The folks at Livebooks (a very popular photographer portfolio website company) have posted a new entry in their “Photographers In Focus” video series - this one featuring world renowned photography legend, Harry Benson.  

If you don’t know who he is, know this: Harry Benson has photographed pretty much every icon of the last 50 years - a long time LIFE magazine staff photographer, he toured with the Beatles in 1964, has photographed the biggest names in world politics and celebrities from all walks of life.

This is a short piece, and definitely worth watching..

*** EDIT - if the video won’t play, please click HERE ***

I have not yet been fortunate enough to meet Mr. Benson, however I have fond memories of a joke that Rich Clarkson (another legend) told at his Sports Photography Workshop which was in Oklahoma City in 1989, and it goes something like this.. Read the rest of this entry »

First of all, James Nachtwey is not for the faint-hearted.  In my opinion, he is the best war photographer of the past several decades.  He makes tough photographs of horrible conditions all over the world.

“When James Nachtwey was awarded the TED Prize in 2007, he was given $100,000 and one wish to change the world.  He wished for our help in telling a vital story to the world, using powerful photos taken around the globe.  This photography project and this site are the result of his wish.” - XDRTB.org/

Here, he speaks about his wish:

And here is the wish unveiled, today (the beginning of which has a small clip of the above presentation):
 
 

Throughout the month of October and beyond, these photographs will be seen across the world in new and exciting ways: projections and LED screen displays in public spaces; film, music and creative arts festivals; human-rights festivals, fashion shows, art galleries and installations, art walks and much more.

Where to Watch

Well, part three happens to be the end of this year’s display of the “Tribute In Lights” and it marks a few firsts for me..

I made a somewhat spontaneous decision on Thursday night, abandoning my previous game plan, and electing, instead, to attempt to create a time lapse “montage” of photos of the display..
I will admit, that while I’m pleased encouraged with the results - I made a number of mistakes in hindsight - some of them the result of overthinking the project and thus talking myself into one setting when another would have worked better - and others just in the course of it being a “blind date” of sorts.  

In any event, I’m now planning to make another stab at it with a bunch of lessons now learned..

I’ve embedded the video below - you can also find it on YouTube (another first for me!)

Please, let me know what you think.

Special thanks to Michael Lawlor, Ryan Krieger and Drop Thud Oops, a portion of whose “Phrygian Waltz” is featured  as the sound track..

Hope you enjoy the show..

WTC Memorial Waltz by MDAVIDLEEDS

For those unfamiliar with YouTube, if you’d like to see the video full-screen, simply click on this button:    (in the video viewer above)

If you have comments or questions, PLEASE let me know.  Thanks! mdl

Today was, supposedly, the final day of operation for Astroland the famous Coney Island amusement park.  Molly and I decided to pay a final visit today and the weather couldn’t have been nicer.

It is not my intent to turn this in to a political blog, but with the DNC underway and the state of the world as we know it right now, things continue to be on my mind.  It’s been a long time since I’ve worked in a “news gathering” capacity that didn’t involve sports coverage, and while I don’t miss it, I have felt the need to start a bit of a journalistic project..  In any event, I found myself walking past what I’ll call “Signs of the Times” the other day, and have decided to start looking for these signs (as well as other “telling moments”) and see if I can’t create a little picture story along the way..

These are two of the “Signs of the Time” (”SOTT”) that Molly and I passed on Saturday.. 

The first - nicely lit by the florescent MTA lighting scheme, I must say (I am so in love with my Nikon D3 - the first camera I can say that about since the F5 - more on this incredible and amazing camera to come)..

"No War With Iran" - ©2008 MDAVIDLEEDS - All Rights Reserved

The second, Molly and I passed, just minutes later, as we walked north along Central Park West, en route to my dad’s apartment for dinner.. “There is no such thing as ethical torture.” proclaims this sign on the Ethical Culture Society Building - I couldn’t agree more…

"There's No Such Thing As Ethical Torture" - ©2008 MDAVIDLEEDS - All Rights Reserved

 
More of these to follow - I’ve really taken on a number of promising personal projects of late, but I’m excited about each and look forward to bringing you along for the creative process.. highs and lows.

Alright, sorry to be brief (again) but I’ve got to do a bit of work, and have pack up some gear for a portrait that I’m doing of my brother, Phillip and Ruff Lauren (aka Paw Newman) for a German fashion magazine (to be named later)..

Peace!