Blog Marco - Photography

Art Monthly Australia Scandal

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:53:02 -0700

Last weekend, news of this "nude photos of a kid in a magazine" scandal surfaced. Magazine was called "Art Monthly Australia". The editor responsible for the magazine is Maurice O'Riordan... was he just trying to get free publicity by causing yet another scandal? Selling more magazines? Or was he honestly acting for the art community, trying to continue a debate that just occurred a bit over a month ago with the whole Bill Henson photography scandal. The photo depicted on the magazine cover is of a 6 year old - a model, Olympia Nelson who is now 11 years old and who says that ""I think that the picture my mum took of me had nothing to do with being abused, and I think nudity can be a part of art. I'm really, really offended by what Kevin Rudd had to say about this picture." It is also reported that the actual magazine contained photos of oral sex by an octopus, bondage images, including one of a Japanese schoolgirl in school uniform trussed up in rope while another image shows an adult woman also trussed up, with breasts and genitals exposed, according to Ms Tankard Reist, director of Women's Forum Australia. Art is a very funny business...

Last Supper Art Gallery

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:17:03 -0700

The last supper was a meal depicted in the bible and a scene depicted by Leonardo Da Vinci. It is said that the scene portrays the reaction by each apostle at the moment when Jesus had said that one of them will betray him that night. You will notice that the 12 apostles have different reactions and are grouped into threes... The first group of three: Bartholomew, James, son of Alphaeus and Andrew are all are surprised. The next group of three are Judas Iscariot, Peter and John and have very varied expressions. Judas is the one carrying the small bag which may be the sack of silver given to him as a reward for the betrayal or a symbol for his position as treasurer of the group. Also to note is that he is the only one with an elbow on the table which traditionally us a sign of bad manners. Peter looks angry and is holding a knife pointed away from Christ, perhaps a preview to his violent reaction in Gethsemane during Jesus' arrest (he cuts a guards ear). The youngest apostle, John, appears to swoon. After Jesus (the centre of attention) there is another group of three: Thomas, James the Greater and Philip. Thomas is upset, James is stunned and Philip appears to ask for an explanation. Finally, Matthew, Jude Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot are in discussion, probably to ask if Simon has any answers.

Bill Henson Artwork

Tue, 27 May 2008 22:30:11 -0700

Teaser:
Some of the controversial Bill Henson Scandalous photos

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About Bill Henson controversial photography art. I'm not going to add too much subjective commentary here - mainly because I don't have any to add - I'm more of a practical person - I see things as they are most of the time. Controveries aren't new to the art world. Although I do find it fascinating to hear/read other people's subjective commentary about Bill Henson's artwork and other art in general... Anyway here are some of his photos and related commentaries which I found scattered on the WWW.

Bill Henson

Mon, 26 May 2008 22:30:08 -0700

Teaser:
Who is Bill Henson?

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So who is Bill Henson? Is he an artist or a pedophile? Are his photos pornographic or are they art? Bill Henson has skyrocketed into the news headlines as a result of controversy and scandal over an exhibition at the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery in Sydney which depicted naked 12 year olds.

According to a version of his Wikipedia page says that he is "an Australian photographic contemporary artist". And "much of his art deals with the subject of adolescence." It continues: "Henson's artworks reflects his interest in the interval of teenagers and adults. The use of chiaroscuro is common throughout his works. His photos are highly painterly and are often presented in the style of diptychs, triptychs and other specific groupings. Henson's works often meditate on the categories and relationships of male and female; youth and adulthood; day and night; light and dark; nature and civilisation. His photographs are often flattened and abstracted. The faces of the subjects are often blurred or partly shadowed and positioned not directly towards the audience. Henson's art has been exhibited in many locations, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Venice Biennale, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Austria, the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Austria and the Bibliotheque Nationale in Quebec." Henson presents “adolescents in their states of despair, intoxication and immature ribaldry”. He has said that these “moments of transition and metamorphoses are important in everyone’s lives” (Crawford, A 2003, ‘Bill Henson: Lux et Nox’, Art Monthly Australia, no.164, Oct).

