Artery
Tunnel Project-Boston
Michael Hintlain brings is documenting one of the most ambitious urban construction
projects since the building of the Brooklyn Bridge--the construction of Boston's
Central Artery Tunnel. And he's doing it in glorious B&W. Like Bruce Davidson's
documentary of the building of the Varazano Narrows Bridge, this work in progress
is destined to become a classic. This portfolio is part of a massive new site
dedicated to medium and large format photography.
Sarah Penman: Images of Native America
Sarah Penman's documentary photography is focused on Native Americans, whom
she has been documenting in still and motion for over ten years. Excellent presentation
and images.
Harry Snowden
A landscape photographer with a sense of humor--or at least a sense of irony.
An image titled "Beer Can National Park" is captioned "The specular highlights
from the beer cans in the foreground are very moving....." Good images but even
if landscape isn't your thing it's worth a visit for the captions.
Bas Hoeben's Photo
Site
Exquisitely detailed and well-composed images that recall Edward Weston, Paul
Strand et. al. Beautiful, exhibitable work that demonstrate a keen eye for detail.
Check out the thumbnail page and be impressed.
The Company Photographer
Collodion wet plate photography isn't easy. It's toxic and fragile. But the
resulting look is like no other form. So you have to admire Wayne Pierce's fortitude--as
well as his very convincing civil war period reinactment photos. Good how-to
and other technical info can be found here.
Photographica
A site dedicated to black & white photography with an emphasis on infrared film.
Good technical info and lots of shots of castles in England and such.
Antique Photo Store
A large collection of oldies but goodies--photos that show how we (or at least
some of our ancestors) lived in the early part of this soon-to-be-extinct century.
More images coming as soon as the maintainer goes through all those shoeboxes.
All photos are available for purchase.
March 1999 Top Ten Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
Tina Modotti
This italian site pays tribute to Tina Modotti, a revolutionary with a camera
who taught her husband, Edward Weston, as much as she learned from him. This
site offers a good sampling of the small but outstanding body of work she created
during her all-too-brief life.
Eric Feinblatt
This group of portraits, taken for French Vogue and other European fashion magazines,
demonstrates what happens between two people working face to face. Taken in
the 80s, the subjects are primarily french celebrities, like Jean-Paul Aron,
Lucien Bodard, Ivry Gitlis and William Styron. Part of the larger PhotoArts
web site.
Chris Yarborough
Photojournalist Chris Yarborough's web site shows the in-depth treatment of
subjects that aren't possible in print. The Governor's Project documents the
final eight days of the re-election campaign of Governor John Rowland of Connecticut.
American Aspects is a collection of photos made on a series of road trips across
the country. Some color, but generally excellent work once you get past the
somewhat distracting homepage.
Bob Hudak Photography
Another to walk in the steps of Ansel A., Bob Hudak serves up a pleasing body
of work. In addition to showing some fine large-format nature images and abstract
images using elements found in the wilderness, this photographer offers to teach
workshops in medium format photography.
Athina Chroni
Athina Chroni's portrait subjects seem isolated in their square frames, but
you can't help but come away from her site with a strong sense of who her subjects
are. In a few cases, just enough environment is allowed within the frame to
help tell the story. By contrast, her self-portraits are enigmatic. An interesting
mix.
Oggi's Kitchen Photomarket
With a 27-plus year career photographing musicians for record companies, publications,
radio stations and promoters, Oggi Ogburn (no, not Ozzie Ozbourne!) has amassed
an impressive collection of images of some of the most recognized Black entertainers
in America. Look here for images of Bob Marley, Minnie Riperton (remember her
big hit single?) and Denzel Washington, among others.
Union of Lithuanian Photographers
With over a thousand photos, this site offers a comprehensive look at the state
of photography in Lithuania. Subject matter is wide and quality varies but the
sheer ambition of this site--to represent an entire nation's photographic output--makes
it a worthwhile site. Some color.
