Right Eye Dominant

Yugoslavia-born, Paris-based artist Sergej Vutuc joins me for a deep conversation about pushing the boundaries with his creative work. Combining sound, live performance, analog film and zine-making, Sergej possesses a singular creative approach that is inspiring to behold. Sergej Vutuc website Sergej Vutuc Live Performance video Sergej Vutuc Instagram

A look at the life and work of a true art world enigma, Ray Johnson. Author Ellen Levy joins me to discuss the reluctant genius, sometimes referred to as "the most famous unknown artist." Collages and mail art and photos and more. Links: Ray Johnson Estate Ray Johnson work at The Art Institute of Chicago Ellen Levy on Instagram A Book About Ray / Ellen Levy website How To Draw A Bunny do...

Arthur Tress has been a prolific photographer since the mid 1960s. Though he may have flown under the radar when compared to some of his contemporaries, a new retrospective at The Getty Center in Los Angeles aims to change that. I had the pleasure of discussing the "new to me" work of Tress with The Getty's Senior Curator of Photographs, Jim Ganz. Arthur Tress website Arthur Tress a...

Danny Clinch was born "down the shore" in New Jersey. From humble beginnings, he ascended the ladder of rock and roll photography to become one of the top shooters in the world of music. He's photographed everyone from Johnny Cash to Tupac; the Beastie Boys to "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen. This conversation has tons of Jersey references, but you don't gotta be from th...

An encore presentation celebrating the life of Joan Liftin, who passed away earlier this year.  We had a wonderful conversation back in season one.  Sharing this as the dust settles from my recent trip to Paris Photo 2023. Joan Liftin had an illustrious career in photography. Besides being a photographer with three monographs under her belt, Joan spent many years as a teacher at the ICP and a phot...

This episode I welcome the Executive Director of the Penumbra Foundation and self-described iconoclast, Geoffrey Berliner to the podcast. We have a lively chat about photography's past (as well as its present and future), alternative processes and putting artists first! Links: Penumbra Foundation website Sally Mann Tintypes article Geoffrey Berliner upcoming exhibition (with Romualdas Pozersk...

A fun, New Jersey style chat with book designer and creative force of nature, Yolanda "Yo" Cuomo. We discuss her start in the publishing world, her work with Marvin Israel, and her stellar photo book design work for Paolo Pellegrin, Sylvia Plachy, Edward Keating and Diane Arbus. Lots to dig into here! Links: Yolanda Cuomo website Diane Arbus: Revelations Revelations Book (Amazon) Marvin...

Legendary British photographer Brian Griffin joins me for an enjoyable chat about his career, especially his music / album cover work with such luminaries as Depeche Mode and Echo & The Bunnymen. My music geekery comes out in full force on this one; it brings back fond memories of hours spent listing to my vinyl albums back in 1980s New Jersey! What an honor to speak with a living legend of mu...

My guest for this episode is writer Giancarlo Roma. Not only is he the son of noted photographer Thomas Roma, and the grandson of Lee Friedlander, he also manages the photo book imprint Haywire Press. A fun conversation about growing up surrounded by photography! Links: Haywire Press Friedlander First Fifty book (written / compiled by Giancarlo Roma) Thomas Roma website

A nice conversation with photographer and writer Tim Carpenter. Tim's book "To Photograph Is To Learn How To Die" is available now and is well worth the read. This episode is for all the existential photographers out there... you know who you are. Links: The Ice Plant: publisher of Tim's book; buy it here Tim Carpenter website

Season Three starts off with a bang! Legendary graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister joins me for a great discussion about Werner Herzog, creative bravery, working hard, and how today might just be better than you think. Links: Sagmeister website AIGA "Skin Cut" poster discussed The Happy Film Now Is Better book purchase Werner Herzog

My season two final episode is a great one!  Magnum photographer and true master of the medium Susan Meiselas joined my for a nice chat to discuss her lifetime of work, as featured in her traveling exhibition "Mediations." We talked about many of her iconic images and series, including "Carnival Strippers" as well as her noteworthy work in a Nicaraguan war zone. Such an honor t...

