Picture Perfect: Photography studio launches in old New Hradec schoolhouse

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Photography

NEW HRADEC, ND — Karolina Lym started her photography business in 2016 in Dickinson. She recently launched her new studio out of an old school house building about 10 miles northwest of Dickinson.

“So years after practicing I decided that it was time to actually go to school and learn photography if I wanted to do this as a career,” Lym said.

She then attended college at a school of photography in New York City. She said photography is a never ending process of education because there are always new things to learn, particularly with the advancement of technology. Lym noted that she’s currently taking additional online courses based in Brazil because she also speaks Portuguese.

“From different places there’s different points of view on things that we maybe don’t do here… It’s something that you can never really finish learning if that makes sense,” she said. “It’s been a great journey. And then 2016 is when I decided that I felt prepared enough that I could open my business and start from there.”

She said she started off specializing in weddings and still does them occasionally, said the physical strain of doing that can be very intense. Now her primary focus is family photography and newborns, but she still does some of everything. For example she’s been the photographer for events like the Make-a-Wish banquet and the Bakken BBQ.

“When I began, I specialized in weddings because that’s something I really loved… Like last year I had so many that my body was like, no more,” she said. “Even though I specialize, I have to be open to everything to survive in Dickinson. So I offer maternity cake smashes, I work with businesses and I do a lot of events.”

Lym explained that a cake smash is a photo shoot parents often have done for their child’s first birthday.

“Sometimes people get creative and instead of cake they want to do a donut, or instead of a donut they want to do spaghetti,” she said.

She elaborated that one of the challenges she’s grappled with since launching this business is the cultural differences between southwestern North Dakota and the West Coast where she grew up.

“I grew up in Los Angeles. I feel that I have a different style. Getting into the western part of North Dakota, that’s been a challenge because people are used to a classic way of photographing, and I’m more of a lifestyle photographer. But it’s also been great. You know, it’s just a challenge to get people to see your vision sometimes,” she said.

This is very much a family enterprise. Lym has one employee named Melodie who does most of the editing. Her daughters, 13 and 11, are also both very hard workers.

Karolina with her daughter Sariah, who is the social media videographer.

“My oldest one, she’s been doing this with me since I started in 2016, so she was six. That’s all my kids have ever known. They work with me most of the time when they’re not in school,” she said. “The other one, she’s only 11. I’m like, set on sending her to videography school because that’s a talent that she has. She does video really well. And I am not good at video because she’s great at it. It’s amazing to me, because I’m like, I can’t believe how she’s so young. And she can understand way more than I do on that. Because it’s a different art than photography.”

When asked how her daughter gained such a knack for video, she said it’s something of a mystery.

“So I just tell her my vision of what I wanted, and she knows how to do it,” she said. “She started doing it a few years ago. So I would say like, maybe three years ago. That’s when I noticed that you give her a phone or a camera, and she would actually (know how to use it)… Then after I started looking at her videos, I was like, oh wow. Then when I tried to do something, she’s like no mom, this is not the way you should do it. This is how it goes.”

Karolina with her daughter Baysha, who is the newborn assistant photographer.

Lym said the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce, Dunn Commission and JDA (Job Development Authority have been pivotal in helping her launch from this new location at an old school building in New Hradec, a small town north of Dickinson that lies on the southern tip of Dunn County.

“It looked like it wasn’t possible simply because of how big the building was, and you know, it was abandoned. It requires a lot of people to trust you and believe in you and your vision that I know many people can’t see sometimes,” she said, adding that Dunn County provided her with a modest grant and helped her find other sources of assistance. “Dunn County worked on helping me because they were like, yeah we want that building to be saved.”

Dunn County Commission Chairman and JDA board member Cody Buehner said he’s happy to the building put to good use.

“Karolina, she seems like she’s giving it 100%. They’ve done a wonderful job of remodeling that school,” Buehner said. “JDA… It’s just really about trying to develop our county and do great things for people, trying to help businesses get started. Carie Boster does a phenomenal job as head of the JDA.”

