civilized ku # 2240 ~ I know they're out there
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 09:29AM ;)
Corner of Main St and St. Paul St. ~ Rochester, NY • click to embiggenAfter my recent visit to Rochester - home of the Big Yellow Box and the place where I spent the later half of my youth (and up to my 38th year) - I have been wondering about my inability to find any Rochester-based photo blogs.
In fact, I am only aware 3 Rochester area photo blogs and, coincidentally or not, all 3 of those are based in the suburb/village of Webster, where (apparently) life is worth living. Those blogs are: Ken Bello's Oneowner; John Linn's A Second Look; and Paul Maxim's Yesterday's Light. I only know of these blogs because each of those picture makers visit The Landscapist and leave comments from time to time. But, alas (re: my interest in viewing pictures of Rochester, the city, as opposed to those of the place where life is worth living and far flung iconic locations), none offer any links to other area photo blogs.
My interest in finding / viewing Rochester-based photo blogs was recently piqued by my knowledge of a recent Rochester-centered picture making project by 10 Magnum picture makers as part of Magnum's ongoing POSTCARDS FROM AMERICA series.
In April of this year, 10 Magnum pictures makers - to include, Alec Soth, Martin Parr, Bruce Gilden, and Donovan Wylie (I am familiar with all of their work) - descended upon Rochester to spend 2 weeks picturing the city, its inhabitants, and its social culture, each according to their own interests and style. The work and styles are wide ranging (see some of results HERE). The picture makers lived together during the project and each was tasked with making 100 pictures.
I am not at all certain what the end use of all the pictures will be. Quite possibly they will be published in a form something like THIS (another Magnum collective project), which would be very interesting. And, most definitely something I would like to own.
In any event, and back to the subject at hand ... as interesting as the pictures from the Rochester project are (although many could have been made anywhere and some are too much about the picture maker than the referents - not exactly style over substance, but close), I would really like to view how Rochester-based picture makers see their city. As home to Kodak, there must be hundreds, if not thousands of picture makers, making pictures of all things Rochester.
I know from extensive experience as a judge of too-many-to-remember Kodak Camera Club photo competitions that there is (or was) lots of interest in picturing making in the Rochester area. Surely there must be a photo blogger or 2 amongst them and I would dearly like to know of their online whereabouts.
Anybody have any links or suggestions?
Reader Comments (2)
I'm also looking for the online local photographers as well and I hope to add them to those that I follow regularly.
Damn good question, Mark. I've often thought that the Rochester area might be something of a "burned out area" with respect to photography. Plenty of people with cameras, certainly, but not too many who'd bother to put their efforts online. Maybe it's the Kodak influence - too much of a "good" thing over the years. I've also always thought of Rochester as more of an inbred community. In my opinion, it's not terribly cosmopolitan. Not a huge amount of creative diversity here (with the possible exception of U of R and RIT students).
None of which really answers your question. I used to go to a barber who was also a very good photographer (he specializes in images of decayed architecture). We used to have this very discussion: Where the hell were all the Rochester area photographers? While we pondered over this many times, I always came up with the same answer. They all moved away. To greener pastures. To some place that might stir their imagination just a little bit more than Rochester does (or did). Or maybe to just get away from the winters here. Who knows.
Anyway, if you find any, please post them. Like my friend Ken, I'd really like to know.