A great chat with Lena Fritsch, all about Japanese photography after World War 2. Some familiar names pop up, but we also discuss unsung heroes and some new stars of the Japanese world of photography. It was a pleasure to speak to Lena, who wrote the book "Ravens & Red Lipstick: Japanese Photography Since 1945" published by Thames & Hudson. Links: "Ravens & Red Lipstick&...

What constitutes a photograph? In its purest form, photography is literally "writing with light." A camera is not necessarily mandatory for creating photographic images. I discuss the world of cameraless photography with Lauren  Richman, who curated an exhibit called "Direct Contact" at the Eskenazi Museum of Art in Bloomington, Indiana. Links Direct Contact: Cameraless Photogr...

An overview of the myriad ways to get your artwork in front of an audience. Get your work seen without losing your shirt or your self-respect! Some frank talk about the pros and cons of dealing with galleries, competitions and portfolio reviews, all with a healthy does of DIY enthusiasm to help you launch your artwork out into the world...and maybe even make a bit of money in the process. Links: P...

The second installment of my two-part Berlin photo book conversations. This time I welcome photographer Jason Langer, who has a striking new book out, simply titled "Berlin." We have a great talk about loss, pain, death, religion, joy, sex and everything in between. This was a really insightful chat, I hope you enjoy it. Links: Jason Langer website Jason Langer Instagram Buy "Berlin...

This is part one of a two episode "Berlin Books" discussion. A wonderful chat with German photographer Christian Reister. Christian published his photo book "Berlin Nights" with Hoxton Mini Press in 2018, and I thought it'd be a great contrast to the second book to be discussed in my next episode. We chatted about music, Lomography, New York as well as one of my favorite c...

Where do you draw the line when you decide to take a photograph? What subjects or approaches are off limits? What are the legal limits and obligations that a photographer faces when making photographs in public? When is consent required? All of these questions and more in this episode. Links: Arne Svenson: NYC Neighbors photos Philip-Lorca diCorcia: Heads Miroslav Tichy Walker Evans: Subway Photos...

This episode features a rollicking interview with the great entertainment / music photographer, Frank Ockenfels 3. You've probably seen his work everywhere. He's shot everyone from the cast of The Walking Dead to rock legend David Bowie. Plenty of inspiration to found in Frank's decades of work. Links: Frank Ockenfels 3 website David Bowie and other music photos Frank's Instagr...

Pauline Martin, curator from the Photo Elysee Museum in Lusanne, Switzerland is my special guest for this episode. We discuss the history of blur or "flou" (the French term) which is a more accurate name for the soft, blurriness, out of focus, motion blur we often find in a photograph. A nice discussion that coincides with an exhibition of the same name that opens at the Photo Elysee on...

It was a true thrill to be able to talk with photographer Michael Ackerman. His deeply thoughtful approach to his work, and his dedication to his art is an inspiration to me. A true meeting of the minds. Links: Michael Ackerman website End Time City book Hunger: Epilogue book

A solo episode focussing on the subject of fear: how it affects our creative process, where it comes from, what it looks (and feels) like and how to disarm it. The book "Art & Fear" is the catalyst for this rambling thought flow! Links: Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland Overcoming Fear in the Creative Process Ted Forbes...

Love him or not, you know the work of Ansel Adams. Let's explore why he is so important to the history of the medium, and so popular with the viewing public. A convincing conversation with photo curator Becky Senf of the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona. Links: " Making a Photographer" book by guest Becky Senf Ansel Adams at the CCP

An encore episode from last season. Due to a death in my family I need some extra time preparing the next, new episode. Therefore, I thought I'd share this episode from Season One that perhaps didn't get the audience I think it deserves. Explore the good, the bad and the ugly along "The Mother Road," Route 66. Not too many kicks to discuss, sorry to say. Featuring a closer look...

A look at one of the titans of American art in the late 20th Century. Photography has always been integral to the work of Ed Ruscha. We'll focus on one specific series that is an example of his typological approach to image making. Also, Los Angeles rolls up its sleeves and takes on New York for the title of greatest American art scene. Links: Ed Ruscha at the Yancey Richardson Gallery Ed Rus...