By
Jason R. O’Day

Jason O’Day is a University of Iowa graduate, with Bachelor’s Degrees in Journalism and Political Science. Before moving to Dickinson in September of 2021, he was a general news reporter at the Creston News Advertiser in southwest Iowa. He was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa. With a passion for the outdoors and his Catholic faith, he’s loving life on the Western Edge. His reporting focuses on Stark County government and surrounding rural communities.

Keith Collie obituary

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Photography

My father, Keith Collie, who has died aged 74, was an acclaimed architectural photographer whose work is held in collections including the Victoria & Albert museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the Bibliothèque National, Paris.

As well as architectural practices, he undertook commissions from patrons including the Rothschilds and the Saudi royal family, and from numerous publishing houses. Publications included The London Ritz: A Social and Architectural History, by Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd and David Watkin (1980), documenting the art deco and modernist features of the hotel before they were lost to renovations.

He also produced a series of city guides to recent architecture, published by Ellipsis (1993-2000), taking in Berlin, Prague, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Tokyo, Paris, London and Moscow.

The modernist Villa Müller in Prague, photographed by Keith Collie in 2012

Born in London, to Ian Collie, a psychiatrist, and Dorothy (nee Breaks), a social and political activist, Keith attended King’s College school in Wimbledon, south-west London, then studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University), graduating in 1971. A master’s in photography at the Royal College of Art followed.

There he won the Vogue photographic award, and on leaving the RCA was taken up by Condé Nast to work as a still life and interiors photographer for the magazine. He continued to work for Vogue until 1977, during this time also undertaking commissions for the Design Council and the V&A.

In 1979 he was employed by Philippe de Rothschild to document the family’s viniculture. Some of these photographs were included in the Venice Biennale of that year. Keith’s photographs of the Arabian horse for the Saudi royal family were published in The Origin of the Horse in Saudi Arabia (1985).

In the 1990s he became affiliated to the RIBA as a recognised architectural photographer, shooting for Architecture Today, RIBA Journal, DOMUS and Crafts. His clients also included Ron Arad Studio, British Council and Artemede Lighting.

Keith had a formidable presence, always bedecked with one hat or another. A great storyteller, with a quick and acerbic wit, he would recount the extraordinary adventures of his photographic journeys. He was a dedicated father, particularly to my youngest sister, Poppy, and would happily arrange his working day around her daily and weekly activities.

While a student in Manchester he had met our mother, Jane Bourne, a textile designer. She survives him, as do their children, Alice, Poppy and I, along with his sister, Penny, and brother, Donald.

Ryunosukeokazaki Tokyo Spring 2024 Collection

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Sculpture

Ryunosukeokazaki Tokyo Spring 2024 collection, runway looks, beauty, models, and reviews.

DMTV Milkshake: Studio V Founder Jay Valgora on Why Cities Are Our “Greatest Invention”

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Design

“Now, this is a question I think is wrong on its face,” says Jay Valgora, founder and principal of Studio V Architecture, when we asked him what cities can do to lure one-time urban dwellers back from the suburbs – where, perhaps, they fled during the pandemic. He rejects the perspective that the pandemic has fatally wounded urban centers. “I think that cities are the greatest invention of man,” says Valgora, who was raised in Buffalo, New York, and is now based in New York City. “It’s our greatest artifact. It’s our greatest collective work of art. But for me also, they are one of the greatest measures of our resiliency. There are many, many examples of [an imperiled] New York – from the Revolutionary War, when it was destroyed and occupied by the British, to the Civil War, when it was the site of race riots, to the 1970s, when Central Park was decimated. Always the city has come back. I’m a terrible optimist when it comes to cities, and I believe that New York City is incredibly resilient, and it rises again and reinvents itself – and we, as architects, have a role in helping reinvent it and creating the new city that it will constantly become.”

