Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved.  The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

Beta Terms By using the Beta Site, you agree that such use is at your own risk and you know that the Beta Site may include known or unknown bugs or errors, that we have no obligation to make this Beta Site available with or without charge for any period of time, nor to make it available at all, and that nothing in these Beta Terms or your use of the Beta Site creates any employment relationship between you and us. The Beta Site is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and we make no warranty to you of any kind, express or implied.

In case of conflict between these Beta Terms and the BBC Terms of Use these Beta Terms shall prevail.

Art may hold a mirror up to nature, but sometimes, it’s good for that mirror to be a little crooked so that we perceive our surroundings differently. If we continue the metaphor, the work of art photographer Ben Zank might be described as a veritable hall of mirrors.

A native New Yorker, Ben was born in 1991 and began photography at the age of 18 when he discovered a Pentax ME Super in his grandmother’s attic. His work is often a spontaneous reaction to his immediate environment and is used as a catalyst for expressing emotions when words fail.

Marking a significant milestone in his career, Ben Zank is set to unveil his inaugural hardcover book. Nothing to See Here centres around the intriguing dichotomy of juxtaposing a well-dressed man with a completely nude figure, thrusting them into equally precarious and bizarre scenarios.

This audacious exploration goes beyond mere visual aesthetics; it becomes a deliberate act of pushing the boundaries, challenging societal norms, and questioning the constructs of reality.

Surreal tapestry

Ben’s artistic approach is a fusion of hyper-staged compositions and performance art, creating a surreal tapestry that is both humorous and provocative. Each frame tells a story, inviting viewers to ponder the enigmatic narratives that unfold within the meticulously crafted scenes.

His work transcends the conventional bounds of photography, evolving into a form of visual poetry that invites contemplation and interpretation.

In navigating the realms of fashion, nudity, and the absurd, Ben Zank invites us to challenge our perceptions and embrace the unconventional. His photographs are not just frozen moments in time; they are windows into a world where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur and where the unexpected becomes the norm.

Nothing to See Here is published by Aliens in Residence, a Brooklyn-based publishing studio founded by Dino Kužnik & Arnaud Montagard and devoted to showcasing cutting-edge works in contemporary photography. This hardcover book features 62 colour photographs across 132 pages, along with a foreword by Jon Feinstein.

Seattle-based photographer Karen Mason-Blair is considered a legend in the world of grunge. She is known for taking some of the most iconic photos of Seattle’s music scene during the late 80s through the 90s, including artists such as Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses. Her work has also been featured in various publications such as Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine.

Mason-Blair’s first-hand experience inside the grunge movement gives fans a unique look into Seattle’s beloved music icons and offers an authentic account of interactions with musicians that helped put the PNW on the map.

Mason-Blair grew up in the Seattle area and graduated from Edmonds High School. She reflects on her years before officially stepping into the profession, “I was the girl that always had a camera, and had posters all over my wall of bands I loved. I studied photography through magazines and albums. Once I realized you can marry music and photography, I was done, because I loved both, so this is my dream job.”

After receiving a degree in commercial photography from Seattle Central College, she moved to Hollywood to follow her passion, “I moved because I couldn’t be an entertainment photographer in Seattle and had gotten a studio at The Brewery in LA. While there, Mother Love Bone got signed, and they called me from their limo and invited me to celebrate with them.”

Mason-Blair started photographing bands like Metallica, Megadeath, Metal Church, Poison and Great White, “I also took photos of the Scorpions, The Ramones, Billy Idol and more.”

Despite her success in the LA scene, home was beckoning to Mason-Blair, “At a certain point though, LA was no longer my jam and I moved back to Seattle right when the grunge scene started to take off.”

Mason-Blair’s return to Seattle was well-timed. As grunge exploded into international popularity, she was already friends with the rising artists and became well-known in the music community for her prolific photography style and friendly persona.

Even with her fiery passion and connections, her line of work wasn’t easy, “The whole time I had to hustle. It’s very hard to make a living in art, as most art needs to be subsidized, which is sadly a proven fact. Every job I got I had to work extremely hard for. I also had to pay rent on my studio, buy my gear and just keep going. I would also cold call people daily to try to get more gigs. After a photo session with the band Collective Soul, I would then call up magazines to try to sell the photos to them. I would try to utilize that, which is basically what stock photography is today. Eventually, I ended up signing to a stock agency that would sell my imagery for me.”

