Bill Eppridge in 2013 - so far!

L.A. City Council member Tom Le Bonge presents honary certificate

to Bill Eppridge at the gala opening of photo l.a. 2013 on January 17

Photo ©HollywoodToday

 

 

Bill Eppridge: “If It Moves, I’ll Shoot It”

FOTOFUSION: Fifty Years in Photojournalism by Bill Eppridge

Le Journal de la Photographie: "The hands-down shining moment of the event was a one and half hour lecture by the great Bill Eppridge: (photo la 2013)

photography legends inspire new focus at photo l.a. 2013

March 12 – June 2, 2013
Springfield Museums – Michele & Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts
Bill Eppridge’s photographs of the Beatles will be exhibited in the long-traveling show, The Beatles! Backstage and Behind The Scenes (Springfield, Mass.)
Bill Eppridge will be lecturing at the museum on April 21, 2013

September 20 – 21, 2013
PSA – Photographic Society of America
Bill Eppridge is the 2013 “International Understanding Through Photography” Honoree
And will be a featured speaker (Portland, Maine)


Related: Bill Eppridge prints at Monroe Gallery of Photography

 

 

Photo LA 2013: Diary of Jeff Dunas

Bill Eppridge, Senator Robert F Kennedy Shot,

Ambassador Hotel Kitchen, Los Angeles, California, June 5, 1968

Via Le Journal de la Photographie

 Slide Show #1


Same venue. A generous group of galleries reconvened this past weekend, January 17 - 21 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for the 21st annual PhotoLA print fair.

Stephen Cohen, PhotoLA's founder, was in good form and seemed happy with the turnout and the exhibitions. The opening night was a wonderful social occasion for the photography community who turned up to benefit the Inner City Arts organization.

The hands-down shining moment of the event was a one and half hour lecture by the great Bill Eppridge. There wasn't a dry eye in the house for the moderately attended talk. Monroe gallery artist Eppridge discussed and showed work from his spectacular career as a photojournalist centering on his assignments from the 1960s including the Beatle's first US tour and the Robert Kennedy assassination If there is a photo-book publisher reading this - here is an incredible opportunity to publish a phenomenal monograph.

It's hard to say if there were detectible new currents on show this year - there was a surprising number of contemporary female nudes evident in many of the exhibitor's spaces but in terms of one emerging star of the program, none surfaced. Ben Nixon, a young photographer working with 19th century wet-plate technology, had a strong show of his forest work as well as his exquisite new title from 21st Editions. A lot of pigment printing on view, with an exceptional piece by Michael Lang at the Cohen Gallery booth. While many tend to pump the colors of modern ink-jet prints, Lang's images displayed a remarkable restraint and mastery of his craft. Less early 20th century masters on display than in prior years, a greater emphasis on the work of contemporary photographers - a good direction for mid-career image-makers. Most were American although a collective booth showing the work of Czech photography was wonderful. Daniel Miller of the Verge and Duncan Miller galleries hosted a booth for a group of women, all emerging photographers which was a good development.

This year an expanded series of seminars, some even tech seminars were added to bring in more photographers who were everywhere this year - a great chance to catch up with friends.

All in all, worthwhile, to be sure. Will I attend the 22nd PhotoLA?
Absolutely.


Jeff Dunas, Los Angeles

Slide Show #2

 Stephen Wilkes Day to Night Series

Stephen Wilkes, Sandy : Seaside Heights, New Jersey, November 4, 2012

Digital C-print, signed, limited edition #1/20 $10,000

Links

http://www.photola.com

FOTOFUSION: Fifty Years in Photojournalism by Bill Eppridge

Robert Kennedy, in a rare, quiet moment aboard a plane, 1966.

Photograph by Bill Eppridge/LIFE/ TimeInc

Via Palm Beach Daily News

Photographer of RFK’s last campaign shows at PB Photographic Centre By Jan Sjostrom

Daily News Arts Editor

The first time Bill Eppridge met Robert Kennedy was aboard Air Force One. He’d been assigned by Life magazine in 1966 to cover Lyndon Johnson — the first outside photographer permitted to photograph a president on the plane.

Johnson was on a tour of the Northeast, and Kennedy was there because he was the senator from New York. During the flight, Kennedy lit up a cigar and sat down near Eppridge to talk to then-White House press secretary Bill Moyers. Eppridge surreptitiously shot his picture, which appeared in the magazine.

Awhile later, Life assigned him to shoot pictures for a story about whether Kennedy would run for the presidency. Eppridge decided to formally introduce himself and get permission to shadow the senator for the next several weeks.

“What did you say your name was?” Kennedy asked. “Eppridge,” he said. Kennedy thought for moment, then said, “You can come along, but no cigars this time, OK?”

Eppridge was stunned that Kennedy remembered him. “From then on, I was his,” he said.