[embedded content]

Empire Stores Photo: Raimund Koch

In this week’s Milkshake, we spoke with Valgora about the legacy and importance of cities in civic life – and about the many projects he’s taken on to make cities stronger, better places: “One thing I love about the studio is that we just do a huge range of projects – there’s really no single thing I’m working on,” he says. “The studio is working on affordable housing. We’re doing the largest geothermal project ever done in the history of New York. We’re working to create a marine terminal in Red Hook and a home for the New York City ferry system. I’m doing the rail overbuild in South Brooklyn and [Bronxlandia], the community hub in the Bronx. I’m developing new beach house prototypes for Edgemere and the Rockaways so the city can create more affordable housing there. We’re doing a maker space in Greenpoint, a public space under highway ramps in Long Island City, and finally a small community theater in Buffalo.” All of these projects, he says, point to a sole guiding philosophy: “All of them, in some way, are about the reinvention of the city – about reconnecting the edges of our neighborhoods and making our cities more green and resilient.”

angled down shot of digital image long building design

Bronxlandia

Also in this week’s Milkshake: Valgora shares more details about Bronxlandia, the Bronx community space, in which a “ruined train station” will be converted into “a place of activity for the entire community, [for] entrepreneurial elements, film shoots, all different kinds of public events.” And he talks about how architects will continue to respond to new, flexible ideas about what a workspace can be, even as he designs a new studio for his own practice: “Offices and residential environments are converging, and we really need to create new kinds of spaces to work in and collaborate,” he says. For more, tune in!

Silo City

Diana Ostrom, who has written for Wallpaper, Interior Design, ID, The Wall Street Journal, and other outlets, is also the author of Faraway Places, a newsletter about travel.

Milkshake, DMTV (Design Milk TV)’s first regular series, shakes up the traditional interview format by asking designers, creatives, educators and industry professionals to select interview questions at random from their favorite bowl or vessel. During their candid discussions, you’ll not only gain a peek into their personal homeware collections, but also valuable insights into their work, life and passions.

‘Beauty Across Borders’ China-UK photography competition launched in London

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Photography

01:53

A photography competition featuring natural landscapes and the diverse cultures of China and the UK was launched on Wednesday in London.

The competition, open to all photography enthusiasts from around the world, has three main categories: the natural landscape and architectures, Chinese people, and culture. Aiming to enhance the cultural communications between the two countries, bringing closer together the two peoples and their lives, the competition does not impose limitations on age, nationalities or careers among participants.

The panel of judges saw some of the big names in both Chinese and British photography, including Professor of Beijing Film Academy Yang Enpu, former council member of China Photographer Zhou Meisheng, Tim Flach, president of the Association of Photographers of UK and Simon Hill, president of the Royal Photographic Society.

Launching ceremony of the ‘Beauty Across Borders’ China-UK photography competition held on July 26 in London, the UK. /CGTN

“Photography is the medium of our age, and we are in the time where we’re surrounded by imagery,” said Tim Flach, adding that the competition provides a good opportunity for bridging the two different cultures of China and the UK.

“China has such a diverse landscape, so there is incredible range and diversity that can be celebrated in the submissions,” he added.

Dr. Michael Pritchard, director of programmes at the Royal Photographic Society, also shared his experience of working with Chinese photographers.

“The pictures are worth more than a thousand words,” said Pritchard. “For me taking pictures in China and showing it to my family or to some of the members will tell them far more about my experiences with people, with places and things I’ve seen and done in China than if I wrote that down.”

Poster of the ‘Beauty Across Borders’ China-UK photography competition. /China-UK photography competition handout

Jointly organized by the China National Tourist Office, Nouvelles d’Europe UK Edition and Shangtufang Image Art Studio, the event has support from the Cultural Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, Global Photographic Union (GPU), Arts SE, and Beijing-London Short Video Festival (BLSF).

China Global Television Network (CGTN) is among the media partners as well.