Regarding that electric time in her life, Mason-Blair recalls her nostalgia from the era, “The thing about the grunge movement is we knew we loved the music. What we didn’t know was that the whole world was going to love the music, too. Band members would also attend each other’s shows, and there was a sense of community and support amongst the musicians, which is why there was a Temple of the Dog and Mad Season.”

Her most photographed band is Seattle’s own Alice In Chains. Mason-Blair notably photographed the group numerous times, including their first-ever session for Rolling Stone. “I attended more Alice In Chains shows than I could count, which was amazing. At one point, guitarist Jerry Cantrell slept on my couch, and I even bought the guys food and clothes, and drove them around to various places.” She established friendships with many artists in town, which is a rarity between bands and their respective photographers. This only propelled her reputation as an innovative entertainment photographer throughout the region and led to long-lasting friendships with many musicians.

Mason-Blair also had the chance to meet Gene Simmons from Kiss in the early 90s and snagged a photo of him with Alice In Chains bassist Mike Starr while in LA. “He was super smart and understood the business well. He also had a record label and would help scout out bands and was invested in helping the music community. He was really nice to me,” she recalls.

For fans of alternative rock music, you can find Mason-Blair’s work in various albums, including “Lucy” by Candlebox (1995), “Room a Thousand Years Wide” by Soundgarden (1991) “Uncle Anesthesia” (1991) by The Screaming Trees, and “Music Bank” (1999) by Alice In Chains.

Mason-Blair even had the opportunity to photograph Radiohead’s second-ever photo session. You can view a photo from that session at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. For Pearl Jam’s very first concert at the Off Ramp Café in Seattle on Oct. 22, 1990, Mason-Blair took photos of the band, which are the only known photos for that particular show.

In 1993, Capitol Records hired Mason-Blair to photograph British pop icons Duran Duran for a band promo in Los Angeles, “This was during their comeback album, so they were quite humble. Since I was shooting so many grunge bands, I thought to photograph them in a service elevator to give them a gritty vibe. Simon Le Bon later told me it was the band’s favorite promo photo ever taken.”

When it pertains to hometown favorites Nirvana, Mason-Blair had the privilege of working with the band many times, creating some of the most iconic photos of her career. She shot the front cover of Nirvana’s 1991 “Live At The Paramount” concert DVD and vinyl, which is currently available to purchase. “I’m actually in the video; you can see me in the front taking photos. Normally, they don’t let photographers shoot during filming, but they made an exception for me.”

Recalling another memorable experience, one of Mason-Blair’s photos also made the Nirvana “In Utero” album from 1993, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. “I had my seamstress make these Santa hats, and we were supposed to be doing this entire photoshoot with the band, but Dave Grohl didn’t feel too well. I came down to The Paramount anyway and we all just hung out, and the guys ended up putting the hats on, and I shot a photo. I framed two copies of the photo and gave the copies to Krist Novoselic, and asked him to give one to Kurt. Months later, I got a call from DGC Records asking me if they could use the photo for Nirvana’s “In Utero” album. I asked how they received it, and was told Kurt mailed it to them and was quoted as saying it was his ‘favorite photo,’ which later made the album,” she recalled. Mason-Blair even has a photo of her and Kurt from that night, “As rare as it is to have photos of Nirvana, it’s even more rare to be in one,” she adds.

Through the years, although finding considerable success and working with some of music’s biggest rock stars, Mason-Blair battled through challenges as a woman in the male-dominated entertainment industry. “After a while, I just said, ‘I’m done.’ Pretty much before the bands were famous, I got some gigs, but I didn’t get very many after they took off because it’s the old boys club, and I got tired of that. For me, integrity and my word is number one, and I hope I’m known for that. I treat everyone fairly, and I would rather have my self-built career (even if it’s less) than dishonest advantages from these men,” she said. “Frustrated, I sat down from the injustice I encountered, but continued as a working photographer in the wedding industry.”

