looks like a burned out rock band doesn’t it? i was playing with my toy Instax instant film camera today and did set up this shot of Anton Kusters, Mike Courvoisier (he does not seem to have moved from his position in the last picture), Chris Bickford and the ubiquitous John Gladdy…all hanging around waiting for you…..you who can make it to tomorrow’s Burn meeting in my loft….i think folks will start drifting in about 11am, but just come when you can….shuffling around some ideas is what we have in mind…
the net seems to come and go in the loft, but we will skype some of you, if for no other reason than just to say hello…….and let’s please see if we can lower the testosterone quotient of this meeting by at least a little…i think you know where live, but if not please come to 475 Kent Ave , Williamsburg between Division and South 11th..buzz 607…please join the band….i look forward to seeing you….
“two will be before one”
it depends.
HAIK,
you did …100 !!! you are the winner of the month !!!
AKAKY …what’s the price again?
BURNIANS…please…go out and shoot …I need a visual stimulation
ANTIOS
I thought we are shooting for 6000 this month?
IMANTS..
good point..i am taking the night off..
ALL..
i want all of you to know that our friend Haik is going to be our super tech guru here on Burn…Haik will work with Anton to make sure all is well on the tech side here…Haik will be making new technical improvements here as well as setting up CIRCUS as technically further advanced than Burn….i have thanked Haik privately, but i want to thank him now publicly…for Haik does this out of his heart…he will be an unpaid intern…like all the rest of us…it will be my job to make sure Haik sees this as an investment for his life….it is only his belief in Burn and i think the bond between us personally that has led to Haik making this most generous of offers….
big hug Haik…and a cold beer when i see you…
cheers, david
Yay Haik.
ok, I had to come back for this…
MR.HARVEY,
““Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.”
John Kotter
Credit when credit is due…BRAVO,BRAVO,BRAVO… HAIK
Good choice, DAH …
Good choice indeed …
MICHAEL WEBSTER…
i share your populist views….yes of course i realize not all have equal amounts of driven passion…i too have wanted to shake my fist into the wind at the inequities that surround us….but ultimately i think too much energy can go into shaking your fist…the energy is lost to the wind….so, recognize the inequities and do what you can to offset a negative with a big fat positive….the wind might just start blowing in the right direction…
cheers, david
ANTON ( we LOVE you) and HAIK…
DREAM team…the sky is the limit…
now, goodnight…
Thanks David !!!
My pleasure and my honor to help you and Anton to bring both BURN and CIRCUS to their next chapters.
We are definitely on for a Cold One. Whenever it happens.
Cheers and thanks to all …
Brother Haik… you’re a true mensch!
I need a HAIK!!!!
Congrats, Haik!
You have been enrolled in the toughest gig to crack on the web: giving a hand to David in the running of BURN…
Like my dear father used to say (in french): many candidates, few selected! ;-)
Our brother HAIK, whats not to love!!!
Patricia
Thank you, Haik (andcongratulations) !!!
Civi, you are submitting? Alright! :-)
Haik….
AWESOME!!
the portrait needs to be taken again….
take the red eye to NYC…
great news!!!
***
Go Haik go! Congratulations.
Definitely you are the perfect candidate for the job.
Is anyone here familiar with Larry Sultan? He just passed away.
His work is extremely “current.” Check out The Valley (shot in rental homes being used for porn films.)
Also a great project he did about his parents.
You can see portfolios here (active links in blue):
http://www.wirtzgallery.com/bios/bio_sultan-2.html
Congrats Haik. A lot of work and a lot of fun.
Take care there folks!
Quote for today: “Where the f..k is the sun?”
wish you all a day full of bright :)
Congrats Haik,
the Burn band grows. Yeah!
erica is on photoaday
http://www.aphotoaday.org/blog/?p=1155
Thanks for posting this David – strangely I am seeing this in the middle of the night as I lay in a strange bed, can’t sleep so am catching up on burn on my phone.
I always liked apad – great source.
More strange, just remembered my dream that woke me, was about the future Develop and I was looking at a blog entry I had written featuring the work of a photographer.
strange dream.. strange couch.. strange…
everyone – go strange yourself.
(the already strange need not apply)
CATHY..
