This quarter, the Fireball photographers’ challenge was chosen by Oli Beer, of Germany. She challenged each of us to a creative project called “Red.” I collaborated with dancer Amanda Whitworth, who is the Director of Dance at Plymouth State University. She also has her own dance company, Tributary Dance. We created many images at my studio in downtown
There were many reasons for my recent trip to Paris. One was an extraordinary exhibition of Irving Penn’s work at the Grand Palais. This was two floors of his printed work, magazines, video, and the backdrop he used in his project “Small Trades.” I also wanted to continue “Life’s Work” in Paris. Penn first photographed
You’re invited! Plymouth’s monthly art walk is next week! Join us for an open studio on Wednesday, November 1, 4:00 -6:00 p.m., at 2 Post Office Square, Plymouth, NH. This month, I’ll show new work from the “Life’s Work” project. I also get to host woodworking artist Liz Hallen, who will show cabinets, benches, and tables.
I started photographing dancers under the guidance of photographer Lois Greenfield in NYC years ago. From that work, I learned how essential it is to direct people toward your vision for an image, even if you don’t speak their language. (I don’t speak “dance,” or French. More on the French part in the next blog
In early 2016, I attended a workshop near Versailles in France. At a lot of workshops, you meet people, it is pleasant, and you go on your way at the end. That particular group, however, bonded. We are a tight group of friends still–the Fireball Photographers. We continue to meet as a whole or in
In this project, I have been exploring the work of Irving Penn by actively retracing many of his choices. As I have done so, I have begun to discover some key artistic points where I am consciously diverging from his methods. Penn once said that he felt no obligation to make his subjects look kind
As a portrait photographer, I am always interested in people and their expressions. For this project, which I consider to be a continuation of one Irving Penn began in 1950, I am also looking at how the work people do has changed. Our little town of Plymouth, New Hampshire has five female police officers. Penn
This beautiful mother and daughter had a lovely day together. They celebrated the young lady that Mairead has become as she finishes her last year of high school and prepares to leave for college. We started their day in the customary way: hair styling and makeup, professionally done in the studio. Then we created headshots
On Saturday, October 21, I’ll be photographing people in Paris (Montmartre) for my project, “Life’s Work.” I’m looking for workers in their work clothes: bakers, street musicians, delivery drivers, waiters, sommeliers, or any worker whose look is identifiable with a trade. If you will be in Montmartre, or you know someone there who might be interested in sitting for a
One of my favorite quotes is by Henry David Thoreau: “Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?” As this project continues, my favorite expressions are the same ones I am drawn to in the portraits by Irving Penn from his similar project of nearly seventy years ago. They convey
YOU’RE INVITED! OPEN STUDIO for WALKABOUT WEDNESDAY Wednesday, October 4, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Plymouth’s monthly art walk is next week! This month, I’ll show new work from the “Life’s Work” project. I also get to host artist Cythia Arieta, who will show new paintings. Cynthia is a contemporary realism painter. The foundation of her work
This project is about working people and the evolution of trades and professions. “Life’s Work” was inspired by Irving Penn’s similar project of nearly seventy years ago. You can read more about this in Parts I – III, here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-i/ https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-ii/ https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-iii/ Yes, that was me carrying a chainsaw up the street to my studio! Fred,
This is Part III of a personal portrait project about people and their work. It’s also about the evolution of trades and professions. “Life’s Work” was inspired by Irving Penn’s similar project of nearly seventy years ago. You can read more about this in Parts I and II, here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-i/ and here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-ii/ Mary Francis, minister, Plymouth,
This is Part II of a personal portrait project that is as much about social history as it is art. My inspiration for this project was a similar one by Irving Penn, which he did nearly 70 years ago. You can read more about this, as well as some other thoughts about it, in Part I, here: https://maundymitchell.com/lifes-work-part-i/ Jim, mail
Samyn-D’Elia Architects, New Hampshire’s leading architectural firm, has a beautiful new website. Last summer, when they began working on it, they hired me to create portraits of their design team and staff. Now they have a large collection of images that will have multiple uses. Here are some of them.
This project is inspired by Irving Penn’s 1950-51 portrait project he called “Small Trades,” (which was inspired by another photographer before him.) My intention, like Penn’s was, is to photograph people in their work clothes with the tools of their trades. These projects have a lot in common—they are a sort of social history,