Anton Kusters (above) is one of the hardest working collaborators on the planet….Burn does not exist without Anton…the fact that he is jet lagged and needs a “time out” should be of no surprise….he jets back and forth from his home in Belgium to Japan, and his Yakuza project, and now just as easily to New York where he is crashing on the Burn office/gallery/crash pad sofa…he is here to work on BURN…we can do a lot by Skype, but one on one we can really get some work done….
what started out as an extension of my Road Trips blog and just a fun project with and for our audience here, has now blossomed into a seriously considered online media outlet/producer….all that has happened to Burn in the last few weeks is humbling to say the least….our nomination for a Lucie Award is flattering considering we are just a two person lap top from wherever operation at the moment… this was predicated by a nice mention of Burn on the New York Times “LENS” blog last week, whose progenitor, editor/ photographer James Estrin, just left my loft after meeting with my students for two hours…..David Walker, Senior Editor at PDN, this month did a nice, accurate, to the point Q&A interview with me in their magazine which always makes a strong push in the direction of young emerging photographers….The Digital Journalist guru Dirck Halstead at the same time wrote a strong editorial about the state of affairs for young photographers, and suggested that large funding operations direct some of their efforts in the direction of Burn, MediaStorm, 100 Eyes and other online efforts who pledge to pump lifeblood into a sagging industry….
so all at once, Burn has a place at the table ….organic…based on personal history and trust….working with the best people for all the right reasons, and all of it audience driven…..all of it…..funding for EPF, from you….donations which have kept our loft alive for office and gallery space, from you….submissions which have us now with more content than we can handle, from you….incidentally, i apologize for not being able to respond to every submission of photographs and every kind donation….we are way behind in viewing submissions and will soon employ a professional experienced editor to help, but i assure i view each and every submission…for those i like, i make contact as soon as possible, but please be patient…many many thanks to those of you who have given support….we could not have survived this long without you….
if now is the time for Burn to receive funding so that commissions can be given to the young generation and original work can be produced here for Burn from the iconic to the youngbloods, then OUR efforts here will be deemed someday to have been significant and historic… i just think that way….
so, let’s take this audience one step further….do i need your help? yes…. more pictures of course…but , what we all need now is to have a small first class team of grant writers and/or sales people to at least get me to the right person at the right kind of sponsorship venue…Burn is easy for me to pitch….really easy….first of all, it is not about me or my work(that is another problem!!)….Burn is about making a contribution to the new generation of photographers who express themselves either journalistically or artistically or both…..if you have any thoughts about potential funders and grant writing talent, please send them to Kerry Payne (photo below) who celebrated her 40th birthday at the Burn loft last night with our students toasted with Veuve Cliquot and Orios …Kerry is a hard core Aussie and should be recovered from last night’s modest bash by the time you send her an e-mail – kerry@burnmagazine.org….she is a biz person….do not write to Anton or to me, we are not….please please..
Anton and i cannot do any more than what Burn is now by ourselves…with just a little bit of help we can revolutionize….hey , is there anything better than the start up of a rock band in the garage?? yes, that is us….underground…underdog….full of enthusiasm…the best combo for creativity…
tomorrow we will go on with a live Q&A with Martin Parr…he will answer thought provoking questions from the readers here for two hours….Martin wants to do an original essay with first publication on Burn….i want to make that happen….and at the same time give concurrent commissions to two or three young less known photographers….i will make this happen….Martin, and Magnum , support this effort….a story on Alex and Rebecca Webb will follow soon behind, and they will be presenting at the Burn gallery event this friday evening where about 30 Burn audience photographers will be hanging on the same walls with Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, Gilles Peress, Susan Meiselas and Chris Anderson….we will try to invite likely print buyers and hope that someone who might collect an Erwitt would also buy a print from an emerging photographer…anyway, a nice thought…..oh yes, my loft students for the week are the highlight of the evening when they present their efforts for the week….we are hard at work on this show now…
so, this is a 24 hour time out from our normal programming….essays and singles from you will up again by tomorrow afternoon….but, this should give you all something to chew on….for one thing, do you take a time out right in the middle of when things are busy???
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERRY !!!
Behind a successful BURN…there is always a hard working LADY !!!
WHAT NOT TO LOVE !!!
BOBBYB,
my love to your family…VIVA the whole enchilada …GO BOBBY,GO BOBBY,GO BOBBY !!!
