After a first solid walk-through at the event, there an amazing abundance of photographs and books to ponder a purchase.
Day 2 at PhotoLA , not only some new found artists, but 2nd and 3rd year exhibits showing a photographers growth.
We’ll be recapping more this week as we begin to absorb it all. One more day to go. Video and text to follow.

So back to the love part.

This artist whom I first saw last year, kept me coming back for more. More looks, more study, more visual enjoyment.

Julie Blackmon is currently being exhibited by Photo-Eye Gallery

[photopress:jb.jpg,full,centered]
Black Leather, 2005
© Julie Blackmon All Rights Reserved

Black Leather (the name of the hair dye color) was a favorite.

She photographs her extended family of 55 , art directing and talent diretcing the subjects into a illustrative tableau of normal life, tweaked just right.
Shooting medium format film, she does do some minor work in photoshop, and prints on an Epson.

Why am I telling you this? Because the gallery told me and you want to know. Of course it’s the imagery thats key.
And her work is evocative of parts of most of our lives. And it’s not a Norman Rockwell vision. Read her statement below and check more of her work on the Photo-Eye website.

A good call for investment but remember to buy for the love, too.

[photopress:Image10_H240xW500.jpg,full,centered]

Domestic Vacations2
Floatie, 2006
Copyright © Julie Blackmon, 2006, Al Rights Reserved

Artists Statement
I have photographed my three children and their cousins and friends focusing on the subject of play. I am intrigued by play because the dark and mysterious sides to this make-believe world, as well as the heightened sense of beauty and awe, are fantastic elements that seem to parallel our own subconscious dreams, desires and fears, no matter what age we are. The challenge for me is to photograph my children and others in an artistic alchemy allied to childhood imagination, and transform those familiar children to wonderful, fantastic beings that push the frontiers of the imagination of the viewer, but, at the same time, ask that the viewer consider the wonder in everyday life.

Last day on Sunday. Make it if you can.

Cheers!
Damon Webster