The New York Photo Festival 2009

“It’s a celebration of photography. The most important thing about the New York Photo Festival is that it fosters a dialogue with the viewer. It’s absolutely non-commercial and therefore it’s about intellectual rigor and having fun!”
—Kathy Ryan, Curator, NYPH’08

Following up on its successful debut in May 2008, the New York Photo Festival is pleased to announce the exhibition dates for 2009 and its Festival Curators.

The inaugural event in May 2008 was a surprise hit, and it delivered on the promise of presenting the “future of contemporary photography” through the efforts of world-class curators and the selected artists. The NYPH’08 Festival Curators—Kathy Ryan, Martin Parr, Lesley A. Martin, and Tim Barber—created four stunning exhibitions focusing on the ubiquity of images in digital and daily life, sculptural tendencies in contemporary photography, ground-breaking paths in formal photographic documentation and representation, and a formal yet whimsical approach to the democratic presentation of artistic representation. The New York Photo Festival’s debut run in 2008 answered critics’ lament that the world’s capital of photography could never compile a festival of its own.  It also affirmatively resolved the quandary of whether contemporary photography could ever stand on its own, apart and distinct from its historical antecedents of greatest hits and exotic depiction.

As part of its commitment to pushing the boundaries of contemporary photography, festival organizers and co-founders Daniel Power and Frank Evers have selected the following curators for NYPH’09: William A. Ewing, Chris Boot, Jody Quon, and Jon Levy.

These world-renowned curators all bring their personal visions of the most provocative and intriguing developments in contemporary photography to the main pavilions of the 2009 edition of The New York Photo Festival. “The NYPH’09 Festival Curators were selected for their decisive and innovative approaches to curating, editing, sequencing, and showcasing the varied work of the medium in ways that continually surprise and inspire those of us in the photography industry and the creative cultural public at large,” say Power and Evers.


William A. Ewing is the director of the Musée de l'Elysée, Lausanne, Switzerland. Ewing has curated exhibitions for the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Centre Pompidou, Paris; the Hayward Gallery, London; the International Center of Photography, New York; Culturgest, Lisbon; the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts; the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York; and many other institutions. His most recent publications through the Musée de l’Elysée include: Ray K. Metzker: Light Lines (2008); Worldview: Leonard Freed (2007); Edward Steichen: Lives in Photography (2007); and Edward Steichen: In High Fashion: The Condé Nast Years, 1923–1937 (2008). Ewing founded Optica Center for Contemporary Art in Montreal in 1972. He was Director of Exhibitions at the International Center of Photography, New York, between 1977 and 1984.

His exhibition All over the place! features the work of historical figures Ernst Haas, Jacob Holdt, Edward Steichen, and contemporary photographers Manolis Baboussis, Matthieu Gafsou, Oliver Godow, Tiina Itkonen, Anna Lehmann-Brauns, Juraj Lipscher, Virginie Otth, Philipp Schaerer, Joni Sternbach, Robert Walker, and Patrick Weidmann. What could possibly unite Edward Steichen's seminal, if controversial exhibition, The Family of Man, with Jacob Holdt's unblinking, unsparing view of American life a decade or two later? What are the lessons to be learned from unearthing early Ernst Haas color imagery? What do Haas, Holdt, and Steichen have to do with younger talents on our roster?

The more experience William A. Ewing accumulates as a curator, the more he is astonished to see the narrowness of our shared focus. So much fine work slips through our fingers; so much of the past remains unexplored; so much of what is banal today absorbs our attention. Yet here and there discoveries are made, surprising work from the past is uncovered, new visions emerge, simplistic ideas overturned. All over the place! has, therefore, two meanings: it aims to celebrate photography's unruly nature, its rich diversity, and its refusal to fit into neat categories; it is also intended to remind people of the fact that fabulous work can come out of the Arctic as easily as it can come out of metropolitan chaos. Furthermore, the title applies to the dimension of time; “new discoveries” aren’t always of contemporary work.


Chris Boot is the head of Chris Boot, Ltd., the London-based publisher of the Lucie Award-nominated Things as They Are: Photojournalism in Context Since 1955 and other provocative books of photography. He has been producing and editing photo books and exhibitions for more than 20 years—as Director of Magnum Photos in London and New York, Editorial Director at Phaidon, and independently—including Martin Parr’s Mexico (Chris Boot, Ltd., 2006), Gerry Badger’s Collecting Photography (Mitchell Beazley, 2003), and Here is New York: A Democracy of Photographs (Scalo, 2002). He is also the author of Magnum Stories (Phaidon, 2004).

In his exhibition of Stefan Ruiz’s San Francisco Berlin, Chris Boot presents a series of large-format portraits of gay men geared up for play, photographed during gay party weekends in San Francisco and Berlin. These portraits address the fetish-oriented aesthetics of the contemporary gay scene, and the traffic in ideas between the two cities that, between them, have defined gay identity and aspirations.


Jody Quon is Photography Director at New York magazine. Prior to that she was Deputy Photo Editor at The New York Times Magazine.

