The current issue of Guernica features photos by Jennifer Loeber and Erika Larsen as well as a great interview with one of my favorites, David Byrne.

Two Chinese magazines have published my work recently.  VISION Magazine featured my Air Guitar photos and Milk Magazine did a piece on my travel photography.

The April 1st issue of Guernica features amazing paintings by José Parlá, guest edited by Tara Jepson.

Dan’s 30th Birthday Time-Lapse from StudioBooth on Vimeo.

Here is a fun time-lapse video of the StudioBooth photos from my 30th birthday party.

This issue of Guernica features photographs by Rob Hornstra and sculpture by Diana Al Hadid.

Sound Suits. © Nick Cave

I’ve seen Nick Cave’s Sound Suits half a dozen times now but am always amazed by them. Take a look at this short video to see how they are made and clips of them in action.

The Universal Now: Post Office Tower 1989 / 1999 (2009) © Abigail Reynolds

Our friends at AMBACH & RICE were the only gallery from the North-West represented at the fair and, as always, they came with unique and interesting work.

Polaroids from the book Thousand. © Phillip-Lorca diCorcia

I’m a big fan of Philip-Lorca diCorcia and was pleased to see the entire David Zwirner booth dedicated to his work including the original Polaroids from his book, Thousand.

The March 1st issue of Guernica features a conversation and photographs by Talia Chetrit and Lucas Blalock and was guest-edited by Shane Lavalette.  I’m also quite fond of the essay The Acre by Brian Calvert.

We saw a little bit of Chicago despite the massive snowstorm that blanketed the city and dashed our hopes of making it to New York tomorrow.  Big thanks to the Violet Hour for the great event and tasty drinks.

We’ve been on the road all week for a series of StudioBooth events to promote the new HBO show, How to Make it in America and were fortunate enough to have a few days off in San Francisco. We caught up with some friends, ate a lot of good food and took an amazing drive through Marin and out to Point Reyes.

Check out the latest GOOD Magazine Picture Show which features images from my work on the Beijing Hutongs.

Paintings by Amy Bennett and Christine Gray in the current issue of Guernica.  Also make sure to check out the selection of contemporary female fiction writers guest-edited by Claire Messud.

StudioBooth made its first journey abroad to represent PUMA at Bread & Butter in Berlin.  Even though it was really cold and we were working most of the time, we made sure to eat our share of wienerschnitzel and currywurst, drink lots of tasty German beer and get a glimpse of what this exciting city has to offer.  Check out the full gallery here.

This issue features mind-bending claymation by Allison Schulnik and photos by Alexander Gronsky.  See the rest of the issue at www.guernicamag.com.

A selection of pics taken with the very cool Shakeit iPhone app on our recent trip to Rome.

Here are the highlights from the June 15th issue of Guernica:

Photographer Amnon Gutman documents the daily work of Israeli paramedics who respond to heart attacks and terrorist attacks alike in Tel Aviv Paramedics.

Going Too Far: Longtime Africa correspondent Michela Wrong discusses the Kenyan whistleblower who risked his life to end corruption, why she rejects Dambisa Moyo’s thesis about democracy & aid, and how she learned to love Paul Wolfowitz.

On the Beauty of Violence: Katherine Dunn, author of Geek Love (which turns 20 this year) on her new book, the cultural value of boxing, & why pugilism is superior to ballet.

Dreaming in Hindi: In an excerpt from her new book, Katherine Russell Rich, fighting cancer, escapes to India to learn Hindi & throw her life “in the air for a passion.

In Romania. A Post-History Hysteria, Chris Tanasescu captures the loneliness of his country’s history: “It’s as if we’ve always needed translation.” (Translated by David Baker & the author.)

In Sarverville Remains, from Josh Weil’s novella collection The New Valley, Mr. Podawalksi learns some surprising details about his wife.

