Back in December, I unveiled a new gallery at www.joeviger.com featuring personal projects. Some are one time opportunities and other projects are ongoing. I've been working on images for "Road Life" since 2009 and it will continue indefinitely. The work features images from business trips all over the country. I hope you take a look... just click this link.
Schizophrenic Airport Sushi Bar
Delta Terminal Detroit, MI
I think the coming together of the Internet and television is one of the greatest things since someone got their chocolate in my peanut butter. One reason is that there are some fantastic photography oriented movies, documentaries and informational pieces to be seen on Netflix, Vimeo and YouTube. Here are some of my favorites. I'd love to hear what you think about these or if you might know of other gems we can enjoy and learn from. So... pass the popcorn, but keep your greasy fingers off my camera!
An Unlikely Weapon: The Eddie Adams Story (Netflix)
Eddie Adams made one of the most iconic images of modern times, but you may not know a lot about him or that he wasn't particularly proud of his most famous work.
Smash His Camera (???)
Unfortunately, it looks like this movie has fallen pray to the issues Netflix has been having with it's content agreements. It doesn't appear available any more. But it's worth finding this entertaining documentary on photographer Ron Galella. Galella made some of the most famous images of Jackie Onassis and it's safe to say he was obsessed. But when you look at the body of work that is his career, you need to consider is he an artist or just another paparazzi. Let me know what you think.
Rock Prophecies (Netflix)
Rock photographer Robert Knight crafted a catalog of images defining the late 60's rock scene... particularly Jimi Hendrix. The documentary chronicles his early years and how he began mentoring your musicians through the music business as well as gracefully protecting his photographic legacy and caring for his failing mother.
Wasteland (Netflix)
Contemporary Artist/Photographer Vic Muniz returns home to Brazil and engages the workers of Jardim Gramacho, the world's largest landfill on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, in an remarkable art project to raise money for the community. In the process, an amazing, emotional story with rich characters unfolds. Keep the tissues handy.
Black White & Gray (Netflix)
A remarkable look at the relationship of Robert Mapplethorpe and Sam Wagstaff featuring interviews with Patti Smith. You'll be fascinated to learn about Wagstaff's influence on modern photography as an art form and the business of fine art photography.
Chris Orwig: Finding the Magnificent in the Mundane & The Poetics of Pictures (youtube)
These two separate TEDx talks given by the amazing Chris Orwig are just wonderful. It's hard to describe Chris' ability to express the power and significance of photography. You have to see for yourself. Click on the titles above for links right to the videos.
What Remains: The Life and Work of Sally Mann (youtube)
Sally Mann has been controversial for her work featuring her children as models. This is a really well done documentary of her journey as an artist and a photographer. You can find this documentary on TV once in a while, but most of it is on youtube in four of five separate videos. Search it up!
This benefit of seeing...can come only if you pause a while, extricate yourself from the maddening mob of quick impressions ceaselessly battering our lives, and look thoughtfully at a quiet image...the viewer must be willing to pause, to look again, to meditate.
Dorothea Lange