B&W Gallery - A Forum
For Black-And-White Photography
The first website from our URL Review forum to make it to The List! Andreas
Steiner's portfolio is divided into four portfolios: good street photos of a
Street Parade in Zurich where he gets really close to his subjects; some alternate
process images taken in Vietnam and Laos; fashion show photography; and a collection
that can only be described as uncategorizable. Lots of techniques are deployed
here, effectively.
David Michael Kennedy
Another URL Review submission: wide ranging work includes palladium prints,
photos made in a prison, clouds, Pueblo dancers, southwestern US landscapes,
portraits of pop stars (notably Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Debbie Harry,
Muddy Waters, and Willie Nelson. He also runs workshops!
Chicago Murder Sites
Pinhole photos taken at the scene of the crime. Scenes, actually, as Harlan
Wallach photographed some fourteen sites of murders that took place around the
Windy City, with the camera placed at the exact spots where the victims were
found. It would be greusome of there were bodies. Compelling use of pinhole
cameras. Part of the Arthole web site.
May 1999 Top Ten Photo Web Sites
Reviewed by Mason Resnick
Masters of Photography
Small samplings from the likes of Ansel Adams, Atget, Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson,
Alfred Eisenstaedt, Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Dorothea Lange, Alexandar Rodchenko,
Steichen, Stieglitz, Weston and Winogrand, maintained by a curmudgeonly but
resource-filled webmaster. If you need a quick overview of some of the most
influential photographers in history, go here.
Fields of
Sorrow
The war in Yugoslavia, up close and personal: Photojournalist David Turnley's
wrenching documentary of Kosovo refugees fleeing for their lives. Includes a
Real Audio interview with the photographer.
Mary Ellen Mark Home
Page
A reader's poll in a recent issue of American Photo placed Mary Ellen Mark among
the greatest photographers alive today. Unlike many legends of photography whose
presence online is limited, Mary Ellen Mark's support team has created a generous
site brimming with over a hundred images, from all ten of her incredible books.
From photos of Mother Teresa caring for dying untouchables to the mentally ill
women of Ward 81 to portraits of homeless children, Mary Ellen Mark's work is
honest, unflinching and brave, and proudly represents documentary photography
at its idealistic zenith.
SeinOff: The
Last Days of Seinfeld, by David Hume Kennerly
20 powerful photos documenting the making of the final episode of one of the
most popular TV shows of our time, by one of the preeminent photojournalists
alive today. David Hume Kennerly's unprecedented access to the shooting of the
last episode of Seinfeld results in images that don't dissapoint--especially
with captions written by the the stars of the show, Jerry Seinfeld, Michael
Richards, Julia Louis-Dryfus and Jason Alexander.
Richard
Silfverberg Photography
Chicago street photography by a European. Nice.
Photojournalism and Documentary
Photography Web Ring
This is a portal to dozens of web sites that specialize in photojournalism and
documentary photography, and is well worth a visit. Links take you to a wide,
if somewhat uneven, selection of work.
Bill Gallery
A fun mix of editorial, stock and random informal work, all with a photojournalistic
flair. Some color.
10th Anniversary
of the Armenian Earthquake
On December 7 1988, a devestating earthquake hit northern Armenia, destroying
40 percent of the buildings and turning the country into a disaster zone. Thousands
died. The country observed the tenth anniversary this past December with a moment
of silence, but the signs of destruction are still there. So was photographer
Onnik Kirkorian. There is a fair amount of color on this site, but the excellent
B&W Work can be found by clicking here. http://www.freespeech.org/oneworld/earthquake/gyumri2.htm
Civil War Camera
Nicely done gallery of Civil War reenactment photographs; just marked its first
anniversary online. A reminder that Kosovo wasn't the first civil war.
Gazing for Satori
Ontario native Sean Waisglass returns to The List with a redesigned collection
of smart NYC street photography, plus work from Thailand, Korea and Canada.
If you're familiar with New York, you'll recognize that Sean's favorite hangouts
are south of 14th Street.