During this time, Mason-Blair got married and had children. It wasn’t until 2016 that she took out her archives and began going through her past work. “They were just sitting in my file cabinet the whole time,” she said. “I then reached out to a gallery and they premiered my show, titled ‘The Flannel Years’ with 33 photos. Most photos had never been seen, as they were previously unreleased. My thing is, leave it to the universe to change the climate of the world in order to make room for me. I’m not even having a comeback; I’m just having my moment. Do I wish I would have shot the whole 20 years that I sat down? Yes, but all those gates were guarded by men who wanted something in return.”

Re-defining her career path in recent years, Mason-Blair has re-emerged with her historic photos from the music industry and has seen much success and interest from fans all over the world. She now has a website where you can purchase merch and memorabilia. You can also find her self-published book, “The Flannel Years” (also available on Amazon), which offers fans a glimpse into this special time in music history and features some of her best work on the local Seattle Grunge scene. Her merchandise can also be found at Easy Street Records in West Seattle and Sup Pop Records, among others.

Currently, Mason-Blair is offering Retro Photo Sessions, something she recently started in 2023. The sessions honor her iconic photos of Kurt Cobain from 1993, where the rocker is wearing white sunglasses. “The Retro Sessions are a recreation of Kurt Cobain. The glasses are included in the session, and you get the original Kurt Cobain photo matted beside the one I replicated with you. Someone even brought their dog in to get his photo taken,” she explained. So far, The Retro Sessions have been highly popular with fans and locals, and offer a way to connect to the legendary frontman.

The Retro Sessions also make an amazing gift! To book a Retro Photo Session, contact Karen Mason-Blair on her website here.

In 2022, Mason-Blair was notably featured on the popular hit show “Pawn Stars,” where she displayed some of her Seattle Grunge memorabilia. Gibson Guitar also made a documentary, titled “Through The Lens: Karen Mason Blair (Featuring Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice In Chains & More)” which can be found on YouTube.

Reflecting on her personal and professional experiences, Mason-Blair feels gratitude while acknowledging the hurdles she endured along the way, “I totally love being a photographer and making art with my friends. There’s no greater joy in my life! My road to success has been paved with many tears. Tears of joy and tears of sadness, but I just keep going.”

Follow Karen Mason-Blair on Instagram here.

Jenny Castro is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined. Follow more of her adventures here.

Join the Celebration of Alternative Rock Icons – Exclusive Author Event

By Dolores Quintana

Zibby’s Bookshop, located at 1113 Montana Ave, will host an author event and discussion with photographer Piper Ferguson on Wednesday, January 17, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as she celebrates the release of “INDIE, SEEN!” her book of photographs that feature many of the greatest musicians of the Alternative Rock scene starting in the late 1990s. Piper will engage in a conversation with music journalist Lily Moayeri during the event about her photographic career and many other interesting topics related to her work. You can reserve your space here. 

About the Book:

“Indie, Seen” takes readers on a timely journey through the alternative music scene, as captured by music photographer Piper Ferguson. Starting her career in the late 1990s, Piper emerged as a woman photographer in a once male-dominated field. Renowned for conveying dynamic and intimate stories through her lens, Piper’s work yields beautiful, enthralling, and genuinely original photographs. 

The book curates Piper’s most personal and exclusive works into one volume, spanning from her initial portrait sessions with artists like Joe Strummer and Richard Ashcroft to festival performances, behind-the-scenes photoshoots, editorial portrait sessions, and lively nights out. The collection features vibrant images of iconic indie rock performers such as Interpol, The Strokes, Coldplay, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. With over 200 images, “Indie, Seen” is a must-have for every rock and music history enthusiast, offering a chance to indulge in and explore the moments behind the music. Piper was there, and now you can be too.

“Piper’s work is about the moments. The moments happen, and she can make a moment, and no matter where or what’s happening, she always manages to fit in like one of the band. That’s uncommon, and one of the reasons why you see what you see in the pictures.“–Johnny Marr, in his introduction to Indie, Seen. 

About the Author:

Piper Ferguson is a music, fashion, and entertainment photographer and director with decades of experience shooting some of the greatest entertainers. Her work captures the adventure and excitement found in life through a creative, rock-and-roll lens. Currently based in Los Angeles, California.

