Scott Anderson’s Blog

I just caught-up with the March/April issue of American Photo and enjoyed reading the featured reporting on "The New Portrait: A Study in Three Parts"  (This issue also includes the magazine’s selection of America’s top 10 wedding photographers).

Regarding the technique and philosophy of the portraitist, what resonated most with me was an observation made by Annie Leibovitz, "…As soon as you engage someone, their face changes.  They become animated.  They forget about being photographed.  Their minds become occupied and they look more interesting."  So true. 

Leibovitz adds, "My pictures are helped by an environment.  I love the street.  I love going to someone’s house, seeing what’s on their walls, what chair they sit in.  I like to see how they live." 

This too is one of the many reasons I love photographing families and couples.  It’s an invitation into the revealing lives of others…and I believe most "curious" and observant photographers have a voyeur gene that needs continual nourishing.   

A favorite read is the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal.  Being the weekend, I always start with the Pursuits section and slowly work my way (backwards) to the front page.  Today’s gold nugget is the TRANEUMENTARY podcast reviewed in Picks…Page P2. Quoting, "The Traneumentary is a documentary presented in podcast form. The five-minute installments each provide different Jazz musicians offering recollections of Coltrane, as the legendary saxaphonist’s music plays in the background…." The artists inlcude some who played with Mr. Coltrane, such as pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Jimmy Cobb.  The podcast’s creator, Joseph Vella, is a media consultant and former musician.  He’s interviewed dozens of musicians for the series and posts a new episode each week.  Very cool. 

How to find it: www.traneumentary.blogspot.com

I started a new tradition with Ethan last Sunday — “Sunday With My Son”

We get up early in the morning (before the rest of the family is awake) and spend a couple hours exploring. We’re going to aim for one Sunday per month. Then, at the end of the year, I’m going to assemble a coffee table book of the images with some text. This past Sunday we hit the San Juan Capistrano Train Depot and the beach. Here are a few of the selects.