Mickey Smith- The Dark Side of the Lens
This video popped up on surfline.com about a week ago, and since then has earned a lot of attention all over the web. The video is apart of Relentless Energy’s Short Stories competition, “a challenge to filmmakers around the world to explore, reveal, celebrate and define NO HALF MEASURES through the medium of film.”
Mickey Smith’s video is the first entry to this competition, and I think after seeing it, most will agree it will be a hard one to beat. Shot in super 16mm film, as well as groundbreaking work with Canon’s 5D mkII, Smith’s documentary/monologue along with some stunning shots throw us into the harsh world of surf photography in Ireland and the UK, a surprisingly up-and-coming locale for action sports.
For more info on Mickey Smith and the Short Stories competition, check out www.mickeysmith.co.uk/ and www.relentlessenergy.com
Boogie: because we love him.
Was just treating myself to a peruse of some of his amazing work and thought I’d post a photo (or two) of the day!
These shots are from his Istanbul series…and they are seriously breathtaking.
Another tiny wonder…
Olivia Bee Photography has shot for Converse and has some magazine covers under her belt already, and she is only 15. (record scratches, back up, rewind) 15 FIFTEEN. Yep. Holy cow. I’m speechless.
Ummm, yeah….
So, I wish I had myself even a 1/8th as much together at 17 as this kid. HOLY %$((#$%&($#&%!!! Mike Bailey Gates, you are super cool. Can I meet your parents? Do they have a book on how to raise a super creative, driven, savvy kid? Do you want to come work for me?
Top Secret Project Revealed…
Here at StudioNemo we’ve been working on a top secret project for a few months, the Aries2010 book/time capsule. Nike Snowboarding commissioned Trevor to collaborate on the curation their “history of snowboarding” book/time capsule that was revealed at the opening for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver this last weekend. Artist Brian Elliot‘s time capsule looks incredible. Kari Rowe did an amazing job shooting the time capsule and everything else for the book. Trevor and Jay worked non stop curating and art directing. Here is a taste of what we’ve done behind the scenes….
aries 2010 capsule build from Heather Hanrahan on Vimeo.
Vancouver shop The Boardroom is hosting Aries 2010, helping to launch it alongside the 2010 Winter Olympics with events this past Saturday, 13 February 2010 and next Friday, 19 February 2010, which will both feature presentations by snowboarding legends Terry Kidwell, Dano Pendygrass, Ken Achenbach and Barrett Christy.
Photo Of The Day
The Defgrip crew turned me on to this photo project by Brent Humphreys on the Tour de France. It is an artistic look at the lifestyle of the tour and the dedicated fan following. Hope you enjoy!
Furverts is Out!
Remember Michael Cogliantry’s Furry Kama Sutra show at Nemo last year? Well, now you can enjoy it all day long, everyday, because it was just published. Michael’s book, Furverts, is available here. Buy one for all your friends.
Preserving Tokyo
With the gentrification of seedy neighborhoods on the rise, the release of Watanabe Katsumi’s book Gangs of Kabukicho, serves as a visual record of Shinjuku’s red light district. The photographs are from the 1960s and 70s and capture characters of violence, sex and transgression. Watanabe died last year at the age of 67. This book is a testament to his incredible ability to capture subtlety.
My “extended” trip in Alaska… Thanks Mt. Redoubt
So for the past 10 days I’ve been in Anchorage, AK shooting photos w/ the Think Thank crew. Everything Started out great, perfect weather, hiking everyday, stacking shots, safe to say everyone was killing it. About half way through I get word Mt. Reboubt, an active volcano 100 some miles from Anchorage has erupted, no biggy just ash that wont hit town. Skip ahead a few days, we’re staying low in our hiking zone due to avalanche dangers from the 4 feet it dumped days before. Everything seemed perfect, blue skies, sunshine, and a sweet jump ready to go. Sam Hulbert is up first to test the jump shortly after he goes, someone yells holy S**T look! Massive fast moving ash ploom high in the atmosphere is headed right for us, all of the sudden it completely blocks out the sun, it had to have dropped 20+ degrees and now all the light was flat, no fun to shoot in. Soon after it passes, and watching the ash ploom, it heads right for Anchorage… this is not good as I’m supposed to leave the next day. Airports shut down multiple flights are canceled and over 1200 ppl are stuck just at the airport. This ultimately means I’m screwed as far as my flight goes. Now it’s Monday morning, my flight got pushed back to early Tuesday morn, volcano is still blowing ash and I’m just hoping it doesn’t come into Anchorage’s airspace again. Airplanes tend to fall out of the sky when they encounter ash, not good! So their is my sob story, blah blah, here are some pictures. Enjoy! Peep this video of the eruption and follow along w/ the AK volcano observatory.
Ash salting our game in the backcountry.
Gus Engle practicing proper respiratory safety.
Cris Larson w/ a switch 50-50 in the ashy snow.
Cindy Sherman has competition…
The most admirable Cindy Sherman (I’m a fan!) has some competition and his name is Samuel Rosso. The Times Magazine has a great article about this master of disguise.
