With his current retrospective, Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom, at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles–he exposes the manipulation behind popular imagery to poke holes in our systems of veneration and objectification.
Jim Reed moved to Caledonia for a year — that was eight years ago now.
Reed was working with another director, Jon Amiel, who has directed movie hits like “Sommersby” with Jodie Foster and Richard Gere. But then as had happened several times before, life intervened. “April 19 — an event called Columbine happened. In short, it shut us down and the director put it on hold. The producer, Norman Jewison, who has done Moonstruck and Fiddler on the Roof (and who passed away in January of 2024) said we got caught in development hell.”
Photographer Jim Reed with his golden retriever Sawyer in front of his storm chaser vehicle.
Cover of extreme weather photographer Jim Reed’s book, “Storm Chaser: A Photographer’s Journey” (Paperback, Harry N Abrams, May 2009). Video frame grab by Robin Lorenson.
Photography can be a great way to capture special memories and show off artistic creations. However, whether you’re a professional photographer or an amateur, you need to be aware of legal and safety considerations when choosing the perfect location for your photos.
In New York, there is a spot where a lot of people love to snap photos, particularly during graduation season, but taking photos there is actually illegal and can very serious consequences.
Railroad tracks, whether abandoned or in use, are considered private property owned by the railroad companies. It is illegal to take photos on railroad tracks without proper permission or authorization.
Trespassing on these tracks poses a significant legal risk, as it violates both federal and state laws. Being unaware of this law or assuming that abandoned tracks are fair game does not excuse photographers from the potential legal ramifications.
Aside from possible legal consequences, taking photos on railroad tracks also poses serious safety hazards. Trains often travel at high speeds and require a considerable distance to come to a stop. Even if a photographer can hear an approaching train or observe gates coming down, the speed and weight of a train make it difficult to avoid a tragedy in case of an emergency. Trains can come from either direction, as railcars can push the locomotive instead of the other way around.
Choosing to take photos on railroad tracks not only puts your life and the lives of others in danger but it can put the lives of people operating the tracks at risk. Potential accidents on the tracks can also disrupt train schedules, cause derailments, or lead to chemical spills with consequences that are far-reaching.
These are 29 of the most common birds found in New York.
Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor
While there is always room for “favorite foods”, new additions, and change-ups, the following food items are a good representative sample of what you can expect at the typical gradation party.
Gallery Credit: Steve Tanko
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Michael Hurt, right, poses with photographer and performance artist @9minuite in an alley of downtown Seoul after an RAS Korea lecture, April 9. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
What’s the connection between ethnographic photography and feminist discourse in Korea? Perhaps the best scholar to address that question is Michael W. Hurt, PhD, an ethnographic photographer and professor whose artistic journey intertwines academia, cultural exploration and what he calls “screen feminism.”
With decades of experience capturing the essence of youth culture, street fashion and digital subcultures through the lens of ethnographic photography, he gave an interesting lecture to Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea on the topic, titled “Jessi, Screen Feminism, and the Artistic Practice of Korean Instagram Models,” on April 9 at FastFive Tower near Seoul City Hall.
His passion for documentary photography in spending 23 years doing visual fieldwork merged with his academic interests, resulting in research on digital subcultures and the intersection of fashion and identity in Seoul, evolved into an ethnography study.
“I started doing pure street fashion, especially in Korea, in 2002. A lot of people call my street photography a waste of time. Technically that was true, because I was supposed to be doing my dissertation. And I wasn’t doing it. I didn’t finish my dissertation from 2002 when I was supposed to finish it the next year — I didn’t finish it until 2015. I began to take photography more seriously along the road to being an academic. And that photography influenced my methodology and direction. And what I realized later is that even my documentary street photography, back in 2002, was deeply ethnographic. But I realized it was just a piece of the longest possible period of fieldwork that any person does. So I spent 12 years doing visual fieldwork — I like to think of it that way,” he said.
“I’ve been interested in consumption, identity and consumption as identity. And this started by simply observing people in the streets of Seoul. So my interest in ethnographic photography, a kind of anthropological people photography, has remained, I think, a constant through my work.”