The submission of works will be open until October 31, and the panel of judges made up of professional photographers from both China and the UK, will decide on 50 finalists, the selected works of which will be showcased on the Instagram account of the organizers, as well as a Metaverse Gallery “Beauty Across Borders” on Spatial.io.

The competition will also announce three winners for top award, nine winners for second award, 15 winners for third award and 30 winners for honorable mentions.

All smiles at the launching ceremony. /CGTN

INFORMATION ON COMPETITION

Competition Sections:

“Beautiful China” showcase the breathtaking natural landscapes, ancient monuments, and modern architecture that adorn China’s vast and diverse land.

“Splendid China” This section encourages participants to capture the splendid and diverse cultural manifestations across China, such as festivals, folk customs, Intangible Cultural Heritage Crafts, showcasing the rich cultural life of the Chinese people and the positive and uplifting spirit of various ethnic groups.

“Impressions of China and the UK” Capture Chinese cultural elements in various places throughout the UK, from British people dressed in Chinese costumes and cheongsams to vibrant Chinatowns and fascinating Chinese technological gadgets.

Submission Period: 26th July – 31 October, 2023. All participants must submit their artworks through https://chinaukpc.com/ and via email.

Submission email: submission@chinaminutes.com

Perspective | This photographer’s work helped him navigate a traumatic head injury

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Photography

At first glance, photographer Nick Gervin’s first book, “Portlanders” (Photo Editions, 2023), looks like collection of wryly collected street scenes. But, inevitably, as with so many things, probing deeper into its genesis unearths a more complex picture.

There is no text accompanying the images in the book, so I only found out that there were more layers to pull back by visiting Gervin’s website, where he talks about the genesis of what would become “Portlanders.”

What we find out is that the resulting body of work was made at a time of considerable personal crisis. You see, in 2008, Gervin sustained a traumatic head injury after being the victim of an assault. As Gervin notes on his site, this would “dramatically alter the course of his life.”

At around the same time of the assault, Gervin lost his job during the recession. The combination of the head injury and losing his livelihood led to swift spiraling into poverty and addiction.

As a result of the head injury, Gervin was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and developed migraines along with deep sensitivity to light and sound. The daylight hours became too irritating and he began favoring wandering around at night, when it was less chaotic and more quiet.

While Gervin was dealing with all of these new, debilitating, issues, he began to rediscover photography and began making pictures on his night crawls, capturing the lives of his fellow Portlanders. This gave him a sense of purpose in the vacuum created by his joblessness and illness.

For 10 years, Gervin roamed the streets of Portland, Maine and compiled the images that you see in “Portlanders.” Of the time he spent making this body of work, Gervin says:

“I was driven by my anxieties, trying to stay sober while I attempted to make sense of my life and the transitioning world around me. I was making a visual record of a place in time. A portrait of a city that I’ve grown a deep attachment to. I believe, to truly love the city where you live, is to embrace it for all its faults and beauty. As time went on and I felt compelled to continue the work, I realized it was not just myself, but also the city and it’s Portlanders that were also at a crossroads.”

Every day as we wake up, get dressed and go about our day, we grapple with myriad things. We may feel depressed, or happy or nervous; we may be dealing with tragedy or triumph. This is what life is. And as we walk by our fellow people, it would be good to understand that these things are orbiting everyone. “Portlanders,” is a good reminder of that. It is a portrait of a place in time, but, in the end, it is also one person’s visual record of trying to make sense of the wonder and chaos of life.

You can find out more about the book, and buy it, here.

Luciano Polverigiani’s Ceramic Toys Explore Material, Function, and Movement

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Sculpture

From his workshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Luciano Polverigiani creates ceramics that teeter between traditional sculpture and toy.

Luciano Polverigiani’s Ceramic Toys Explore Material, Function, and Movement

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Art World News

From his workshop in Villa Elisa, Argentina, Luciano Polverigiani (previously) creates small and medium format ceramics that teeter between traditional sculpture and toys. Currently fascinated by the relationship between form and function, the artist often reflects on how his materials are inextricably linked to each piece’s use. “We generally associate ceramic material with fragility; ceramic objects break if they fall on the ground or are handled roughly,” he tells Colossal. “I am interested in reflecting on the ‘use’ that we will give to ceramics. In this sense, I begin to work with the idea of a ceramic toy.”

