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I shot the above photo at SFMOMA recently from the spacious ground floor atrium up through the light shaft to the catwalk spanning across the fifth floor just underneath the skylight (click here for a larger version on black). Although I’ve taken many similar photos in the past, there’s something about that light shaft and skylight that keeps me coming back for more.

Currently there are three really great photography exhibitions; a Richard Avedon retrospective, a Japanese postwar show of a half-dozen photographers, and an exhibition of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean contemporary photography. The Avedon show ends November 29th, and the Japanese postwar and Asian contemporary exhibitions end December 20th.

While all three are excellent, I’d like to say a few words about the Japanese postwar exhibition, called The Provoke Era: Postwar Japanese Photography. What I really enjoyed about the show, was the highly energetic style employed by the exhibited photographers as a group; breaking many of the rules of traditional photography in order to help convey their vision. Their imagery sought to express the feelings many had in Japan after the war, the subsequent US occupation, and witnessing the country’s identity transforming from empire to democratic rule.

For me, the photographs as a group can be described as bold in composition, harsh with high contrast, cast in grating light, and seasoned with grain you can taste. This is what nuclear winter will feel like if that time ever comes. [/column]

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The photographers in this exhibition include Eiko Hosoe, Shomei Tomatsu, Daido Moriyama (who in particular I admire), Masahisa Fukase, Nobuyoshi Araki, and a couple of others. Some were contributors to a photo journal magazine titled Provoke, which was started in the late 1960s and ultimately influenced many of Japan’s upcoming photographers. Provoke Magazine is long gone and old copies are rare and difficult to find.  A few copies are on display at the exhibition along with prints by the above photographers. Although the subject matter is different, the high-conrast style influences my own photography.

If your in the area, check out SFMOMA’s three photography shows, and in particular, the Japanese postwar exhibition – you’ll leave amazed.

SFMOMA has really been rocking with outstanding photography exhibitions over the last five or so years. Next year in November there’ll by a Henri Cartier-Bresson retrospective exhibition, the first in the US in 30 years, featuring 300 photographs over his entire career.

SFMOMA is a very photographer friendly place – you can take pictures in the permanent collections as well as in the current special exhibits. Also worth checking out is the new rooftop garden on the top floor – a great place for relaxing over coffee and cake with friends after the shows. [/column]

Wanted to give a shout about two upcoming and local talks that look pretty interesting.

The first is by local photographer Eros Hoagland and will be hosted at the Exposure Gallery, Thursday, November 5th at 7pm. Hoagland, a photojournalist who has covered many areas of unrest around the world, will be talking about his recent experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Exposure Gallery is at 801 Howard, at 4th.

The second will be at the San Francisco Art Institute, this Friday evening where PhotoAlliance will be hosting photographer Jim Goldberg. Goldberg, a Magnum member since 2006, will talk about his project Open See, a series about refugees, immigration, and trafficking in Greece. The SFAI is located at 600 Chestnut (at Jones) – the talk begins at 7:30pm.  Probably good to get there a little early.

I’ve been to many talks at both the Exposure Gallery and PhotoAlliance and they’ve all been excellent. Unfortunately I’ll probably have to pass on these events cuz I’m really sick with the flu now, but thought others would like to know about them.

Snapped in Manhattan a few weeks ago on Bowery Street, off Houston (and pronounced “Howston”).

According to friends who have lived there in the past, it used to be a pretty rough area. Now it looks like it’s slowly being spruced up. The New Contemporary Museum of Art is there. Still kind of a strange place with blocks and blocks of old restaurant supply stores in ancient buildings. Apparently that’s the place to go if you’re starting a restaurant and need to get outfitted.

Snapped at Powell and O’farrell. Heh, at first I thought she was texting her kid…

Snapped on Market earlier this week, around 3rd I think.

One of the things I enjoy searching for when shooting on the streets is nice light. Bad light can instantly kill an otherwise decent photograph. Shooting in the open mid-day in San Francisco is normally a recipe for poor results due to harsh contrasty light.  If not constrained by an event or schedule, it’s so much nicer to shoot in the late afternoon or early morning.

Sometimes though, even shooting mid day, pockets of soft reflected light can be found shining down on darker areas.  The above photo speaks to that  - I snapped it at 1pm in the plaza at 333 Market Street (off Fremont) during a lunch time concert.

Other times due to circumstances you have no control over, such as shooting events, you then need to deal with the light that’s given you. Fill flash can make a ton of difference in those situations.

I snapped the above photo back in April during the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 30 year anniversary event held in in Dolores Park. The sun was out pretty much at full bore full bore with just a few cloud wisps around – and the park is wide open with no shade. But using my flash (and using it off camera), I was able to add light to their faces and bodies that would have otherwise turned out very dark and contrasty.

The Halloween photowalk tomorrow is going to be pretty sunny, I’m definitely bringing my flash to get much better street photos than would otherwise be possible.

Snapped at the Eastern Parkway subway station in Brooklyn last week…