In her exhibition I am not sure I know what kind of girl I am, Jody Quon has assembled a gallery of portraits that expose, depict, and assemble the essence, features, and virtues of women as subjects. The show will feature the work of Edith Maybin, Valérie Belin, Rene & Radka, Grant Worth, Mondongo, Hank Willis Thomas, Katy Grannan, Sam Samore, Carlos Ranc, and David Sherry.


Jon Levy is the Director of Foto8, the London-based photography publishing company responsible for 8 Magazine and Foto8.com. The founder of HOST Gallery, Levy has forged alliances with photographers and editors and engaged an ever-growing audience for photojournalism. The work of Foto8 online, in print, and on display, has brought about its own forum of discussion that explores the realms of photography that exist at the intersection of art and journalism. 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of Foto8.

Home For Good, the exhibition curated by Jon Levy and Foto8, celebrates photography’s ability to communicate, describe, and explain, while also remaining open to interpretation. The show features the work of Lorraine Gruppe, Tim Hetherington, Geert Van Kesteren, Simon Roberts, Chris Killip, Venetia Dearden, Seba Kurtis, Louie Palu, and David Gray. The basic premise for Home For Good is, as the title suggests, home, the place we receive and experience much of our everyday photography. Newspapers, magazines, slideshows, and scrapbooks; these are the points of reference for the works we have chosen to exhibit. The title Home For Good also suggests its inverse, the world outside—presented here as work concerning international conflict. The exhibition explores the ways that photographs have been, and continue to be, used to connect people with issues, emotions, and events. The photographers chosen to represent this theme and the formats they have employed—from keepsakes in a family photo album to a modern, multimedia short film—embody the wide range of tools and ideas photography uses in its dual purpose of communicating public fact and personal feeling.

The New York Photo Festival is proud to announce
the debut of The Review Pavilion

The NYPH’09 Portfolio Review will be the centerpiece of the new Review Pavilion. It is a platform for all levels of aspiring and professional photographers to present their body of work for review and critique by leading experts in the fields of photography, art, media, and advertising and to receive guidance and mentorship for future artistic and commercial career development. The portfolio review will be run by photography book publisher powerHouse Books, which has organized five highly successful and acclaimed portfolio reviews since 2005.

In addition, the Review Pavilion will house the NYPH’09 Workshops, where a select group of attendees will work intimately with some of today’s top professionals in photography, learning diverse skills ranging from the art of shooting, to the editing and sequencing of series, along with design and marketing tips. It will also house the NYPH’09 Presentation Stage, an intimate, 30-seat mini-theater with digital projection and sound capabilities for formal presentations of products and portfolios. Also included in the Review Pavilion will be the Peer Lounge, accessible only to registered attendees of the Pavilion’s workshops and presentations.


The New York Photo Festival presents:
The Future of Contemporary Photography
a documentary by the Snorri Bros.

This exciting new documentary short, The Future of Contemporary Photography, provides a dynamic look into the New York Photo Festival 2008 (NYPH’08). The film explores the curatorial insights of four leading photo editors, the festival’s founders, and the many cutting-edge artists who shared their work, asking curators, artists, and viewers to make their own aesthetic judgments on the state of modern photographic image making. The Future of Contemporary Photography is a Snorri Bros Production, directed by Eidur Snorri Eysteinsson, Snorri Sturluson, and David Weinstock, edited by Ruth Mamaril at Filmcore, with VFX by the Snorri Bros. Music provided by soundpets and Jody Redhage. Camera operator: Jérémy Lebreton. Associate Producers: Daniel Power and Frank Evers.


About the New York Photo Festival:
Founded by Daniel Power and Frank Evers, the New York Photo Festival is the first international-level festival of photography to be based in the U.S. With the ambition of documenting the future of photography in all its forms, this new, annual event has selected a group of internationally respected curators who will deliver their personal vision of the newest and most important trends in contemporary photography. The inaugural festival (May 14–18, 2008) proved an astounding success with over 15,000 tickets sold, 2,500 VIPs and artists, 1,000 members of the international press, packed seating for all day and evening programming events at St. Ann’s Warehouse (450 capacity), 20 countries represented in curated and satellite pavilions, 85,000 clicked site visits, 47,000 blog posts, 2.5 million unique visits to http://www.nyphotofestival.com , 49 media partners, and over 3,000 submissions from 87 countries for the New York Photo Awards ( http://www.newyorkphotoawards.com ).

The New York Photo Festival 2009 will run from May 13 through May 17, and was made possible with the generous assistance of Two Trees Management. In addition to the curated pavilions, the festival will offer visitors an extensive range of activities that will generate dialogue and buzz among photo professionals, amateurs, students, and aficionados of art and culture, including seminars, slideshows, book signings, photographic workshops, live performances and events, and a gallery row. The New York Photo Festival will be headquartered in DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY.

The New York Photo Festival, the first international photo festival dedicated to contemporary photography, is proud to announce its brand-new Review Pavilion at 76 Front Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn. The NYPH’09 Portfolio Review will be the centerpiece of the new Review Pavilion. In addition, the Review Pavilion will house the NYPH’09 Masterclass Workshops, where a select group of attendees will work intimately with some of today’s top professionals in photography, learning diverse skills ranging from the art of shooting, to editing and sequencing of series, and design and marketing tips. It will also house the NYPH’09 Presentation Stage, an intimate, 30-seat mini-theater with digital projection and sound capabilities for formal presentations of products and portfolios alike. Also included in the Review Pavilion will be the Peer Lounge, accessible only to registered attendees of the Pavilion’s workshops and presentations.

