Noah Beil- Gone Quickly

This is the kind of picture I would probably never notice in real life- much to my eternal detriment, since it's the kind I could look at forever... 

  Photo: Noah Beil

   

Noah Beil (whose work I've been a fan of for quite some time) recently sent me his latest book, which he lovingly created from scratch. It's called Gone Quickly and you can see a synopsis of just how much love and work is involved in the video below. BTW, the reproductions are exquisite (photos t'aint bad neither)...

Less is More... Noah Beil

Live long enough and one learns how life never lets up with ways to ridicule, taunt and basically lay waste to so much of what you hold dear as to ethics, values, questions of taste. Most recently I've been amazed how many times I don't want to have a woman's cleavage thrust in my face. In the street, the subway, the grocery store, even at work- please lady, put those things away! I don't want them spilling out all in front of me. Fact is, I'd much rather imagine them, and yours are not the ones I'd choose to imagine, let alone see.

A couple of years ago I saw a tape of a Sade concert, she was barefoot and swaying rhythmically to the music onstage. Sexy as all hell in a natural kinda way that your average pole dancing, video rock vixen could never ever imagine.

Obviously, what I'm trying to say is, that sometimes- less is more...

Noah Beil is a photographer based in neighboring Oakland, CA who has a rather intriguing set of landscapes. In one respect they are not that dissimilar to countless other "banal" color landscapes so prevalent to the contemporary art market for the past thirty years. His photographs however pique your visual attention with minimalist compositions that often challenge their relation to the rest of their environment in terms of both scale and function. Mr. Beil's straight on approach doesn't resort to odd angles or other photographic gimmickry to isolate the elements of his compositions, and it'll certainly be interesting to see how he applies his unique signature vision to other projects- though I sure wouldn't mind seeing more of these...
Update: More work just up!
(I've passed this scene many times and always knew there was a photograph there somewhere. Good to see somebody was able to make proper sense of it.)

Noah Beil- @ Photocartographies

Noah Beil (featured here at RF and more recently at Expiration Notice) will be exhibiting at the g727 Gallery starting this Saturday, 5/16. Noah's Mountain As Monument will be part of the Photocartographies show along with photographers the likes of Frank Gohlke and David Maisel. A big and well deserved Congrats- and a book is on the way!

This Is Not My Sky- Noah Beil

Noah Beil was kind enough to send me a copy of his book, This Is Not My Sky- a 5x8 inch hand bound book he made from scratch, with a dozen approx 4x5 inch reproductions. And did I mention how lovely it all is? 

Many small artist's books have that cheap, "it's just to give ya a hint" feel to them (not an inherently negative connotation)- a select few such as this however, really let ya feel the love. And the reproductions, small as they may be, are sharp, with pleasing tonalities that allow you to actually appreciate both the photographs, and subject matter (landscapes in Santa Monica). And as amazing as the book is, the fact that Noah made such impressive images simply as a side note on a trip to check out his work at a group show opening is doubly impressive!

Blurb and Beyond...

Quite a few people have complained about Blurb's printing inconsistencies, and as I've noted before- for the price concerned... But I (at least) haven't heard many complaints about the construction/production of the books themselves. My print quality has been consistent, but I got one copy where (upon close inspection) you could tell it was not cut evenly. My wife however, recently ordered ten of their smallest format books, and if you stood across the room, you could obviously and immediately notice that five of them were absolute trapezoids! The graphics weren't crooked- they were actually cut crooked, way crooked The most cursory of glances would have made this blatantly apparent, and yet they were shipped off nonetheless.. To their credit, Blurb asked her to email photos of the freaks and then sent out five uniformly measured square format books at no charge. But it really does make one wonder just what the quality controls are- in this case, if any!

 Layout from “This Is Not My Sky” by Noah Beil

Those of you at all interested in viewing alternative ways on how to independently make your own photobook (as opposed to the tried and "truelike" Blurb norm) might well be interested in Noah Beil's various processes (much of them handsomely illustrated)- and you think film's retro? Yeah, it's uhh... labor intensive, but if you want complete control to make something truly unique, yes, the love and effort do pay off in the end- I know, not because I myself have undergone this particular effort, but because I'm fortunate enough to own one of these uniquely satisfying wonders.

Happenings in The East Bay & Beyond- UPDATE!