CATHY,
we count on YOU…Sky is the limit…not even the sky…cause we have
SPACECOWBOY…up there…CROWD CONTROL…We need help …OVER .
ANTON,
WE LOVE YOU with feathers, moustaches…is that right MR.J.VINK ???
KATIE, STREET FIGHTER …
DAVIDB the DAVIDB …
MY GRACIE, the BURN MUSE…
AUDREY ,my family …
and
BURNIANS …and I mean ALL of YOU…wherever you ARE …
WE LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.
P.S I will be watching YOU :)))
You know…therefore…Don’t get me started …:)))
SEAN ,
we can’t wait to have you in the DC/NYC area…!!!
SEAN in Beijing,
SEAN in DC,
what not to love,
emerging no more …:)))
Hi all at Burn HQ,
Great news about tomorrow night have a good one and you manage to contain the crowds.
Looking for the Mr Parr when he can make it.
This place is really rocking.
Just a quick techie note, my rss feed doesn’t seem to be working, don’t know if anyone else is getting this problem. Maybe it’s just traffic overload.
Cheers all and best of luck.
If you need any help from England drop me a line.
Ian
TOMMY..
as i have said many times, it is comments like yours that keep us going….there is no way to keep everyone happy all the time….but, if we have a healthy confluence of opinions and photography , then i think the energy will flow….the minute it is not organic and fun and educational and inspirational for all of us, is the minute i go do something else….we are all bonded here on Burn by positive energy and that is how it will stay….again, many thanks for your thoughtful comment….
IAN…
Anton is having his coffee now, but i just alerted him to your concern….30 seconds later…he tells me everything is fine as far as he can see…..
cheers, david
Apologies, think the rss problem was my end, quick reboot all fine.
Ian
CIVI
I agree with Sam that it would be great to have a “what not to love” shirt out.
GLENN,
I am not sure about your sanity…but there is no time for TIME OUT…:)))
We ALL know that MR.HARVEY is a joker …:)))THERE IS NO TIME OUT !!!
AITKEN,
I was the one doing the OVERLOAD…oupssie…
I am going to drink some red wine …hopping to free some lanes …
CAN I GO NOW ???
AKAKY…IRL…I thought you have gone already (&)
LASSAL,
I will Skype KERRY…she will talk to ANTON and then they will call MR.HARVEY…who will be in the middle of the Skyping Session with OUR PATRICIA….who is Skyping …REIMAR …
WHAT THE BURN NOT TO LOVE !!!
P.S Go figure…not that I know how to do skyping …
“ …… enjoy the show.
LOVE you IMANTS…en…joy
en…vious
david:….thank u…..send u a message…wish you all the biggest suggest on friday….will await the reports from attendees…..i my picture doesnt sell (can’t imagine it will, that’s weird abstraction ;)), i am giving it to you…it’s my gift….for all u’ve done for us
now off for our own long family drive….
b
Love the Parr Walmart image on the home page. Can’t wait for noon.
DAH
*scans the comments with her little metal detector..picks up a tiny nugget, holds it to the light…lets go a EEEEHAWWW when she realizes that it came from a vein located deep in one of the most talented mine shafts of Burnland..*
a soon to be published essay by MIMI!
GOOD-O! soon-soon-soon, i hope!
YES, i also want a ¨BURN. what´s not to love, tee shirt¨!
SEAN
Have a wonderful time in DC and NYC! What a difference from North Korea, eh? NYC, my fave city in the en-tire world! (Not that i´ve seen all that many other cities, but i was spoiled by Manhattan and will never get it out of my blood!)
CATHY
Have a great time in India..i would like to second DAH and say i´d love to see some kick-ass photos from you of Santa Fe..there is something about the knowledge that comes from ultra-familiarity that provides very fertile ground for a seriously original artistic contribution. says me anyway. So? Hope to see your work on Burn sooner rather than later. Keep your heart, keep thinking..it will happen!
CIVI
Love how pumped up you get when there´s a new post here from DAH..You´re a regular dancing bear this morning ;)
Ok..work beckons..no, it doesn´t beckon it cracks the whipski, so BEST to ALL
Kathleen
wal-MART..IN BURN area !!!
Keep shooting in the Walmart area …
DAVID and co..
thank you so much for giving us this opportunity…
to learn and to grow….
thank you,,,,
and of course special thanks again to martin….
what not to love?