Will we get a show with him…
Kari posted Who is Neil Krug and we finally got an answer. Read Fecal Face’s interview with the 25 year old prodigy here. Next question, will Neil do an art show at Nemo this year…
Baker Banked Slalom w/ Jake Stangel
Portland photog, Jake Stangel took a trip up to the 24th annual Mt. Baker Banked Slalom this year and has presented his article in an interesting format, like a mag quality story but for his web site. Solid portraits and and words from the riders really give you an “insiders” feel to what the Banked is all about. Target and Playstation be damned, this is real snowboarding! Check it out here.
Danielle Levitt, We Are Experienced @ StudioNemo
Danielle Levitt, We Are Experienced @ Studionemo from alex mertz on Vimeo.
StudioNemo was excited to present Danielle Levitt’s photo series: We Are Experienced, on Friday Feb 6th. With special performances by The Jefferson Dancers and Beaverton High School Beaver Band, this was one of our best shows to date, thanks everyone who helped out! Check it out!
Smith Surf Shoot @ StudioNemo 2/2/09
Smith optics surf shoot 2-2-09 from alex mertz on Vimeo.
Time once again for our friends at smith to stop by for the upcoming Smith catalog shoot here at StudioNemo, our first day featured Pro surfers Dillon Perillo and Alek Parker. Stay tuned for more as we have a busy week!
Photo of the day
Saverio Truglia’s photo is almost like a submersed neon sign. The surrealistic gathering of props and makeup combined with the seclusion of being under water make for an interesting juxtapose of familiarity and discomfort.
Photographer craig cameron olson new website up and running!
Hop over to Craig Cameron Olsen’s new site and check a large catalog of work. Looking good dude.
Danielle Levitt at Nemo
Save the date! This show is going to be amazing. Powerhouse books has just published Danielle Levitt’s book We Are Experienced that takes an inside look at the teenagers of today. She is going to be gracing Portland and studio nemo with her presence. Don’t miss it!
Photographer/videographer of the day Autumn de Wilde
Sometimes, I feel like I’m in the seven degrees of Autumn de Wilde. She seems to know so many people that I do and people say, “you should meet Autumn,” but alas, our paths never cross. Never-the-less, I love her work and am inspired by her creativity. Though I love her photography, I wanted to share a video she recently did of the Raconteurs where she filled the forest with 8ft mirrors to create a truly surreal world.
Old Enough from Miky Wolf on Vimeo.
AIGA PSU college students tour StudioNEMO
Heather and Todd were part of a Nemo Factory tour. It is always fun to give back to the college students in the Portland area!
Danielle Levitt in Newsweek
Our February First Friday art show will showcase Danielle Levitt’s work. Her recently release book, WE ARE EXPERIENCED, earned a write up in Newsweek. Check out the post online here… And join us on Feb. 6th from 6-10pm for the show here at Nemo.
CONGRATS Danielle!!!!
“This photo changed my life” -Trevor Graves
Trevor came in this morning with this classic Grant Brittian print of Chris Miller. Immediately it caught my eye, I went over to TG and asked what was up with the shot. “This photo changed my life.” is what he says to me. ” You know when you draw an image over and over? It’s like an album cover you really like or something, I must have drawn this image over 100 times.” I was a bit stunned staring at this photo while listening to TG go on like like a schoolgirl about this photo. This image inspired Trevor graves to pick up a camera, which in turn TG created images that inspired a myriad of shred photogs to do the same (raises hand). It kind of blew my mind for a split second knowing that if Grant never took this photo or if TG never saw this, I and many other photographers may not be doing what we’re doing now. Which makes me realize that inspiring creativity is much more rewarding than dollars and cents, make sense? Heavy stuff, right? Go check out Grants site, see if you can catch the inspiration bug yourself.
SLAP Magazine interviews Tobin Yelland.
“I would rather be broke doing creative work than making good money having no life” -Tobin Yelland
Nemo’s friend Tobin Yelland sat down with artist Kelly D. Williams and SLAP editor Mark Whiteley for an interesting chat covering Tobin’s past with Thrasher Magazine, his influences, where his career is heading and other little tid-bits that give insight as to what makes Tobin tick. Check out the convo HERE. I suggest you check his website out as well, classic shots from skateboarding’s past and the culture that surrounded it.
Happy New Year! And Congratulations Carlin and Miranda!
I spent the new years on the coast where my internet connection did not work, so I am sending everyone a belated happy new year! I hope your new year is filled with excitement and fulfillment. I know one of our favorite photographers at Studio Nemo, Carlin Sundell, had a good new year’s celebration because I happened to be at his beautiful wedding that day. Congratulations Carlin and Miranda!
Spotted…
Local famed commercial photographer Lars Toplemann was spotted by TG doing an infomercial for a Kodak point and shoot. I can’t find the infomercial but if you do, please share. In the meantime here is a lovely Lars photo to enjoy that reminds me of one of my favorite radio shows that I’m currently listening to, American Routes…