Two years later, Eppridge would shoot the iconic image of Kennedy sprawled on the kitchen floor of a Los Angeles hotel, felled by an assassin’s bullet, the busboy whose hand he’d just been shaking looking up in anguish.

Eppridge, 74, is the recipient of FOTOfusion’s 2013 FOTOmentor award recognizing lifetime achievement and impact on younger photographers. “He’s influenced several generations of photographers,” said Fatima Nejame, president and chief executive offficer of Palm Beach Photographic Centre. “Everyone speaks highly of him. His pictures are awesome.” The photography festival, which is organized by the center, opens Tuesday and runs through Saturday at the center and the Mandel Public Library in West Palm beach.

Eppridge’s work will be featured in the exhibition, Fifty Years in Photojournalism by Bill Eppridge. Also, he will attend two receptions and a dinner, give a lecture and participate in a panel about working in the media business today.

Eppridge was just 12 feet behind Kennedy when the shots rang out. He rushed forward, and saw Kennedy on the floor. “When I got there, the first thing I thought was when Jack Kennedy was killed no still photographs were made,” Eppridge said. “This was history being made in front of me. It was my job to record it.”

Eppridge positioned himself at a good angle and fired off four shots. The first was out of focus, in the second the busboy’s head was down, the third was the history-making photograph.

Eppridge lost interest in politics after Kennedy’s death. “If you photograph a politician, you want him to be a good man and someone you trust,” he said. “That was Bobby. I could not find another Bobby.”

During his long career Eppridge photographed for National Geographic, Life and Sports Illustrated and covered stories such as The Beatles’ first American tour, Woodstock, the funeral of murdered Civil Rights workers in Mississippi, the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Olympics.

One of his most memorable assignments was a landmark 1965 story for Life about heroin addiction moving into the young, middle-class white community. It took months to find a married couple willing to be photographed. At first, the wife demanded to be paid. When told that wasn’t possible, she asked why she should bother to do it.
“I told her, if you do, a few people who were going to get into your position might not after they see the story,” he said. “That’s what convinced her.”

Eppridge spent almost every day for three months photographing the couple, turning himself into a fly on the wall. “You just kind of mentally back off and let whatever is going to happen in front of you happen, without making determinations about what you’re seeing,” he said. “Later on, of course, you think about it a lot.”

Just as he’s never forgotten seeing Robert Kennedy killed.

He’s willing to live with painful memories. For him, the FOTOmentor award not only recognizes his accomplishments, but also affirms of the power of the still image.

---

IF YOU GO
What: Fifty Years in Photojournalism by Bill Eppridge
When: Monday through March 2
Where: Palm Beach Photographic Centre, 415 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach
For information: Call 253-2600 or visit workshop.org or fotofusion.org

FOTOfusion Highlights
The 18th annual FOTOfusion features more than 100 workshops, lectures, panel discussions, multimedia presentations, portfolio reviews, computer classes, demonstrations and photo shoots taught by noteworthy industry leaders and photographers.

Among the offerings are talks about alternative printing techniques, iPhone photography and easy ways to improve your digital photos. Douglas Dubler will discuss his recent project shooting American Ballet Theatre, photographer Carlton Ward will share recollections of last year’s 1,000-mile trek along the Florida Wildlife Corridor and picture editor Scott McKiernan will display the best pictures of 2012 from Zuma Press Wire Service and its affiliates. Exhibitions will feature images by Rising Star award winner Antonio Bolfo and FOTOmentor Bill Eppridge.

FOTOfusion will be held Tuesday through Saturday at Palm Beach Photographic Centre, 415 N. Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, and the Mandel Public Library, 411 N. Clematis Street, West Palm Beach.

Photo LA Highlights New Frontiers In Photography

Stephen Wilkes Day To Night/Photo by Rebecca Joyce/LAist

By Rebecca Joyce/Special to LAist

Via LAist

Photo LA has once again returned to the Santa Monica Civic Center for a 4-day photography exhibition. Photo LA features the best iconic work, vernacular pieces—and also the new frontiers in fine art photography.

Classic pieces by Araki, Cartier-Bresson and Lange share space with the new and noteworthy. Garnering attention are Chris McCaw's sunburned negative series, never-before-seen images of Andy Warhol as a model, astonishing work by the Blind Photographers Guild, a new and iconic image of Roger Waters by Jerome Brunet and large lightjet prints by Stephen Wilkes of the Jersey Shore after Sandy.

New attendees can attend seminars and go on docent tours to get a guided introduction to the work featured.

After last year's success, Emerging Focus—which is open to amateurs—returns with 20 finalists from an international photography competition. There is also a full schedule of workshops and portfolio reviews geared toward student and emerging artists. A larger variety of seminars provides classes on portraiture, lighting, travel, black and white and many other facets of photography. The Emerging Focus programming noticeably changes the demographic of the crowd at Photo LA—there are more students, emerging and aspiring artists, and a new generation of photography lovers and collectors.