:))
I love our TIMING KATIE …
I am drinking MARTINi on the rocks :)))
DAVID,
I’m leaving Santa Fe next week. Won’t be back till Spring but I’ve got hard drives full of unedited work from here to edit. In the meantime I started a great new project in California and can’t wait to get back to continue it. The project I’ve been searching for a long time. Forget the singles, this is going to be a kick ass essay!
I know what I want to shoot in India and it’s not cliche at all or even exotic. I’ll be there for five weeks so exotic will be hard to avoid but I’ve already got a couple of “assignments” for myself. Not leaving for India till January though.
I’ve already submitted some single images from Santa Fe that I thought were pretty darn good but have yet to see anything here.
I would like to send my hearts to all Burnians! Especially, David and Anton !
Celebrating Friday fiesta, I hope our all works sold out. :)))
a civilian-mass audience! You are very lovely….:))
Hi! Kerry. it’s me. very glad :))
KYUNGHEE LEE,
lonely indeed …How is your daughter
You must the Hawaiian LADY…I might be wrong…
I am doing a research…” if olive oil and alcohol combined …can improve memory”
LOVE BURN and PHOTOGRAPHY !!!!
Herta Mueller wins 2009 Nobel literature prize
Davin…check her out …about …Romania…
YOUNG TOM
i flew in last night as the sun was setting. loved all the trees below (which reminded me of the spongy kind that adorn architectural models). have a piece in a show that opens tonight at the photographic center northwest. am flying back to california 7.35 friday night.
email me.
PANOS…can I be the dj tonight???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doYNBHE8Yes
ANNA,
Viva…are you coming to Greece too???
THODORIS,
where are you ???
Hey DAVID
we spoke way back when, when the spark of Burn started to roaring … and I just wanted to let you know that I am still in Brooklyn, In the Willyburg area, and SOOOOO more than willing to give my time and energy to Burn to help it progress … I still would like very much to get my hands dirty in Burn be it a Gallery attendant or writing grants or flying to mars to prove a point thats not yet made!
Please let me know if you need anything, and I can arrange to stop by the loft if you are having any general meeting … my # is 203-217-9718 and e-mail vaso.lakis@gmail.com
Cheers, hope to hear from you soon.
Vasilios
CIVI
absolutely!
I am very impressed…MR.PARR is “shooting” answers fast…
I am afraid he is drinking the same coffee as MR.HARVEY …
speedochino like cappuccino
VIVA …I am still drinking MARTINi …:)))
Did HE say FART …???
MR.HARVEY…what can I say …You have Cool friends …
take it from an old fart …like myself !!!
It’s only rock & roll and I love you !!!
WAKE UP BURNIANS !!!
Glenn,Haik, Herve,Katharina,MartinK,Eric, JennyLynn,AndrewB, MartinB,Eva,Lisa, CharlesP,Chrisb,Abele,
Asher,JoniK,PaulT,Joe,Stoopid,Gina,Lance,MyGracie…
Walm- ART …is OPEN…please proceed …NOW :)))
dear BURNIANS,
I like the Dear…
as much as I like the Cheers…
ARE YOU DONE YET???
dear HAIK,
what are you drinking, mate ??? beef…???
I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL:)))
ah well – he donna like my question.
cozy in here though…
DANIDB,
did you say ninja …you such a pisser…
When you will be an old fart yourself…Mr.Englishman with the Norwegian wine…
I wish you to have the same “speed” like MR.PARR …
or like…MR.HARVEY…he writes…and Skypes…and drinks tequilla…and travels…and
dances…like 17years old…OIME …
May the spirits of Universe …be with you, BURNIANS !!!
DavidB, you better go and draw his attention to it. I think he missed it by accident.
It’s quiet in here. I want to ask him another question about nostalgia. It’s so hard to avoid and not everyone can be interested in walmart etc. There must be a way to tackle the problem of nostalgia otherwise I think I am going to land in it. I’m just not that interested in the appearance of New India, not unless someone’s paying me. I much prefer exploring what I haven’t seen before than seeing what I already more or less know. I want to see into the past. Maybe that’s not even nostalgia. I’m not sure.
Someone somewhere was saying that photography helps us see the world better. I think it only helps photographers see better or differently and maybe even only when they are engaged in picture taking. I’m not sure it helps your average Joe with only a domestic interest in photography see the world any differently. I notice that its only when thinking about taking pictures that I see the world photographically. The rest of the time, I am just rushing about seeing it the way I always do. I guess we all filter our view of the world through our own interests and preoccupations.
whoooosh..
and the rush subsides..
i think the burn server had trouble keeping up with mr. parr on occasions..
great session – really enjoyed reading the answers.. and the walmart project will be fun.