Larry Sultan was certainly one of the most important photographers in America.. thanks for the link
HAIK:
this will be quick, as i’m about to run away for a couple weeks, but just a toss of congrats….having spoken with him personally (for Panos’ opening in La-La Land), i can assure you that he’s even more the gentlemen than what folks imagine…though he does have tech knowledge/savy up the ying-yang, ANY person that puts his family and kid above all else is a person of whom i have unyielding respect…haik is that kind of person….now, since u’ve already seen what i sent u this weekend, shall i send more converse-rouge-esque nude pics to get this party started? ;)))))….u r the best…burn/circus will be a better place for it :))))0….running for a family road trip…..hugs :))
Cathy:
yes, sultan was not only a great photographer, but a gentle soul…and that kind of soul also discovered the lost souls in the world (especially the porn world) he shot….the lost child in us all….
running
b
Interesting post re: Nachtwey internship:
http://thetravelphotographer.blogspot.com/2009/12/pov-on-unpaid-photo-internships.html
Alec Soth is blogging once again:
http://alecsothblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/new-blog/
just a quick note on the JN uproar…
over the years, i’ve written extensively (mostly at LS) in defense of ‘internships’: at Magnum, VII and individual places, because an internship, if the intent of the ‘employer’ (in this case Jim) is right, this could be an extraordinarily enriching learning/educational experience. I have tried to make the argument that corporate internships, like Magnum, VII, VU, Blackstar (when it was around), Time, etc, NEED/MUST create a relationship with an educational institution as well,with would serve to add/aid academic credit,just fully cutting off the argument that it is ‘unpaid work/exploitation.’ For those who seek this work out, and are not in school, it still serves as invaluable experience, not only for one’s photographic future (a letter from Jim, for example, as reference) but MORE importantly (to me), a real opportunity to observe, discuss and learn from someone who has the knowledge/experience/acument to teach someone with less experience. when i was in university, i served 3 internships (1 in a paper, 2 in big businesses), none of which were paid, all of which (good or ill) contributed to my maturity (? ;) ) and ideas as a writer/photographer.
I also have given tirelessly to others FOR FREE. I worked my ass of for Burn/David for the first couple of months Burn went live, as editor-at-large (meaning: finding essays/photographers/work, talking with folk, not to be misconstrued as making editorial decisions, that was/is/always will be David’s role), as a writer/commentator here, as coordinator, as email writer/encourager. I spent a lot of time writing emails, talking on the phone and meeting with photogrphers/editors to help bring steam to burn, sometimes canceling family plans or putting them on hold (to get Mustafah’s Obama essay, one early saturday morning).I have also helped edit and/or write statements/commentary for at least 7 essays that have appeared here. I still meet with photographers to help edit ther work/discuss ideas. I have never been paid, and never asked for anything. I did all this (even at times the expense of my family relationship) because i believed in David and Burn. Sometimes people give NOT for aggrandisement but because they recongize we are all inthis meat-mess together. Not everything that we do or everything that others give us requires monitary value…
in fact, one can make the argument that someone should pay me ;)))…someone should pay JIM or in the case of Burn pay David because of the invaluable sevice, experience and ideas that they bring to bare when working collaboratively. And yet, the photoworld doesn’t get all up in arms when photographers dont asked to be paid for their time. Ask a lawyer for his time, or a doctor??…free??….
i do believe that there is a lot of exploitive behavior in the photoworld… have seen it first hand and have, in truth, argued about it and voiced my own frustration with it: at the expense of both career opportunity and friendship. However, the behavior of the photographers on Jaime’slist is so infantile and so depressing that I was left frankly stunned at the level of vitriol and inanity. these guys have never even met Jim, let alone understand the more nuanced ideas of this situation.
Exploitive work should be faught at all costs and it continues to this day, but giving photographers an opportunity to actually learn from someone, to actually get down inthe mud to undestand what the life and the learning of being a photographer is is an invaluable opportunity. My biggest lament about this practice is that it again separates/discriminates by wealth. Which photographers can afford to help/wrok for free?…who have the time/opportunity? Weekly, marina and i assess our own financial life as photographers (it is a struggle) and we’ve had success/been successful: imagine a young phtoographer who just would love the opportunity but did not have the freedom to have the time to commit without pay because they had to work for money elsewhere?…that is a critical area that the photoworld still has not wholly addressed….
but like all skills, i see the world of photography as guild-like…one learns through both apprenticeship and through exprience. it is INCUMBENT upon all of us to help one another, it is incumbent upon the elder/experience to help and give back to the younge/less fortunate. I know, personally, that Jim does this in many many ways, none of which were elaborated upon in that blog argument….
As i have written extensively about this issue before, it is not (at this point) terribly interesting or productive to re-hash my thoughts. However, what IS the most profoundly discouraging thing about the ‘discussion’ (more like full frontal vindictive attack) on Jamieslist is the shameful, cowardly and vindictive nature of most of the comments, including lots of personal attacks and just-simply wrong ideas (vis-a-vis Noor, for example).