One of Hurt’s main inquiries lies in his focus on Korea’s street fashion hyperculture, a realm filled with artistic expression and social commentary. He has had an increasing interest in how women were busy being women and was documenting moments of what Judith Butler calls “gender performativity.”
Rather than taking pictures of random strangers in public, he started posing people for portraits and began using models later.
“So pretty soon both my photographic and ethnographic interaction techniques were getting better and started to gel,” he said.
Through his camera lens and academic research, he investigates emergent digital subcultures, shedding light on diverse topics such as the political economy of the “pay model” on Instagram, Seoul’s drag underground and the youth-centric LGBTQ movement in Korea.
“So by this time I’m doing what I now call photo sartorial elicitation; these photo sartorial techniques are popular in anthropology. Photo elicitation is a technique where you take a picture, show it to whoever your informant is and ask what does this picture make you feel when you look at yourself in the picture. And then you elicit social information; it’s sort of like an interview. However, I use photo sartorial elicitation to talk about eliciting social data by focusing our interaction around clothing. This is not different really from how an interview is used by social investigators,” he said.
In his exploration of Korea’s Instagram culture, Hurt revealed some stories of artistic production intertwined with feminist traces. He asserts the limitations of Western feminism that tend to manifest as overtly political, with its characteristics of public demonstrations, marches and political action, whereas Korean feminism advocates for more subtle shades of understanding of feminist expressions within deep digital spaces, by engaging in what he terms “screen feminism.” These individuals harness the power of digital platforms to challenge societal norms and redefine notions of femininity. As he highlighted, they must operate under semiotic cover, using the plausible deniability of the “bukae,” sub-character or alter ego, in the name of art to not be accused of being Western-style feminists.
“In terms of a Korean feminist movement, you might not necessarily see it manifest as, ‘We want our rights,’ and go out to the streets and do that in (a) Western feminism (way), but it may manifest in a different subtextual way. What I’d like to point out here is that my photography is a key to access. And it’s a reason to interact with these people. My Seoul Street Studios identity helps me interact with, honestly, a lot of other Instagram models. So I argue that this kind of identity diffraction across Korea, a lot of young people have not just one or two but several Instagram accounts,” he said. “One of the dominant features of mobile media is how it further fetishizes the analogue by way of its obsession with modes of realism. That kind of applies to this game. Camera phone practices, as an extension of photography and snapshots, are about performing normalcy. However, because of the distributive and network logic of mobile phones, one is now left to contextualize these renowned shots and render them newsworthy and relevant to the receiver. That all seems to be relevant and interesting at this point.”
Hurt received his doctorate from UC Berkeley’s Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies. He also started Korea’s first street fashion blog in 2006 and published the first English-language book about Korean fashion in 2009. He researches youth, street fashion and digital subcultures in Seoul while lecturing on cultural theory and art history at the Korea National University of Arts. He was the first researcher to focus on Korea’s street fashion hyperculture and has been shooting and publishing about it since 2007. He also does cultural consulting on Korea for companies from Google to Pinterest, from P&G to Meta, and continues such research that coheres around his ethnographic photography.
Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He’s also co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.
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Kolyn Cruz, a senior at Daviess County High School, got into photography as an eighth grader after being intrigued by the look of cameras.
“I got into photography because I thought cameras looked cool,” Cruz said.
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This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 1 print edition.
There’s no denying the popularity of photography as an artistic medium. Whether it’s the barrier of entry or the meshing of technology with artistry, it seems like photography grows in popularity every year. With this growing popularity, photography, much like fashion and storytelling, has found itself in a cycle — a cycle of what’s in and what’s out. What’s old has now become new again, and what’s new is the rise of film photography.
For those who don’t remember, film was once the only way to transfer real life into images for us to cherish forever. Little canisters filled with chemical strips were commonplace on department store shelves for customers to purchase to refill their cameras whenever they wanted to capture memories. It was normal to buy disposable cameras containing film if you wanted something to take photos of things like a family vacation or road trip. Film was everything for photographers, amateurs and professionals alike.
