Comments on: alessandro penso – born kings

By: Bjarte Edvardsen

Bjarte Edvardsen — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:39:22 +0000

These images hit me in the face. And stays there. Most of all I enjoy the closeness to the subjects. The half mustache as the ending picture is genius. Whatever you might do with this project in the future, please leave that last picture where it belongs.

By: Young talent - Alessandro Penso - 4SEE Photographers

Young talent - Alessandro Penso - 4SEE Photographers — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:28:43 +0000

[...] his essay “Born Kings” was featured in the prestigious online journal “Burn” curated by David Alan Harvey, and will be also taking part in “Descubrimientos”, the [...]

By: Sofia Quintas

Sofia Quintas — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:08:19 +0000

I love this one! First, and reading your text I thought that a common place was going to be shown, yet something intimate and fresh comes out of your work. It’s very dificult to find a new angle in a subject that’s already been photographed so many times. You did it! You did it from the inside.

So strong, and yet so misterious and far away from all the clichés associated to this theme. Love also the light in every photo of this essay, your proximity and freedom to photograph can ne noticed in each photo, and in the entire essay. I can tell by your photos that the subject trusted you and that you also gave a lot of yourself in return. I can feel your dedication and respect in this essay. Bravo!

Keep on doing it until you feel is done. It remind me so much of Nan Goldin…

Saludos

By: Rossella

Rossella — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:33:02 +0000

Doug and Sally inside
They cookin’ for the Down Pipe
Who’s staring at Miss Rayon
Who’s busy licking off her Pig Pen
I’m searching for my mainline
I said I couldn’t hit it sideways
I said I couldn’t hit it sideways
Aw just like Sister Ray said
Whip it on.

By: Patricia Lay-Dorsey

Patricia Lay-Dorsey — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:26:31 +0000

Error:

I meant to say your choice to work in color offers a more respectful, holistic view into this world. B&W could have seemed a bit Diane Arbus-like…

Patricia

By: Patricia Lay-Dorsey

Patricia Lay-Dorsey — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:22:54 +0000

Alessandro, I hope you are continuing to work on this project. Having know many such performers myself, I appreciate the non-sensationalized approach you bring to a subject that is all too often shown as a “freak show.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The folks I’ve known are professionals in the truest sense, creative and talented performers.

Your choice to work in black and white helps guard against the tendency towards garishness. There are excellent portraits in here that capture so much more than how a person looks. Do you plan to expand the focus and to include scenes from the daily lives of these folks? It might lead you in interesting directions…

Patricia

By: panos skoulidas

panos skoulidas — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:19:29 +0000

Now this is once again very “italian”…
sensual, real…awesome, ferrari-like…
in other words , too “perfect” for me… too “pro”…
too 5Dish………… too canon-ish low iso demonstration..
i could be wrong…
not only equipment-wise ( could be D3 in 64000 iso ..etc..)
i could be wrong…
too “conservative” for me…
too… hmmmm…..”republican”…….. too … hmmmmmmm S.Palin ( my 14 year old christian daughter is kinda pregnant, trailer trash style ) kinda thing……..

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:21:40 +0000

This is yet soaking wet with photographic talent. I hope someday to have even a scrap of this, if only to apply to my family photography.

By: Nick Hardcastle

Nick Hardcastle — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:21:57 +0000

An excellent essay with great work. Each image has me looking for more of the story behind it.

By: Paul Treacy

Paul Treacy — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:29:02 +0000

What an intriguing world. A breathtaking presentation.

By: Gordon Lafleur

Gordon Lafleur — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:54:04 +0000

Allessandro

Beautiful beautiful photographs. An inspiration. Subject aside, all the other stuff aside, masterfully done. I’m impressed with your skill and eye.
Wonderful stuff.

By: wendy

wendy — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:57:41 +0000

men..
women..
drama..
great shots..
lighting..
sexuality..
again
and
again….
and
then…..
**

By: Brian Frank

Brian Frank — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:17:18 +0000

Salvatore, That’s why I never read them before I look at the images. If I have to go back to read the text to understand what I’m seeing, then I don’t think the photography told the necessary story. Here, I didn’t even bother reading the text since the images hit the point beautifully.

Alessandro, Well done. It reminds me of the “Sick Girl” essay by Giovanni Cocco published here back in Feb. Not exploitative, a little voyeuristic, really expressive. Well done.

By: Salvatore Sacco

Salvatore Sacco — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:27:05 +0000

I’m not sure I understand why photographers must communicate a lengthy explanation about their work. A musician puts his/her ideas into the music and the interpretation is left to the audience as is with dance or painting and even in literature. I believe a proper introduction is good and that can be the germ of the idea that led you on the journey but if you can’t say it with your images then try another approach. Creating good images is just the raw material, arranging the images to form an essay is the art. Let the art take on a life of its own, let it speak.
Good work.

By: Herve

Herve — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:32:05 +0000

Good point, Francois Dupond.

Jim, I am not sure he meant the gay community, but actually strictly the “queer” one, more activist and with emphasis on theatricals, which represents itself more than it speaks for all gays. It’s a bit as if, in a totally different register and context, we thought the KKK was about all whites.

Not to say that queers are gay supremacists…. But then again :-))))

As usual….The text is bloated, and trying to make points that could rather be found in the pictures, but which I fear the photographer fills in because they are not at all in the pictures. Backstage photography is one of the great subjects in the medium, not sure it needs the intellectualizing you insist lending upon it in your text.

You mention an exhuberant movement, then invites us backstage, with moody, Degas-esque pictures. Very fine, but are they to tell us about bursting and rebellion? Are they to tell us about a specific complexity withi9n acting out queer stereotypes? Here is the problem with adding a text which aspires to say (too) much.

I think as a genre study (and for me, this is the genre of “staged Arts”, queer troupe being the mere pretext, or access to it), it stands well. less so representative of what your text seem to be about.

By: Preston Merchant

Preston Merchant — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:05:59 +0000

Excellent, engaged, intriguing, enjoyable photography.

By: ben roberts

ben roberts — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:44:44 +0000

@dah

yeah i think i may show my face. with prints. finally.

By: Valery Rizzo

Valery Rizzo — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:48:04 +0000

Really strong work Alessandro, I especially like the work that reminded me of the cinematic lighting used by Giovanni Cocco in his beautifully shot essay Sick girl. This is Italy? who knew. I might edit out 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28 and 29 only because they are not as strong as the other shots You have, which are better lit and have better composition and are gorgeous.

By: john Gladdy

john Gladdy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:21:55 +0000

Firstly I understand that this is a ‘work in progress’, and therefore will change shape and direction (probably) as it grows. At the moment I find several very strong images, along with quite a lot of what reads like ‘filler’ to me. Storytelling pictures rather than pictures that tell a story if you like.
The theme of the essay is not clear to me either yet, all that superimposing of masks, temporary identity and slashing irony…I read it in the words but I dont yet see it in the pictures. I think there is definately something you want to say in here, and with these people, and i would like to see it when you are further down the line with it.
Good luck.
j

By: Gracie

Gracie — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:21:46 +0000

it is always about intent and always about this…
and always about sensationalizing and always about that…
always about voyeurism and always about her… or him…
or…
it is always about me…

whichever way the leaf turns it is a leaf… different colors in different seasons
but it is what it is…

alessandro, these are very interesting and very nice photos…
thanks.