One of the most important fine art events in Los Angeles, the annual Photo LA gives us a panorama of the state of photography in the art world, as well as the changing face of those who are practicing, embracing and collecting the medium. Photo LA is on exhibit at the Santa Monica Civic Center until tomorrow. For more information about the event check out its website.

Related: Le Journal de la Photography: Photo LA 2013

Inaguration Day (to Night)

 © Stephen Wilkes Instagram "This will be my view for the Presidential Inauguration"

Today is a rare combination of the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King Day. If you are attending the inauguration ceremonies, or watching them on tv, look for Stephen Wilkes on the platform between CBS and CNN as he creates an Inaugural "Day To Night" photograph.

Meanwhile, visitors to the final day of photo la 2013 are invited to view significant examples of 20th and 21st Century photojournalism at Monroe Gallery of Photography. The Gallery is exhibiting photographs spanning more than 85 years of history, including iconic civil rights images; Bill Eppridge's photographs of Robert F. Kennedy and The Beatles; work by Nina Berman, Yuri Kozyrev, and Stephen Wilkes Seaside Heights photograph after  Hurricane Sandy .

Photo l.a. returned for its 22nd Edition – with closing date Jan. 21st

Bill Eppridge with Congressman Tom LeBonge (right)

Via Hollywoodtoday.net

Photo l.a. – the longstanding photographic art exposition, returned to the historic Santa Monica Civic Auditorium last night for its 22nd edition. The show will run daily through January 21, 2013. Continuing the discourse on photography’s place in the fine arts, photo l.a. provides dealers from around the globe a platform for the exhibition of vintage masterworks and contemporary photography, as well as video and multimedia installations creating the juxtaposition that differentiates photo l.a. from the rest.

Over the last two decades, photo l.a. has exhibited more than 300 galleries, private dealers and publishers, as well as presented more than 200 lectures and collecting seminars to the public. photo l.a. offers a dynamic experience for visitors while also attracting over 11,000 interested collectors, curators and dealers of photography annually. 

Photos by Steve Schapiro of Rosa Parks,  Martin Luther King at Monroe Gallery Booth

In addition to the continuation of the lectures, panels, book signings and special installations, photo l.a. is pleased to introduce photoBOOK LA, a new platform for publishers and book artists with guest reviewers offering feedback to photographers on their book proposals.

Following the overwhelming success of the Emerging Focus Educational series during last year’s exposition, photo l.a. is announcing its affiliation with Emerging Focus Photo Expo, which will be held across the street at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel. Master classes on photography and portfolio reviews will be part of the schedule.

Alec Byrne’s photo of Paul McCartney 1970

Photo l.a. 2013′s speakers, panels, roundtables, book signings and installations include:
Mapplethorpe at LACMA and the Getty — Los Angeles County Museum of Art curator Britt Salvesen (Robert Mapplethorpe: XYZ) and Curator of Photographs at the Getty Research Institute, Francis Terpak (In Focus: Robert Mapplethorpe), will discuss the simultaneous exhibitions of the artist’s work.

Mike Spitz book about mental illness

Matthew Thompson — curator and author of “The Anxiety of Photography” — will lead a round table discussion with a mix of younger Los Angeles artists including Andrea Longacre-White, Anthony Pearson and David Benjamin Sherry, who hybridize photography with some other media to explore its materiality.

Bill Eppridge — noted photojournalist — lectures on his experiences documenting the 1960s,   specifically, Robert F. Kennedy’s final campaign.

Meg Partridge — filmmaker — will speak about her father, Rondal Partridge, and his photographic work. Rondal Partridge was the son of Imogen Cunningham, whose mentors and colleagues included Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange and Edward Weston.

Bill Eppridge’s photos of Robert F. Kennedy

Josephine Sacabo — photographer — will discuss her trajectory from a documentary street photographer to her current work using the etched photogravure as her exclusive form of printmaking.

POINT OF VIEW — selections from Los Angeles collectors will be exhibited with some collectors elaborating on their collecting motivations at a round table discussion.

Artillery Magazine hosts one of its infamous Face Off Debates. 

Ellen Jantzen

New Sales Platforms roundtable with Heritage Auctions, 1stdibs and artnet. 

Private docent tours of the fair with experts in the field of photography: Gordon Baldwin (former Curator, Dept. of Photographs, The J. Paul Getty Museum), Deborah Bell (Vice President, Specialist Head of Photographs Department), Weston Naef (Curator Emeritus, Dept.  of Photographs, The J. Paul Getty Museum)

Visit www.photola.com for open hours.
January 18th – 21st, 2013
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1855 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA90401-3209
.
JANUARY 18th – 21st, 2013
SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM

Stephen Wilkes: The 57th Presidential Inauguration, Day To Night

Stephen Wilkes announced today that he will be shooting a "Day to Night" of the 57th Presidential Inauguration on Monday January 21st in Washington, DC.