More Photography Jobs

Mon, 26 May 2008 17:51:16 -0700

Still looking at photography jobs... Below are three jobs: one is a product photographer, the other is a photography studio manager and finally another job for a dating website - which strangely appeared on the search results when searching for "photographer". I've looked at photography jobs before - here is a studio job, other jobs in the photography industry and another job for a photographer. What I tend to see with these advertised jobs for photographers is that most of them are low paying. I guess the high flying talented photographers have their own business and are either selling their own artwork.

Sexy Chinese Earthquake Models

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:04:26 -0700

Teaser:
Models Modelling for New Travel Weekly are in their underwear posing in the Chinese Earthquake Zone

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Another controversial photoshoot. The art world seems to be pushing boundaries all the time. We've had the recent underage "art" photoshoot scandal will the Bill Henshaw Exhibition and justa few weeks back we've had a scandal with a topless 16 year old posing with a 15 year old published in a fashion mag. Now its some Lifestyle travel magazine in China called: "New Travel Weekly" who sent in models into the Chinese Earthquake zone and had a sultry photoshoot amongst the rubble. There is no taste in this. Posing for a photoshoot where people DIED is just distasteful. Posing in skimpy clothing and underwear is just disgusting. Worst of all - the magazine was published last Monday - which was the first day of mourning for the 50,000 people who died. The models, who appear sultry rather than sad, pose in front of and draped across fallen beams in ruined buildings, singly and together. Some appear to be wearing fake bloody bandages. The official news agency, Xinhua, said the propaganda department in Chongqing, where the lifestyle magazine is based, issued a statement condemning the publication's editors for "severely violating social morality, and causing extremely negative social effects". It said the magazine itself would be subject to "rectification", although the editors in charge have gone for good. In other words - the editors had their asses FIRED!

Age, Sexuality and Art

Wed, 21 May 2008 19:46:42 -0700

Teaser:
Bill Henson's Adolescent Art, Questions of Sexuality and Art

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Girls are losing their sexual innocence much younger nowadays. Last week we had the controversy of the nude publication of a girl who was 16 years old in a fashion magazine. This week I was reading the opinion columns of the SMH where Miranda Devine writes about Bill Henson's new photography exhibition featuring naked 12 to 13 year olds at the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery which is opening tonight. Miranda writes:

It is now impossible to shield children from a culture dripping with sexual imagery, in which Saturday morning cartoons are interspersed with soft-porn music videos, pole-dancing kits with sexy garters are marketed to little girls and huge billboards for "Longer Lasting Sex" dot the landscape.

Photography Industry Jobs

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:07:29 -0700

Still looking at the job pages for photography related jobs. Why? I'm just interested in what kind of jobs are out there for photographers and people who are interested in photographic arts. Also, its also interesting to observe what the business of photography requires. They need: photographers, assistants, graphic designers and sales people. My previous posts about photography related employment are: Studio jobs, digital photographer for a studio, another photography job, freelance photographer, a junior photographer job and finally a Starshots studio photographer.

Zippora Seven and Russh Magazine Controversy

Sat, 10 May 2008 15:16:46 -0700

Teaser:
Controversy over Russh publication of topless nude 16 year old Zippora Seven in an 18 page spread.

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A controversy has erupted in the fashion and modelling world in Australia as a 16 year old model, Zippora Seven, has been published on an 18 page spread in Russh magazine. She models in the spread alongside 16-year-old male model Levi Clarke.

This controversy raises an interesting aspect about the modeling and fashion industry. Many models that walk up and down the world's fashion catwalks are young, and a high percentage of them are under 18. It's just a "normal" for the industry. Photographers shoot these models walking up and down, a few times with garments barely hanging on. Yes there is nudity in this Russh photoshoot with Zippora Seven. But you've got to take it within context. The images are not erotic. They aren't sexual. They just are. They aren't targetted to the pornographic market but the fashion industry where this sort of thing is the norm. But then again she is a minor and she isn't mature enough to make "proper" decisions even though she may feel like she can. So is this a case of "yep, its art, not porno" excuse or "she's underage full stop".

