UNDERSTANDING PHOTOCOMIX IN AMERICAN PHOTO MAGAZINE

I was asked by American Photo magazine to to produce an 8-page meta "photocomic" about myself making photocomix, something I've been doing in my "spare" time for the past two years as the series, CulturePOP Photocomix.  I decided to title the piece "Understanding Photocomix (a nod to Scott McCloud).  I managed to use words and photos to tell the story of how I first discovered photography, first started working freelance for magazine, how I produced my book The Brooklynites (with Anthony LaSala), how Leaping Tall Buildings came about,  and how I learned to combine my loves of comic books and photography into a wholly unique form.

I had only a week to put it all together, and it was amazingly challenging, but I am proud of the results which can be seen at magazine stands and bookstores now

CulturePOP Photocomix: Chuck Klosterman

CulturePOP Photocomix is back with a new episode at TRIPCITY.net, the Brooklyn-filtered literary arts salon.

This all-new episode profiles CHUCK KLOSTERMAN, author of The Visible Man, Killing Yourself To Live, Fargo Rock City, Sex, Drugs And Cocoa Puffs and others.  The profile, titled "Writing With Your Mind" focuses on Klosterman's philosophy and style of writing.

See it here - CHUCK KLOSTERMAN: WRITING WITH YOUR MIND

The text comes from quotes taken from Ron Scalzo's interview with Klosterman for the TRIP CITY Podcast, which debuts today as well, and can be heard here - TRIP CITY PODCAST 16: CHUCK KLOSTERMAN

Also, please be sure to view remastered versions of all 30 episodes of CulturePOP, including recent the installments JONATHAN AMES: BROOKLYN PHALLACY,  MARK MARON: FUNNY FOR HAPPY, JAMES HASPIEL: THE ONE AND ONLY and MOBY: MOVING ON at TRIP CITY-
http://bit.ly/CulturePOPphotocomix
 

PDN PHOTO ANNUAL 2012

 

I was chosen as a winner in the 2012 PDN Photo Annual in the websites category for my portrait of writer/director/actress Miranda July. I'd been selected twice previous, in 2001 and 2006, and it's always a great feeling to be recognized for my work.

The photo was shot for the TRIP CITY Podcast.  Miranda was an interesting subject.  She seemed very uncomfortable, which seemed a bit off to me, since I pride myself on making my subjects feel comfortable, but gladly the awkwardness led to what I believe is a compelling portrait.

SethKushner.com Update



I recently did a major update on my website, www.SethKushner.com.  You'll find recent photos of Martin Landau, Henry Rollins, Marc Maron, Reggie Watts, Michael Moore, Miranda July, Jonathan Ames and many more.  Plus, see recent shoots for City Point for Co-Op, an 800 portrait project for Rosetta, a book I produced for the non-for-profit CAMBA and more.

CREATOR-OWNED HEROES

Yesterday saw the release of the first issue of Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray & Steve Niles's new comics anthology CREATOR-OWNED HEROES.  The 46-page book (a bargain for only $4) features the super cool new comics TRIGGERGIRL 6  by Palmiotti & Gray, with art by Phil Noto, and AMERICAN MUSCLE by Niles, with art by Kevin Mellon.  Plus, the there's toms of magazine-style back matter featuring an  interview with Neil Gaiman, a sexy cosplay feature, words from the creators,  and a full page feature on ME, focusing on LEAPING TALL BUILDINGS, CulturePOP, TRIP CITY and SCHMUCK.

Though distributed by Image Comics, the book is self-financed.  "What we have been doing for the past few years is is putting aside money that we make off our regular work and every once in a while get enough saved so we could publish something new that we would own the rights to", says Palmiotti in his welcome page.

In this day and age of corporate ownership of properties, it's great to see creators taking a chance to put out their own works.  This is an important and inspiring project to support.

KELLY BENSIMON FOR NEW YORK FAMILY

One misty Saturday morning at the crack of dawn, myself, my assistant Kathleen Ching and the New York Family Magazine crew, including Editor & Co-Publisher Eric Messenger, Senior Editor Whitney Casser and Art Director George Widmer, ventured to Coney Island for a cover shoot with Real Housewives of New York reality TV star / author /model Kelly Bensimon and her daughters Sea and Teddy.

Though it was chilly and rainy I used my lighting to brighten and saturate the colors to give the illusion of a care-free summer day.

Photo by Kathleen Ching