This Tues 10/28*, there will be a photo shindig at Gallery 291 in San Francisco brought to you by Blurb and Photography Book Now. Beth Dow, Jonathan Smith, Talia Chetrit, John Lehr, Cara Phillips, Michael Corridore, Benjamin Lowy, Ed Panar and Leah Anderson scheduled to appear... Info here.

*Sorry about mix up on date- and thank you, Noah Beil!

Sat 10/25, The Oxford Project's Peter Feldstein will be giving a lecture and presentation at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, 105 North Gate Hall, corner of Euclid & Hearst, 7-8:30pm. The incredible Oxford Project will also be featured on CBS Sunday Morning, check local TV listings...(Photo: Peter Feldstein)

Pioneer Camera Club

Noah Beil has started a photo book/discussion club here in San Francisco which is one pretty cool undertaking- good luck, and look forward to attending.  First event- 6/06!

Ruined

I took this photo on a recent bicycle foray through Lafayette Square in San Francisco. And I couldn't help think of local Bay Area photographers Noah Beil, Alan George and David Wolf while taking it. All practice a modern day archaeological photography examining the modern day social strata and detritus that inundate our current environment.

West Coast Photographic History

Last Monday (Labor Day), several of the greatest living photographic minds anywhere got together to discuss the present day state of photography. Pete Brook (Seattle), Noah Beil (Oakland) and Alan George, David Wolf and myself (San Fransisco) were all present and accounted for as we raised, debated and solved every relevant photographic issue and controversy to date. Mark Page, unfortunately, could not attend due to the limited restrictions of his Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive "Mega Rider" ticket.

Beer was drunk, fun was had. Annie- we coulda saved you millions! Serious...

Urbanautica

Lot's of great stuff in the new issue of Urbanautica. It's my first exposure to this online magazine/gallery, and I'll be spending considerable time perusing their inventory of photographers. Only negative- not enough photos by each photographer (seems there's a limit of six). You get groovin' (never thought I'd use that word either) on a certain photographer's work- then boom, you're shut down cold! Remedy: Link to the photographer's website...

Some Faves:

Anne Lass

Tom Hull

Paul D'Haese

Noah Beil

Tribble & Mancenido

Geert Goiris

Recent Books & Random Thoughts...

Well, it's that time of year when we look back... and plan ahead. This year I finally got it down and put together (kind of ridiculous to say published) my first Blurb book. A helluva lotta work starting from B&W negs, but pretty happy the way it turned out- for my first try. Of course, it woulda been loads nicer had someone actually noticed the damn thing, but... Actually, its the way to go- if only for the fact that I have neither darkroom, nor printer. It definitely makes for a somewhat convenient alternative (not the most preferable obviously, but definitely the cheapest) for getting one's work in some kind of print form.

My exposure to the plethora of photography books now available is limited, probably a good thing since I can't afford or have room for one more. But for now (and in no particular order)...

1)  Greater Atlanta- Mark Steinmetz   Subject of much critical acclaim, and good as his work is- I think a lot of people (who simply don't know better) were just taken aback that, yes, one could do straight, "fine art" photography that didn't fit their particular stereotype of what all B&W photography looks like. I saw all kinds of the stuff back in the day (when a lot of these guys were still prepubescent embryos)- and to my eternal discredit, I didn't take better note of all the names. Back when I was young, dumb and twenty one, I thought B&W would last forever. But a lot of the work of those who began to carve their own distinctive paths in B&W were simply steamrolled in time by the avalanche that was color... Good? Yes! Great to see and experience (again)? Yes! Original? Hell No!

2)  Looking For Evidence- Eva Leitolf   Every time I look at one of her photographs, I transfix yet again at what Ms. Leitolf manages to accomplish- transform the ugliness of past events within the beauty of the present.

3)  Wonderland- Jason Eskanazi   The pocket Bible of 35mm B&W.

4)  Father/Photographer- Henry Frank   Big Bob's Ol' man gives it a go in a nice little, compact scrapbook (it's in the genes don't ya know).

5)  America By Car- Lee Friedlander   Let's see you take better pictures sitting on your ass...

6)  Newton Creek Anthony Hamboussi   There's art to be had in all that documentary!

7)  This Is Not My Sky- Noah Beil    Home made goodness you can taste and feel.

8)  Nan Goldin     The portable entry vehicle. 

9)  Working The Line- David Taylor    The as of yet definitive photographic study of the US/Mexican border, complete with hardcover book and beautiful accompanying accordion styled typology insert. Incredible work, and incredible bang for the buck!