Photography Studio Jobs

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:19:28 -0700

Still surfing the photography employment pages. This time I found some jobs in a Photography Studio which aren't photographer jobs. These are support staff positions that would get people in the door to the studio. One is for a telemarketer (Nooo!!! Not those annoying telemarketing callers!) and the other is a sales consultant. The photography business, is after all, a luxury item. No one needs photos - its a luxury to take photos, and its a luxury to charge hundreds of dollars for one studio photo. Sounds vain doesn't it? Here is a list of previous jobs I've previously recorded: part time digital photographer for a studio, another job here, freelance photographers job, a job for an assistant to a photographer job and finally a job at Starshots studio.

Part Time Digital Photographer

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:09:56 -0700

Another photography job - this time a part time digital photographer. I went to their company website, and I found it absolutely annoying. They have one of those "cleverly" (aka awkward and hard to navigate) website where you need to put your mouse over an arrow on the webpage to make the text scroll down. Talk about ANNOYING! Anyway, job sounds okay... doesn't say how much you'll earn but since you need experience and a diploma in photography I'm guessing the pay is around $40 to $60K? Anyway, if you want to scope out photography jobs you can look: here, this one, another job and finally here for other jobs I previously wanted to observe... and no, I'm not applying for any of these jobs.

Yet Another Photography Job

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:28:26 -0700

There seems to be a steady stream of Photography jobs in Sydney. I guess if you want to be a photographer, there is plenty of employment opportunities. Recent jobs I've looked at and found interesting (not that I'm looking for a job - just interested in their pay rate and what photographer positions are available out there) were this, here and here. This position seems to be an entry level photography position. No note on how much you'll be paid, but you'll definitely get a foothold within the fashion industry. The employer is Pacific Magazines for Famous magazine who require a full time studio photographer. The scope of the position seems to revolve around the very boring side of photography - shooting still life (products and stuff). But the exciting thing is that you'll definitely get a media pass if there is some event or celebrity interview/promotion ("occasional on-location celebrity portraiture").

Sydney Freelance Photographers Job

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:18:25 -0700

I've been on a lookout for photography jobs here and here but for no specific reason. I guess to scope out my competition. This time they're advertising a freelance photographer position. I am assuming that this business is like an agency - they get work for you and in turn pass on the job to you while getting a commission from the whole process. They claim to pay $30 to $75 per hour. If the jobs are daily and consistent $30/hour is reasonable to pay for a freelance photographer but the question to ask them is if the equipment provided and if there is a transport allowance (petrol is so expensive!) and if other expenses are covered. Also you are looking at the quality of photographers that you attract at those prices? Does the company have a training scheme to train the photographers to output a certain standard of photos or are they simply put to work?

Junior Photographer's Assistant

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:24:13 -0700

Last week I saw this Photographer at Starshots, which is one of those shopping mall/centre studio setups. This week there's this "Photographic assistant" junior position which pays $25K to $30,000... which is not bad provided your career is to become a professional photographer. BUT is really cheap labour since you are only getting paid about $480 a week (not including taxes) or about $12 an hour.

Photographic assistant - junior position

Work Type: Full Time
Sub-Classification: Photography
Area: Sydney - Inner

Advertiser: Studio Commercial
Salary: $25K - $30K + super and bonus
Modern city based photographic studio is looking for a full time junior assistant.

The applicant should be energetic, creative, trustworthy, have initiative, drive, be a team player, well presented, keen to listen and learn, and can carry heavy photographic equipment.

Skills
A basic understanding of photography, computer savvy. Must have current drivers licence.

Private Photoshoot

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:26:28 -0800

Watch a private photoshoot with bikini babe model Mae McLachlan. I took all the standard glamour photos and I decided to do something a little more edgy, and a little more artistic... Photography by Sydney Photographer, Marco Palmero.