Read more about his Day to Night series, which was recently featured on the CBS Sunday Morning Show, here. And, if you are the in the greater Los Angeles area, be sure to visit us this weekend during Photo la 2013 to view a selection of Stephen's work, including the most recent location of the Day To Night series, Jerusalem, and his photograph of Seaside Heights, New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy.

Stephen Wilkes, The Power of the Still Image

Via X-Rite Photo Blog


"A new video has just been released today featuring Coloratti Stephen Wilkes talking about The Power of the Still Image, his own projects to document parts of American life and culture that are fading into memory, some of his disturbing and compelling images of the Gulf oil spill, and his latest project called Day to Night. In this video Stephen talks about the “subtext” beneath his photographs. “The power of what’s underneath is much greater than what’s on the surface,” he says. “And I want you to go underneath what I’m showing you but the only way I can get there is to draw you in with beauty.”

 

Wilkes is an amazing photographer. His passion for the still image is fueled by his ardent belief that it is the still image that “burns” into our minds. “I don’t think that, in terms of memory, things stay with us unless we have the image,” says Wilkes. “I think there is infinitely more power in a visual than there is in anything that is verbal or even written.”

 

Seaside Heights, N.J
©2012 Stephen Wilkes

One of Stephen’s most recent projects was documenting Hurricane Sandy for Time. Stephen’s 22 image photo essay on the super-storm disaster is available on Time Lightbox. The aerial photos he captured are both beautiful and horrific. Here’s a quote from his words accompanying the photo essay: “On the Sunday after Sandy made landfall, I decided to rent a helicopter and fly over some of the most devastated areas, including the New Jersey shore, Breezy Point and Far Rockaway. It was a beautiful day to fly, but unfortunately that beauty quickly eroded into shock as we began to get close to the coasts. It was everything I’d heard about, but it was difficult to believe what I was actually seeing. Once we got above the shoreline, I really started to understand the scale of the destruction. The expanse of land it ruined, the totality of the devastation — it was like a giant mallet had swung in circles around the area. It was mind numbing.” Read more about the Hurricane Sandy project online and see all 22 photos in the essay at Time Lightbox."

Full post with links here.

See Stephen Wilkes Day To Night and Hurricane Sandy photographs during Photo la, January 17 - 21, at Monroe Gallery of Photograph, booth M-150.

Photo la 2013 Opening Night Thursday, January 17

photo l.a. is honored to host the preview reception for the benefit of Inner-City Arts on January 17, 2013 from 6 – 9 pm. Please join us for an evening of art and charity. Tickets are $80 and can be purchased directly from Inner-City Arts

January 17-21: Photo L.A. Fair Strengthens Emerging-Artist Focus

Via artinfo.com

SALE: Photo L.A.
LOCATION: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
DATE: January 17-21

ABOUT: Many of the auction houses are still on winter hiatus, but photography collectors know to scout out the wealth of vintage, contemporary, and multimedia works this time of year at the photo l.a. fair at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Among the 45 galleries and nonprofits participating in the 22nd annual edition, the Monroe Gallery of Photography brings the work of legendary photojournalist Bill Eppridge, who is also speaking about his time shooting Robert F. Kennedy in the 1960s as part of the fair’s lecture series, which also includes appearances from Los Angeles County Museum of Art curator Britt Salvesen, filmmaker Meg Partridge, and an Artillery Magazine-hosted debate.

In the department of unusual character studies, visitors will find shots from Frank Marshall’s immersion with a subculture of African cowboy metalheads in Botswana, including one of a leather-clad man named “Bound by the Moon,” on offer for $1,500 at Bekris Gallery. And Polish photographer Leon Borensztein’s intimate glimpse of unsmiling Americans can be found at Smith Andersen North.

More experimental forms can be found at Susan Spiritus Gallery, which is exhibiting Fran Forman’s nostalgic photo assemblages, like a print of a carousel sinking underwater, priced at $950 (unframed).

The fair has made a push this year to welcome not just collectors, but photographers, too, particularly those just starting out. It has partnered with the Emerging Focus Photo Expo, held across the street at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel. There, photographers can stop by with their portfolios for classes and on-the-spot critiques. Or, for those with publishing ambition, this year marks the launch of photoBOOK LA, where experts offer photographers advice on their book proposals.
General admission starts at $20 at the door, $25 online.

— Rachel Corbett

 

(Photo: Fran Forman, “Carousel Escape,” $950 at Susan Spiritus Gallery, at photo l.a.)