Here are the highlights from the June 1st issue of Guernica:

Wasteland: This stunning multimedia video by Bombay Flying Club brings you into the burning Jharia coal fields and chronicles the lives of those who struggle to make a living there.

In 10 paintings, John Westmark considers the function of myth and folklore in an age of rapid technological advancement.

A Lousy Deal: On the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square, Wuer Kaixi, the student leader made famous for scolding the premier in his hospital gown, discusses exile, guilt over student deaths, and how his movement was a mere first step toward greater political freedom in China.

Hurt to Read: Back in the Mississippi Delta for the first time in four years, a teacher comes face to face with what he left behind.

Khaled Mattawa’s translation of Amjad Nasser’s The Bleating of Copper captures the intensity and insight of the Jordanian poet’s work.

Erik Raschke’s story, A Rare Sighting, explores the true nature of the legendary Bigfoo

Here are the highlights from the May 15th issue of Guernica:

100 years after Lewis W. Hine started work on his Ellis Island portraits, John Sevigny captures Latin American immigrants, hoping to give faces to the catch-all masses lambasted by Lou Dobbs and Pat Buchanan, who equate immigration with crime, in Nomads.

The Genocide Myth: In his latest book, Mahmood Mamdani attacks the Save Darfur Coalition as ahistorical hype-peddlers, and argues that the conflict in Darfur is more about land, power, and the environment than it is directly about race.

Standing Before History: On May 26, Shell goes to court on its role in the 1995 execution of iconic Nigerian writer & environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa. His son, and a bestselling novelist with a new book about the case, discuss his legacy, Nigeria now, and the landmark trial.

In Praise of Failure: Citing French literary gods like Proust and Moliere, the French prankster extraordinaire, in a new translation, asks, “Isn’t it hight time we started thinking about all the crap good writers make?”

Gabrielle Calvocoressi gives too-late advice to a father in Acknowledge, 1964.

Jennifer Pieroni contributes three short-short stories that take place near the beach, where people inflict damage or are hurt by the world around them.

© Wayne Liu

the wrestler online

Here are the highlights from the April 15th issue of Guernica:

Self-taught photographer Wayne Liu chronicles contemporary China from the perspective on both insider & outsider in China, You Are a Luck Star.

In Gaza Laid Bare , Jason Larkin takes us up close to the Israeli destruction in Gaza in an arresting photos essay.

Human Nature : In this excerpt from his new book Conservation Refugees, investigative historian Mark Dowie argues the concept of “nature” is not universal.

Chain Reaction: One year after the earthquake that devastated China, the author contemplates the connection between the quake, Chinese history, and his father’s death.

Finding the Comfortable Spots: Emerging novelist Jesse Ball on the ideal reader, Abraham Lincoln as a shaman, how poetry and fiction go together, and the greatness of a mongoose.

In Geomancy

, F.Daniel Rzicanek applies an early divination technique to the American West, complete with saints and a good dog.

From Jay Johnson, Anaphylaxis

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: Anaphylactic shock: that can come from a single bee sting. Alone and thirty-six miles out of Soweto, it can lead to death.

I’d been keeping track of the demolition of Shea Stadium and the construction of the new Citi Field from across the way at Willets Point and was excited to finally see the new field.  While I don’t know if two new baseball stadiums were the best way to spend tax dollars during a recession, I have to say I was impressed with this one.  Its open design and public areas set it apart from other ball parks and the Shack Burgers are a nice touch too!

Here are the highlights from the April 15th issue of Guernica :

15 years after the beginning of the genocide, Ted Alcorn reports from Rwanda on what has changed, and, sadly, what has not, in Picturing History in Rwanda .

Via metaphysics, Angela Gualdoni’s paintings try to fashion scraps into modest and humble metaphors

We Need to Win : Environmental child prodigy Severn Suzuki on how the economy can benefit from green initiatives, why Canada & the U.S. must lead, & the role for native peoples in conservation.

Guided by Voices: In the stories of Palestine & Israel, the author sees a disturbing parallel to what is happening to the “poem” that is the United States.