However, everything isn’t meant to last. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the digital camera first hit the market. Film became impractical and increasingly less cost-efficient compared to its digital alternative. Families everywhere could now purchase cheap digicams. Professionals bought DSLR cameras that ran on batteries and SD cards that made their jobs infinitely easier. Photography had forever changed and film became nothing but an antique fad.
Like vinyl and platform shoes, film has seen a renaissance. Photography enthusiasts ensured film never truly died, constantly supporting companies like Kodak and Fujifilm. Then, much like any trend, influencers also got a hold of film. Despite how people feel about it, Kylie Jenner posting film photos to her Instagram breathed life into the floundering art form. The great thing about film’s rise is that it isn’t just confined to those who are looking for what’s trending. Film has also found a foothold here in Cincinnati.
Photo: Kyle Woodford
“Film for me is much more about the process than anything,” Kyle Woodford told CityBeat. “Having to choose the right film, the right type of camera, manually expose and take the shot all while having no clue what your photo will end up looking like is the reason I shoot film.
Kyle Woodford, a Cincinnati-based film photographer, described why he decided to choose film over the convenience of digital.
“Film for me is much more about the process than anything,” Woodford told CityBeat. “Having to choose the right film, the right type of camera, manually expose and take the shot all while having no clue what your photo will end up looking like is the reason I shoot film. Although it sounds much more complicated, it makes shooting much simpler for me. I am bound by the choices I made when picking my film stock and camera.”
These artistic choices when it comes to film photography come through in Woodford’s work. He describes his style as a “person” photographer. Woodford shoots street photography in hopes of capturing the candidness of everyday life.
“I always say street photography is like people-watching except with a camera. Not knowing exactly what you’ll find on any given day is the best part for me. Street photography is very much out of my control which makes it more satisfying whenever I can get a good photo.”
Can’t all this still be accomplished digitally though? Is film just another status symbol, or does it offer any practicality for actual photographers? Local photographer Daniel Iroh, who shoots both digital and film, explains why film could be the choice for artists.
“So back when I was a teenager, I made the grave error of saving all the digital photographs I had taken up until that point to my laptop and I didn’t have a separate backup,” Iroh told CityBeat. “Eventually, the hard drive on that laptop failed spectacularly, and attempts to recover the data failed,” Iroh explained that this experience deterred him from taking photos for several years. Eventually, he wanted to document his bicycle adventures, so to avoid the pain of permanently losing his photos again, he picked up shooting film.
Photo: Daniel Iroh
Despite the practicality and vibes that shooting film brings, it’s much more than that for those currently in the hobby.
Despite the practicality and vibes that shooting film brings, it’s much more than that for those currently in the hobby. There seems to be a true passion burning from some human desire to stay attached to this old medium. “I think a lot of people enjoy the methodical approach to photography that shooting film with a vintage camera requires,” Iroh said. “Also, in a digital world, we find ourselves finding solace in physical mediums, and shooting film can provide that.”
Dan Liang, a Cincinnati photographer who was recently featured on CineStill’s platforms, also shed some light on the personal passion photographers feel toward film.
“Shooting film is everything to me,” Liang said. “From holding a roll of film in your hand, just holding film is cool. To picking a camera and composing the shot and waiting for it to come out, it’s like a journey. … I started with digital for maybe a month or two and I didn’t like it. I don’t know what it was, but the process just wasn’t fun for me.”
With the rise in film being fueled by people like Liang, Iroh and Woodford, it’s safe to say the scene in Cincinnati is in a good state. In fact, according to the locals, it’s continuing to grow.
“I think the film photography scene here has grown so much,” Woodford says. “There is so much support and resources here for new people who want to get into film. I think the photographers around Cincy, film or digital, do a great job at involving the community.” Iroh elaborated more on this community Woodford spoke of, “Thanks to the power of social media, I’ve personally been able to connect with several members of this community and I’m now close friends with some. Recently I started going on photo walks in Northside every Thursday evening. I’m trying to get the word out so more people can show up. It’s been fun to connect with fellow film shooters on these walks.”