The powerHouse Portfolio Review—NYPH’09 Edition
 
The NYPH’09 Portfolio Review is a platform for all levels of aspiring and professional photographers to present their body of work for review and critique by leading experts in the fields of photography, art, media, and advertising and to receive guidance and mentorship for future artistic and commercial career development. The portfolio review will be run by photography book publisher powerHouse Books, which has organized five highly successful and acclaimed portfolio reviews since 2005.
 
The NYPH’09 Portfolio Review will host over 70 experts from all facets of the photography world, including a broad range of photo editors, gallery directors, museum curators, photography critics, commercial photography agents, publishers, art book packagers, and graphic designers.
 
The NYPH’09 Portfolio Review will take place over the duration of the New York Photo Festival, from Thursday, May 14 to Sunday, May 17, 2009.
 
There will be two review sessions each day: a morning session from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and an afternoon session from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Each day there will be a fresh roster of roughly 22 top professionals from the photography world with time available for reservation on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are entitled to five one-on-one sessions with the reviewers over the course of four days.
 
For more information, please visit: http://www.nyphotofestival.com/site/?page_id=1775

NYPH’09 - Review Pavilion Masterclass Workshops

Since 2005 powerHouse Books has organized a very sought-after Portfolio Review and a series of Masterclass Workshops. The senior staff of powerHouse Books is excited to offer another series of workshops specifically designed to engage and enrich the knowledge of aspiring and established artists, photographers, designers, and packagers looking to learn the secrets of creating compelling art book projects.

You too can put lessons and insights gleaned from a powerHouse Masterclass Workshop to immediate and valuable use.


Making the Book
The Edit and Sequence
Craig Cohen, Executive Publisher, powerHouse Books

Friday, May 15, 2009
10:30am – 4:00pm
Location: The powerHouse Arena at 37 Main Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn


Marketing Your Work
Publicity, Promotions, & Sponsorship Opportunities
Sara Rosen, Associate Publisher and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Publicity, powerHouse Books; Publisher, Miss Rosen Editions
 
Saturday Workshop - May 16th, 2009
10:30am – 1:30pm
Location: The powerHouse Arena at 37 Main Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn


Making the Book
Book Design & Dummy Preparation/Presentation
Kiki Bauer, Senior Designer, powerHouse Books
 
Sunday, May 17th, 2009
11:00am – 4:00pm
Location: The powerHouse Arena at 37 Main Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn


An Introduction to Advertising Photography: Insider Tips
Stephanie Baptist, Senior Photography Agent, Bransch Photo Agency

Saturday, May 16, 2009
10:00am – 1:00pm
Location: NYPH’09 Review Pavilion, 76 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn


Story Telling: Pursuing Long-term Photographic Projects
Brigitte Grignet, Photographer, Agence VU’

Thursday, May 14, 2009
11:00am – 4:00pm
Location: powerhouse Arena, 37 Main Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn


Self-Publishing: From A to Z
Ernesto Bazan, Documentary Photographer

Saturday, May 16, 2009
2:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: NYPH’09 Review Pavilion, 76 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn



NYPH’09 - Review Pavilion - Presentation Stage

How To Protect Your Copyrights
A presentation by Peggy Garry
Friday, May 15, 2009
3:00 – 4:30pm
Location: NYPH’09 Review Pavilion, 76 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn

A brief overview of what copyright laws protect and how to register copyrights, also focusing on topics such as protection outside the United States and specifics of copyright laws in cyberspace.

How To Avoid Copyright and Trademark Infringement
A presentation by Peggy Garry
Saturday, May 16, 2009
3:30 – 5:00pm
Location: NYPH’09 Review Pavilion, 76 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn

A brief overview of what constitutes copyright infringement in photographs, focusing on instances when privacy rights and rights of publicity restrict a photographer, as well as times a photographer’s first amendment rights override these.


How To Minimize Legal Fees in Tough Economic Times
A presentation by Peggy Garry
Sunday, May 17, 2009
11:00am – 12:30pm
Location: NYPH’09 Review Pavilion, 76 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn

Many artists avoid hiring lawyers until a legal issue arises. The end result is always expensive and time-consuming and often harmful to the artist’s reputation and creative process. This seminar will offer practical suggestions about how to “manage” a lawyer and get cost-effective legal support that meets not only the legal but also the creative needs of the artist.


BazanCuba
A presentation by Ernesto Bazan
Friday, May 17, 2009
11:00am – 12:30pm
Location: NYPH’09 Review Pavilion, 76 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn

It took 14 years of life and photography in Cuba, and two years afterwards of intense editing, layout, pre-press, and printing to bring forth the new book by Ernesto Bazan, BazanCuba. In this presentation, Bazan will show images from the book and give an account of his experiences and the process used to produce this beautiful, self-published masterpiece.