Piper originally came to Los Angeles in 1995 to work in the film industry, and in 2020, she and her husband, Will Dearborn, formed the production company Noonday Underground to produce and direct their own projects. They are currently developing two narrative feature films, and Piper is also working on a documentary passion project that looks at the early indie through the lens of memoir and personal discovery.

Join the Celebration of Alternative Rock Icons – Exclusive Author Event

By Dolores Quintana

Zibby’s Bookshop, located at 1113 Montana Ave, will host an author event and discussion with photographer Piper Ferguson on Wednesday, January 17, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as she celebrates the release of “INDIE, SEEN!” her book of photographs that feature many of the greatest musicians of the Alternative Rock scene starting in the late 1990s. Piper will engage in a conversation with music journalist Lily Moayeri during the event about her photographic career and many other interesting topics related to her work. You can reserve your space here. 

About the Book:

“Indie, Seen” takes readers on a timely journey through the alternative music scene, as captured by music photographer Piper Ferguson. Starting her career in the late 1990s, Piper emerged as a woman photographer in a once male-dominated field. Renowned for conveying dynamic and intimate stories through her lens, Piper’s work yields beautiful, enthralling, and genuinely original photographs. 

The book curates Piper’s most personal and exclusive works into one volume, spanning from her initial portrait sessions with artists like Joe Strummer and Richard Ashcroft to festival performances, behind-the-scenes photoshoots, editorial portrait sessions, and lively nights out. The collection features vibrant images of iconic indie rock performers such as Interpol, The Strokes, Coldplay, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. With over 200 images, “Indie, Seen” is a must-have for every rock and music history enthusiast, offering a chance to indulge in and explore the moments behind the music. Piper was there, and now you can be too.

“Piper’s work is about the moments. The moments happen, and she can make a moment, and no matter where or what’s happening, she always manages to fit in like one of the band. That’s uncommon, and one of the reasons why you see what you see in the pictures.“–Johnny Marr, in his introduction to Indie, Seen. 

About the Author:

Piper Ferguson is a music, fashion, and entertainment photographer and director with decades of experience shooting some of the greatest entertainers. Her work captures the adventure and excitement found in life through a creative, rock-and-roll lens. Currently based in Los Angeles, California.

Piper originally came to Los Angeles in 1995 to work in the film industry, and in 2020, she and her husband, Will Dearborn, formed the production company Noonday Underground to produce and direct their own projects. They are currently developing two narrative feature films, and Piper is also working on a documentary passion project that looks at the early indie through the lens of memoir and personal discovery.

A brand new photography competition has released its first ever batch of winners and finalists, and there are some truly stunning images in the mix. A portrait of a playful sea lion has taken the top gong in the inaugural Nature Photography Contest, which showcases animals, plants, landscapes and human impact on the environment.

The Nature Photography Contest was started in 2023 by an international team of nature photographers, aiming to highlight the beauty of our planet – and what we stand to lose. Entrants submit their images to 10 categories: Wildlife, Birds and Plant Life focus on the organisms we share Earth with. Landscapes capture large-scale scenery, while Macrophotography zooms in on the tiny. Underwater and Night World showcase nature through different lenses. Environmental Impact and Sharing the Planet highlight how humans co-exist with nature, both good and bad. And Funny Nature lightens the mood a bit with those once-in-a-lifetime snaps.

Glenn Ostle

Along with the categories, submissions have the chance for special recognition. The Photography of the Year Award goes to a single shot from any category that stands above the rest, while the Photographer of the Year is awarded to an exceptional person behind the camera, based on their entire submitted body of work.

The contest’s first-ever Photography of the Year Award went to Glenn Ostle for his image, Sea Lion in Los Islotes. Snapped in the waters near LaPaz, Mexico, the photo shows a sea lion looking coyly over its shoulder at the camera, before presumably plunging through the schools of fish in the background.

Alain Schroeder

The inaugural Photographer of the Year, meanwhile, was awarded to Belgian photojournalist Alain Schroeder. His work includes a sea turtle captured in the Maldives and a series on orangutans in Indonesia, one photo of which also won the Sharing the Planet category.

Browse through the other winners and a selection of finalists in our gallery, and for the full slate, check out the competition’s website.

Source: Nature Photography Contest