My last name is Jasik, his last name is Jasik. Sick work, brother.
November, 2008
20
Nov 08
Portrait: Broken-hearted and stranded
His girl had broken up with him, he didn’t have any money and he needed to get back to Philly. He couldn’t get in touch with his mom. He was literally begging for change and it pained him to do so. Another Contax 645 episode, can’t you tell?
20
Nov 08
Ripping off Eggleston: Midtown bottle
Photography is split into two parts, William Eggleston and the other half. I was trying out the Contax 645 in midtown in July before heading out to Peru and fell in love with the little suds of this half-finished beer bottle on the street. I knew it was his jam all over, but I couldn’t help it.
Besides, the Contax 645 is amazing! This was just an experiment with expired film. All future projects will burst forth from that wonderful creature.
5
Nov 08
Obama: Si, se puede!
Yes, we can. I’m breathing again. I didn’t for eight years. I was being suffocated and when I looked around, faces stared out as calm and placid as hindu cows. But:
Kind sir, you have a goddamned nightmare on your hands. It’s gonna be tough. They will nitpick everything you do. But know this: take the energy of this change, of this experience, and translate it into action. You have such an incredible opportunity. You will have every leader of the world tripping over themselves to chill with you. You can get us out of Iraq. You can make the country green. You can cut off corporate welfare and kick the shit out of Wall Street for what they’ve done. Okay, now I’m dreaming. Just get the first two.
4
Nov 08
San Roque, Peru: Casamiro’s chakra and friends
My jungle buddy Casamiro gave me a tour of his chakra on the first day we hung out. We traipsed through the jungle to other parts of his land and to visit friends, one of whom grows sugarcane.
I was bitten ferociously all day by mosquitoes and flies. Casamiro was completely unharmed. It was obvious to these tiny vermin that my blood was foreign and delectable.
These little guys were for dinner. They live in banana trees and are protein-rich.
3
Nov 08
Photographer of the Week: Joakim Eskildsen
The fact that he has never been exhibited in North America is unbelievable, because Joakim Eskildsen absolutely killed it with his Roma series.
There are many factors to consider when doing any sort of documentary or portrait series that will impact the quality of the work. Lighting, access, interaction with subjects, quality of subjects, happenstance (or luck) and the quality of printing. And Joakim has it all. Just look at the colors! Oh my God! What the hell! Are you kidding me? I want to cry they’re so beautiful.
What do I mean by ‘quality of subjects?’ This is something intangible. Why are we drawn to certain people, certain faces, over others? It’s very hard to pinpoint. Sometimes it’s not even the person, it’s the moment, it’s the angle. You can do everything ‘right’ but still have a failed portrait because you haven’t broken through to anything within the person or they haven’t shown anything. It can be horrendously frustrating. Or unbelievably wonderful. Or in between.
It’s also very helpful that Joakim is obviously a master printer. He, unlike almost anyone working today, prints everything himself. Wow, that’s amazing. He printed in film for a long time and now prints on an Epson inkjet printer.
Check out his other series as well. I mean, they’re all amazing. I’ve been looking at the work over and over the last few days, it’s a joy to spend time with.