Like the all contentious issues which each of us face, nothing gets resolved without honest, full-disclosure, frank conversation. the level of the ‘discussion’ there is an embarrassment, frankly. I have met Nachtwey and have spoken with him and while there are some things I disagree with him profoundly (and surely respect him profoundly as a photographer) about, Jim like all others is a human being and should be treated as such as well. In order to engage Jim (or any other person), vituperative, pointless, foul name-calling invective does not service at all to the tenent of the conversation.
Collaborative problem solving (The net) can yield extraordinary results, resources (eg, read today’s NYTimes Magazine “year in ideas’ about collaborative math solving) and networking. However, it also tends to lead to a gut of genuine compassion and honor through which more insight, even in disagreement, can be won.
There is much that I both loathe and lament about our profession (as a collective mentality) and much that I adore, but the fact that the relationship to ‘unpaid internships’ vis-a-vis education hasnt even come up (again) is another example of how too often herd charging yields nothing but, ummm, a stampede.
This is also dismaying and yet the good majority of the people there have yet to countenance that.
is this a sociological inevitability of our age, the net, youth, ease (it’s easy to say horrid things about someone through the veil of protection that the anonymity of the web provides) or just our collective uncorking….
as much as i try to champion the web as an essential goodness (it is) especially to our profession, it’s profoundly saddening to see this kind of ‘dialog’ surface, continually…
in the end, i was left saddened by the temper and enmity and nonsense spit out. There are legitimate ideas to be discussed on this whole idea of ‘unpaid’ work and wise and kind and thoughtful people can disagree. but turning this issue into a witch hunt serves not only no purpose but ruins any chance of real dialog.
I know, personally, that David gives back to those who help him. I say this not because i have helped or because i know david (lord knows we’ve had enough disagreements ;)), but because he does believe in helping because he has been blessed enough to have had fortune (of life) bestowed upon him and I know he relishes and cherishes that and shares it with those around him.
I know, for a fact, Jim does s well. It is a shame that so many (younger, older photographers?) have turned this issue into hate-filled, blind enmity. It is a shame….
for in the end, we are, none of us, anything without one another, young and old, experienced or callow, wealthy or impoverished, recongized or unknown. we are all joined and the sooner we understand that the richer our awareness shall become….
but maybe, it will never become that. in the mean time, I would countenance others to concentrate on the importance of what really makes equitable work:
the sharing and giving of yourself.
“Woe to the land that’s governed by a child.”
—from Richard III
all the best
bob
and the MOST IMPORTANT person on the planet for Burn: ANTOn
who has worked his ass off tirelessly for 1 year and NEVER asked for anything, not one thing, not $$, not love,not honor, not appreciation…well, ok, he asked for a couch to crash on :))))
…and he aint a rich guy…he did it out of his love and dedication to david and to each and everyone of US who wrote, published/bitched, argued here….
not one penny…he did it from belief….
and that’s about awareness :)))
b
Thanks, Anton, and happy christmas to you.
:)
Wow, well said Bob.
Though as a Richard III aficionado, I’m not sure I understand what you mean by that quote. I haven’t read the Nachtwey thread, but from what you write, I might be more inclined to go with “True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings; Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.”
Or perhaps “The world is grown so bad, that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.”
Peace to the Sultan family; Larry’s spirit and work will live on.
I love this: http://gallery.me.com/njturpin#100039
ROLL UP! ROLL UP!
FOR ONE DAY ONLY.
‘BURN- BACKSTAGE WITH THE BAND.’
FOUR DAYS IN NEW YORK…GREAT PEOPLE …..GREAT FOOD…….
FIRST GALLERY ON MY WEBSITE. FOR 24 HOURS ONLY. JUST CLICK ON MY NAME ABOVE.
AS SOME FAMOUS GREEK ONCE SAID ” WHATS NOT TO LOVE”
PEACE
JOHN G
What! No captions?? You unethical bastard! ;^}
Great stuff, John. Now I’m REALLY sorry I missed it.
Cheers.
LOVE YOUR PICS, JOHN!!! You have such an eye…
Patricia
nice one john.. you sobered up yet :ø)
“UNTITLED” and ” ‘BURN- BACKSTAGE WITH THE BAND.’
BY JOHN G
No Captions
With my bottle on my left
with your photos on my right
I let my imagination run wild
who is who …?
I guess …no reason
for civilian to know
captions or no captions
there is no difference at all
cause I LOVE u ALL
VIVA JOHNYY…JOHNY …o,ho,ho !!!