The artist brings the contradictory idea of the ceramic toy to life through a curious menagerie of creatures, each radiating with personality. And while many toys feature some kind of moveable aspect or configurable parts, Polverigiani embraces the incongruity between clay’s rigidity and the inherent action of play. By incorporating wheels and creating small figures that are meant to fit inside others, the artist pushes the boundaries between ceramic sculpture and movement.

In the past few years, Polverigiani has cultivated relationships with other ceramicists during his travels, and he is currently working on organizing a collective exhibition. You can follow him on Instagram for updates, and find more work on Behance.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Luciano Polverigiani’s Ceramic Toys Explore Material, Function, and Movement appeared first on Colossal.

The Clark explores Italian Renaissance prints

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Printmaking

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Filled with lush printed copies after admired works of Renaissance art, the Clark Art Institute’s newest exhibition Printed Renaissance explores the relationship between art writing and graphic

The Fiat Topolino EV Steers Design Details Toward Gen Z Drivers

Jul 26, 2023 By Admin in Design

Auto manufacturers are very much aware younger generations are not as beholden to the pull of new car ownership as previous generations. Especially so when taking into account the average price of a new set of wheels has drifted upward of $48,000, according to data from Kelley Blue Book. So what to do to sway young drivers toward buying their first new car? Build them a kinda-sorta car, a mini-EV electric quadricycle that detours around many of the speed bumps associated with full-size cars. But make it cute… adorable even.

Fiat calls the Topolino an electric quadricycle, a category of vehicles that allows drivers as young as 14 years old in Italy and France to get behind its small golf cart-like steering wheel. The urban and short-range vehicle is being offered in two flavors, but limited to a single “Verde Vita” hue. A “closed” Roof Sunblind topped model is joined by an “open” DolceVita edition featuring a cabriolet roof and ropes in lieu of doors. Otherwise Fiat keeps it simple with a singular vintage-modern aesthetic across both options.

The compact silhouette is so adorably proportioned, the Fiat Topolino almost seems like something a generative artificial intelligence image program might render when prompted to create a compact car for the next generation of city dwellers.

The Topolino DolceVita abandons doors for a rope, making it something closer to a golf cart than genuine automobile.

The TikTok/IG-ready Fiat Topolino throws in a small slew of accessories to appeal to drivers who aren’t necessarily in a hurry but want to get “there” having fun, including a matching USB-powered fan, a Bluetooth speaker, a thermal water bottle for both hot and cold drinks, rack with matching bag, and two seat covers that convert into beach towels for drying off after rinsing off with an option to add a hose shower attachment (didn’t see that coming, did you?).

Don’t expect to outrace or outdistance other vehicles driving a Topolino. The vehicle is equipped with a small 5.4 kWh battery, enough for a modest 47 miles of range and topping out at a pokey 28 mph top speed. The good news is the miniature mode of transportation only requires less than 4 hours to fully recharge to capacity.

The Fiat Topolino isn’t really a car in size nor performance. But in urban centers in Italy and France where urban arteries are tight and parking is perpetually challenging, and where smaller electric vehicles like scooters and Smart cars have already proven to be popular solutions for getting from point A to point B independently powered by a clean and quiet electric-powered engine, tweeners like this may be the right solution at the right price.

angled partial back view of small mint-colored EV car

Both editions offer a 4-wheel footprint that should make it a breeze to park in tight urban quarters.

And that price? Around $10,770 in Italy. We’ll be curious to see whether the price and features are enticing enough to result in numbers of Topolino’s zipping around Paris and Rome by next summer amongst the 14 and over crowd living la dolce vita.

Gregory Han is the Managing Editor of Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.