ANDREAC,
I believe that you have to post your questions …in the other dialogue…
Go Aussie…go get him…before MR.HARVEY serves the turkey sandwiches …
CIVI :)
What not to love about a beef barbecue on a BURNing server?
and the question from the CIVILIAN to MR.PARR:
CIVILIAN : MR.PARR , are you happy with your new “bloody” Walmart project…???
What NOT to LOVE !!!
rare..
*warm round of applause*
and thank you david, n anton, for hooking it up..
What did I tell you ???
time for turkey sandwiches,low fat, no sodium maybe salmon and medium NY steak…poker… and wine !!!
VIVA, VIVA, VIVA …BURN is still BURNING…
and now who is gonna analyze in depth the ninja answers…:)))
Thank you MR.HARVEY …and the BURNing team … and BURNIANS…
Goodnight from Greece… can you imagine if i wasn’t dyslexic …OIME
Haik…Skype me …
( to be perceived as a joke)…nightsgood full of nostalgia !!!
DAVID/ ANTON,
Congrats for all the well deserved recognition that is going your way these days. There is nothing more pleasing than to have witnessed how Burn has grown and to see what it is becoming….I remember the start, the vision you had and little by little, it is all coming together… You can both be very proud!
I wish I could be there on Friday to see the exhibit…I am sure this will be a success! My spirit is with you guys!!!
Cheers,
Eric
Huge inspiration to read everything here tonight. Thanks to everyone who made it happen!
My favourites from Mr. Parr:
‘There is an unwritten law that tells you when it is OK to shoot someone , and when there is a problem. about 1% of the population ( more if they are with kids) get angry when they see a camera.’
‘(…) It is my intuition that drives this thinking.’
‘there is nothing as quirky or fascinating as people.’
‘(…) However I sometimes think that photojournalists, in particular, always look to other societies problems rather than confronting their own. It is too easy just to blame others.’
‘So in one sense I want the photos I take now to be about now, not about times that have disappeared. Having said that, I too sometimes am lazy and shoot old world, but at least am aware of this when I do it.’
Going to copy these to my ‘favourite quotes text document’…
Civi (all)…
I’m here, I’m here!!
just got back from Greece… did my duty—voted… in my memory cards I think I might have a short visual story of a guy who jumps on a plane to go cast his vote in a desperate attempt to participate in a so called democracy :))) … now the hard part—editing… if indeed I have a sequence I’ll make a slideshow and post a link in a couple of days…
Burn seems to be spreading its wings… that’s really cool… all the attention/nomination(s)… the gallery show tomorrow… just read the interview with Martin Parr…
As a wise person I once knew said… ??what’s not to love??
Cheers :))
loved that one
‘So in one sense I want the photos I take now to be about now, not about times that have disappeared. Having said that, I too sometimes am lazy and shoot old world, but at least am aware of this when I do it.’
LASSAL,
Good to see your name here…. so when are you coming to see family in Brussels???? Let me know when you will be around….
Eric
ohmygod, i am so HIGH! It was so great reading Martin´s answers to our questions. His answers gave me yet more questions but that´s good too..turbo fired my imagination.
CIVILIAN
See? Told you he was amazing! Did you google him and see why i´m such a groupie? And yeah,
¨a civilian-mass audience! You are very lovely….:))¨
Wasn´t that just the love-liest comment? I am still smiling at that kind and humble recognition of your contribution here..
DAH
Hats off, Mr Burn..thanks for bringing Martin to Burn..it plain made my day, week, month.
PANOS
You said way back when, start with your own village. i never forgot. Both DAH and Martin seconded that today. It might not be exotic but it´s part of our DNA. What do we know most about? i.e, what is within us that most bears exposing to the light? The closer to the bone, the sweeter the meat.
ALL
Let´s celebrate poker night at Burn..it´s a big week…the exhibit on Friday night..the walls are gonna jump for joy, the pixels are gonna swoon, the air is gonna vibrate with all the energy that´s there and worldwide from others wishing they were there. Happy days..
best to ALL
Kathleen
ERIC
I have been wanting to say this for a while!
congratulations to you for your work..I have been following the development of the lords of the rings ad other stories you did.
I really really appreciate this, especialy considering the fact that photography is not your main activity.
you are a such an inspiring person!
grazie!