P.S WENDY…MY GRACIE…
I can do better…I promise…
I will be FOCUSED
DAVIDB,
JOHNYG looks sobered …Civilian has a problem
P.S Love to CAPA and BEATE
KATIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
FONSECAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BOBB,
I am still reading…
LOVE !!!
dellicson…
Any idea why I cannot see the images in that video, and just hear the sound? Anyone else with this problem?
ERICA MCDONALD aka EMCD,
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
Our PATRICIA,
after the holidays…you will hear good news…Falling into Place…
I believe…
don’t ask me for details
It’s just hit me !!!
DELLICSON,
it looks that you are more focused …
MARCIN,
usually I quote …whatever clicks me…
Today with your quote…you DID it !!!
JUSTIN,
Not that kinda of submitting …:)))
PANOS,PANOS…wherever you are …
come out and see the photos of JOHNY..
Can you finally find your way to the Greek House…???
We can copy and paste the NY BURNED BAND
P.S As PETER GRANT said…I NEED A HAIK !!!
John G :)))))…loved the pictures….and loved the ‘context’ on your last pic )))))
CIVI: dont worry…it was a long, running to class to teach post, trying to defend Jim and attack the attackers…so, it probably doesnt make sense ;)))…by the way…i have great news to annnounce too….but only after new years….stay tuned ;))))))))….hugs, b
Michael :))…yea, love Richard III much…i meant, this is what happens when the young (the comments with all the invective) take over…but i prefer your quotes better :))))
ok, my last comment on unpaid internships…..i just left under Jaime’s new post, updating
Jaime:
thanks for the addition…and the moving forward of this discussion….
i really was dismayed to see the level of both language and mentality swim into the discussion with such adrenaline and myopia. However, that all that vitriol and defamation has at least spawned a richer and more essential conversation is (as i tried to point out) still one of the benefits of collective argument/problem solving. As long as we can keep this ship steered clearly and cleanly, we can hope to reach richer veins of resolution…both pro and contra the ‘unpaid intern’ idea…
in truth, i really wonder if all the enmity is born from general frustration/anger at the idea of an unpaid intern or is born of something else: the ease with which it is to castigate someone on the web. I wonder if many of the commentators would have been so malicious had I advertised for an unpaid intern to help me print my work or help me organize my current project?…I doubt it, and therein lay the other discouraging aspect: those who have achieved success, of course, have an obligation (as i wrote) to help; however, they often are also the ones who are villified the most violently and that is a shame, to the profession and to their humanity.
I’ve helped so many without asking for renumeration and i’ve also never asked someone to help me without some kind of payment (in our family, that might be an invitation to our home for dinner, or my time to help them with a project), so it’s a difficult call, especially when there is, all too often, a propensity to exploit or allow “ca plus change” mentality to abide, but there are critical and very real (photographic, experiential and spiritual) reasons why time spent with a mentor can have long-lasting an rewarding benefits, long past the idea of a salary. With that in mind, we must balance real educational and experiential worth for the intern with real value they provide and making sure that is respected and given.
In other words, what we MUST value (what i suggested in my long, incoherent first comment) is that each of us has the obligation to help, teach and foster one another, regardless of name or stature. We also must respect one another, regardless of name or stature.
What else do we have, if not our deep and committed relationship to one another, as professionals and as human beings.
Thanks for bring this to the fore.
cheers
bob
BURNIANS,
“What else do we have, if not our deep and committed relationship to one another, as professionals and as human beings.”
BOB BLACK
P.S Can I drink now ???
Now where can I get that internship with the trucking industry……….work for free for 3 months to and learn how to piss off the Blue Heelers . Maybe the art of pushing a broom, ……………
.
.
.
Meanwhile I was still pushing,,, the broom that is……………. dreaming “I am a photographer”
.
.
The union rep hangs his head in shame as I clean the lunchtime remnants of the chosen.
BURNIANS,
“Maybe the art of pushing…I was still pushing…dreaming “I am a photographer”
…remnants of the chosen.”
IMANTS
P.S I am drinking…VIVA !!!
DAVID B…
John G consumes no alcohol…his only addictions are caffeine and nicotine…
BOB…
you are right on about the unpaid intern bit and a little off on Anton “appreciation” i think….surely Anton received honor and appreciation…better ask him….better go re-read every comment i ever wrote about the man….at least he sure as hell got both honor and appreciation from me…..and like everyone who does work with me in any collaboration, Anton has a piece of the pie if a pie is ever delivered!!! yes, we should all hug Anton, me most of all, but please do not make it sound as if he is not appreciated..again, simply ask Anton..in any case, i will announce soonest a more expansive role for Anton which has been planned for a long long time….there has never been anyone with whom i have ever worked who is a better collaborator than Anton…we work so so well together….