10)  Fluffy Clouds-  Jürgen Nefzger   On order... (I'm a sucker for cooling towers).

 If there's one, and only one, book I get in all of 2011-- it's gonna be Vivian Maier's...

And now... make way, yes, I can see it, just over the horizon- the light at the end of the tunnel...  

The Great B&W Photo Revival of 20__!!!

Expiration Notice- The Last Hurrah!?

Volume 3 of EXPIRATION NOTICE is now online, in what may very well be the final issue. This has been a labor of love for Mark Page and I- one we have no real desire to end... Perhaps over the summer we'll figure out a way to increase our outreach and secure the submissions we'll need to continue.

In the meantime, please, enjoy the the work of these much deserved and un(der)heralded photographers, including: Bill Vaccaro, Noah Beil, Tamir Sher, Greg Reynolds, Natascha Libbert, Tyler Hewitt, Horatiu Sava, Allison V. Smith!
(photo: Natascha Libbert)

Will Steacy- Helluva Balancing Act

Sometimes my mind blocks things out automatically for me, I guess to protect me- otherwise I'd rapidly overload from the perpetual insanity this world delivers on a daily basis from every source and orifice imaginable. Occasionally however, it means I don't get to notice, reflect and possibly even savor that bit of insanity that went by so under appreciated. Such was the case with Will Steacy's essay on old paper money- which my eyes' saw, but my mind immediately negated... until Noah Beil thankfully brought it to my attention once again. Only then did the neurons properly commence into its full reality mode of disbelief. How did something of such outright negligible aesthetics get featured in both a leading art photo blog and NPR? I remember seeing better macro lens test shots of paper money in Pop Photo during the seventies! The mind reeled- I could clearly see why it had gone into rapid defense disposal mode.

Photo: Will Steacy

So I looked into this Will Steacy character to see what manner of images this man had created up until this visual travesty, and they were... very good ones! And so the neurons misfired anew, as I viewed various essays containing top notch, quality photography: portraits, landscapes, still lifes. I guess just as every dog may have its day, every pedigree can lay down its own true stinker. Granted, that doesn't particularly explain why some would actually reward the latter...

Photo: Will Steacy

Shameless Name Dropping...

Just prior to the Memorial Day weekend, I contacted Joerg Colberg concerning his previous post- I also took the opportunity to ask him whaddup with Mr. Lars Von Trier- the whole Cannes/Nazi kerfuffle. Seems that although he may not have been misquoted- he's hardly the Nazi sympathizer...

Saturday, I had planned to start the weekend off with a leisurely afternoon bike ride, which quickly came asunder when I woke up to a flat tire. Went out to get a patch kit, opted for some new fangled, glueless bike patches, patched her up, put her on and the goddamn, high tech patch of the future didn't hold! Flat again! A new patch kit, or a new tube...

So when Pete Brook called and said he was in town and was hooking up with Noah Beil- would I like to join them for a brew... did I ever! I'm just hoping I didn't make too much the fool of myself as I downed a few that made up for lunch, dinner and frustration, and then proceeded to babble on for what was quite possibly the most I've ever babbled. Truth is, I never actually get to talk photography all that much live and in person, I believe Blake Andrews once posted about the glazed look that instantly overcomes anyone you ever attempt to "engage" in a conversation about photography, who usually talks about, say... football- not that different than the automatic glaze that overcomes me when anyone attempts to talk to me about... football.

Talking photography felt great, the drinking of the beer felt great, seeing (and yes, listening to and conversing with) them was great- and I'm just hoping their ears weren't bleeding too profusely some six hours later...

Alternative Viewing

Some good photography currently to be found in some alternative gallery spaces if you're in San Francisco. The Photo Alliance has its 18 Months themed group show at City Hall which features some pretty damn good work. Some of my favorites include a couple of photographers I've never heard of before. Susan Lynn Smith's work has a beautiful sense of light and a wry sense of humor, Noah Beil has some beautifully composed landscapes, and Mimi Plumb has her intriguing minimalist horseback landscapes that I have seen previously on the web.

Elsewhere, in downtown San Francisco, don't miss the half dozen or so tree photographs by Alan George in a building lobby at 22 4St. They're large, gorgeous and as good as anything you'll see hanging in any major photo gallery in any major city, anywhere...