Morgan Hagar October 28, 2009

Blessing of the Animals. Los Angeles, California 2009

Morgan Hagar (b. 1975, United States) is an independent documentary photographer based out of Los Angeles, California. He studied at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California and was the first to graduate from the renowned Visual Journalism program. While in school he held a staff photographer position at the Santa Barbara News-Press and shortly thereafter became Photo Editor at the Ventura County Reporter. Since then, he has devoted much of time to personal projects, which have garnered awards and international recognition. His work has been shown in various print publications and throughout the web as well as in solo and group exhibitions.

About the Photograph:

For years I have dedicated a great amount of my time and effort traveling throughout the world to cover topics that interest me personally. Many of those topics included the problems of other nations, other peoples. More recently, I have turned my focus inward, to my home, my backyard, to America. If there is great change afoot in America, like so many speak of, I feel now is the perfect time to document this nation and its culture. This image was produced while photographing the “Blessing of the Animals,” a tradition held in downtown Los Angeles by Cardinal Roger Mahony. Here, two girls wait for their chance to dance for the thousands of onlookers that came out that day. There was a small parade, local food and dancing much like any festival held throughout the country. I was not on assignment, I was just curious to learn about a small part of my city’s culture, its history and share that knowledge with others. That, to me, is true documentary photography.

Dave Jordano October 16, 2009

From the book “Articles of Faith” storefront Churches of Chicago

Dave Jordano (b. 1948, Detroit, Michigan) received his degree in photography from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit in 1974.  Moving to Chicago in 1977 he established a successful freelance photography studio and for 30 years he specializing in food and product photography, shooting major campaigns for national and international clients.  Since his return to fine art/documentary photography, he received the Curator’s Choice Award in the Houston Center for Photography’s annual membership competition in 2004. and was a finalist in Photolucia’s 2006 “Critical Mass” national book award. His first book, “Articles of Faith”, was published by The Center for American Places at Columbia College in 2009.  His work is included in The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

About the Photograph:

“Sometimes pictures are so obvious that they can often sit lurking in the corner of your view without notice.  While working on a three and one-half year book project documenting the interior spaces of Chicago’s south-side African American storefront churches I noticed this young girl sitting on a pew playing with a piece of paper, quietly passing the time while watching me work.  Minutes went by as she continued to fold and unfolded the piece of paper.  It was an odd shape so I asked her what it was. It turned out to be a choir song sheet that was torn into the  shape of a heart. All of the songs that members of this church felt were important to sing were indelibly marked on this precious piece of paper.  Artifacts like this one, while seemingly insignificant, help define the very core of the cultural and social identity, shared interest, and spiritual awareness of a particular congregation.  Their presence defines and articulates the collective unity of the church through their continued use and preservation.  I wanted to capture the individual personality of these unique churches mainly through the documentation of their adornment, object placement, and decoration.  I asked her to display the paper for me and she collaborated willingly by holding it with the most delicate grip of her fingers.”

Christopher LaMarca October 14, 2009

Garfield county, Western Colorado 2008

Christopher LaMarca (b. 1975, USA) studied Environmental Studies and Biology at the University of Oregon, a degree that led him to pursue photographic projects documenting environmental issues. His work on the protection of old growth forests against logging garnered him numerous awards, including PDN’s 30 Emerging Photographers, PDN annual 2009 and NPPA’s Best of Photography. His Forest Defender project was featured in the 2006-2007 ICP triennial, Ecotopia; along with being published in both Aperture and Art Review. His first book Forest Defenders: The Confrontational Landscape, was recently published by PowerHouse Books.

About the Photograph:

Linda Allen and her husband take “old abandoned houses and give them love.” She’s lived in Garfield County almost her entire life.  Her Rulison home lies within several hundred yards of a gas well. “This has got to be one of the prettiest places that was ever put on the face of the Earth. I get up at five every morning because I love seeing the sun hit that mountain. I have bears that come down in the yard, wild turkeys and coyotes and elk, deer and foxes. We don’t have no pets; these are my pets.”

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Mathew Scott October 5, 2009

Venice, California 2008

Mathew Scott (b. 1978) was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. At age 21 he moved to San Francisco, where he eventually went to school, and in 2006, he graduated with a BFA in Photography from the Academy of Art. Whether in landscape or portraiture, his camera brings into focus the paradoxical tensions existing just under the surface of everyday life. The juxtaposition of two Americas- the urban and the rural- overlap (and compete) in his photography, as startling images elicit a struggle of dualities. With a throw away gesture, he gives us Yin and Yang, light and dark, compassion and sarcasm. Mathew currently lives in LA, where he continues to impart truths that to a lesser eye would go unnoticed. You can find his images within the pages of your favorite publications,and you can view his ever growing collection of Stock Photography sold exclusively through Veer.

About the Photograph:

“This photo was originally taken as part of my “Observing: Venice” series, but after editing my images for the project, I felt this image was best left on its own. I wanted to capture subtle signs of life, or stories with in the image. I would first find a location I liked, one with all graphical elements I was looking for, then I would set up, and wait for the scene to come alive. Sometimes this takes hours, or sometimes there is always something going on, and I just have to wait for the right moment. Either way, its all about patience.”