If you’ve ever had an interest in shooting film, now is the time to do so. With a community that is currently growing in numbers, and one that’s so willing to accept others, the barrier to getting into film photography hasn’t been this low since the ‘90s. Various Cincinnati photography groups, like the Photography Club of Greater Cincinnati and Cincinnati Photography Group, are open for people to join. Film and digital photographers alike meet up once or twice a week in Washington Park to go on photo walks. All you have to do to join them is show up. Shops like Western Hills Photo & Hobby can set you up with the equipment and film you’ll need to start. All these are ways you can make yourself a part of the film photography community today.
Photography is beautiful. It allows us to capture things in our everyday lives such as sunsets, our family, friends and pets and our travel experiences.
Photography can also highlight the little things in life that we may not always pay attention to such as flowers blooming, woodland creatures in their habitat and the gathering of special moments.
Certain details can bring out a picture. I’ve always enjoyed capturing things that make me feel excited, peaceful and natural beauty throughout the world.
Those who are also interested in healing aspects may be interested in a different type of photography.
New York Fashion Week: The Shows 2021 IMG Partners – September 10
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Rare healing photographs can be taken within the Hudson Valley. While this may be something that is offered in New York City, these types of photos aren’t frequently offered within the Hudson Valley. When the opportunity rises to try this type of photography, it may be worth checking out.
I haven’t tried aura photography yet but I look forward to this new experience.
Aura photography captures the aura of the person who’s getting their picture taken. Cosmopolitan described aura photography as
“Aura photo is often accompanied by a reading that explains the colors visible in your portrait, the density or opacity of each color, and the placement of each “cloud” of color.”
Cosmopolitan explained that a camera is hooked up to metal plates which the person being photographed would then place their hands on sensors. During this time, the camera takes pictures. They also explained that the
“camera opens for a long double exposure, creating both a headshot and a visual, colorful auric capture layered on top.”
Depending on locations, this experience may differ from others.
After doing research, I discovered that there were Hudson Valley businesses that used to offer this service and some that still do but haven’t made it public to the community.
Recently, while I was at Crystal Connection to experience their salt cave, I saw a sign explaining aura photography. I had the experience to chat with the photographer who leads this process and learned more about this cool experience which made me even more excited to book an appointment.
Crystal Connection is located in Wurtsboro, NY. They are known for being
“One of the largest Crystal & Mineral destinations on the Northeast.”
Crystal Connection brings a unique experience to the Hudson Valley as it’s located in a 1890’s Methodist Church filled with crystals, sage, incense and a giant amethyst throne!
Canva, Allison Kay
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Crystal Connection offers aura photography. During this experience, guests will have the opportunity to see their aura, understand the colors that relate to the picture along with their emotions and more.
Those who receive aura photography at Crystal Connection can also learn about their chakras and gain knowledge.
At Crystal Connection, I also learned that our auras can change different colors throughout our lives. There may be times that our aura is a specific color and the following photograph captures different colors.
Aura or chakra photos only are $12. An aura, chakra interpretation/ aura reading is $30. An aura, 23 page report and recommendation is $55 (this also includes crystal and healing techniques recommendation).
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Aura photography is offered at Crystal Connection every weekend. Those who are interested in this experience are recommended to call Crystal Connection to check availability and for updates.
Additional information about Crystal Connection’s aura photography experience can be found on their website, social media platforms or via phone.
I’m already wondering what colors my aura is right now.
Have you ever had aura photography done before? Is this something that you would experience? If there’s any additional locations within the Hudson Valley to receive aura photography, I would love to learn more. Share more details below.
Crystal Connection is a 1890’s antique, Methodist church located in Sullivan County, NY. This is a crystal lover’s dream come true.
It’s known for being
“One of the largest Crystal & Mineral destinations on the Northeast.”
While this may be a place that some people gather often, others can refer to it as a hidden gem in the Hudson Valley. Crystal Connection can also be described as
“a sacred space & crystal haven”
I have never experienced anything similar to Crystal Connection before. The amount of crystals, crystal jewelry, singing bowls, sage and more are fascinating. Crystal Connection also hosts different events and fairs throughout the year.
Take a tour through Crystal Connection’s newest underground salt cave experience.
Gallery Credit: Allison Kay, Crystal Connection, YouTube
Hudson Valley residents and those who are visiting can take in some of the most healing destinations in our area.
Gallery Credit: Allison Kay