Our Reality Has Not Been Magical: With a newly elected leftist government in El Salvador, exiled Salvadoran novelist Horacio Castellanos Moya is optimistic about the future of a country that once responded to his novels with death threats.

Patricia Engel’s Dia explores the sexual tensions that can exist between long-time friends of the opposite sex.

In Canada, Henrietta Goodman writes: When he rows out to collect the geese, / they see him floating like an unexpected god…

If you happen to be in the greater Albany/Saratoga Springs area this spring, stop by my alma matter to see a great group show of Skidmore grads at the Schick Gallery.  The show is an alumni invitational featuring new media and photography by Simon Biswas , Carlson Bull

still waiting dvd , Adam Daily, Zach Gage, Patrica Search, Adrian Winter and myself.  The opening is Thursday, April 30th 6:30-7:30pm and the show runs until June 20th.

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For the past year I’ve been lucky enough to be the art and photo editor for Guernica Magazine. We are a politically minded arts and literary magazine with a world focus and publish twice a month. As part of getting this blog going again, I’m going to give wrap-ups of each issue. You can see the site at guernicamag.com.

Here is a run down of what was in the April 1st issue:

In Beaufort West, situated along South Africa’s N1 highway, with an island prison in the middle of town, Mikhael Subotzky captures the vivid characters and poignant social landscapes.

Jenn Warren’s mutimedia slideshow One Million Nets takes viewers to Southern Sudan, where contributions from abroad are helping prevent thousands of malaria deaths.

Aiding is Abetting

The Book of Eli hd

heaven project the download : African author & economist Dambisa Moyo on ending western aid to Africa, what Bono & Geldoff don’t get, and making African leaders accountable.

Shadowing the Dogs of War

: In search of meaning in the Holy Land, Lis Harris finds one group who found a way to ford the rivers of blood & tear down the wall of their own minds.

Ruski Business must love dogs download : During the Cold War, the son of an American journalist, soon to be jailed, spends his Moscow nights drinking, smoking, & black-marketing with Russian metalheads.

La Poste Americaine: An American in Germany sifts through the cultural signposts, in pursuit of what it means to belong to a particular nation.

Panamanian author Justo Arroyo answers The Question: Why do we pay so much for our workaday lunch–and get so little in return?

Acclaimed Puerto Rican poet Rafael Acevedo explores one of our last remaining taboos–cannibalism–in two poems.

I’m pleased to announce that I’ve joined with the good people at Gallery Stock to represent my archive.  Gallery Stock is the stock wing of Bill Charles Represents and they have a really impressive roster of photographers including Anthony Suau , Joachim Ladefoged

, Mitch Epstein, Nadav Kander

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and many others.

A multimedia piece that I made about Michael Mandiberg who is a fellow at Eyebeam in NYC.

We headed up to 125th street in Harlem this morning to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama.  A large crowd gathered around the jumbo-tron, American flags and Obama swag in hand, to watch the historic swearing in of the United States’ first African American President.  You can listen to Obama’s speech in full over at NPR

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The good people at Humble Arts Foundation have just published The Collector’s Guide to Emerging Art Photography which features one of my images. The book is mainly being distributed to photo editors, collectors and other industry professionals, but a small number of copies are available for purchase here . My work was also featured in Humble Art Foundation’s Group Show No 13 dance of the dead dvdrip

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After a week in Cairo, we decided to see what else Egypt had to offer and headed to the Western Desert.  We woke up at dawn and took a five hour taxi ride from Cairo to the Bahariya Oasis, where we met up with our two guides, Mahmoud and Mahmoud.  We spent the next three days off-roading in a Toyota Landcruiser through some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever seen.  We camped out under the stars and were treated to delicious meals cooked over an open fire.  Our guides were quite fond of the hashish and we spent each night smoking, drinking tea and listening to them play traditional Bedouin music. It was a truly unforgettable experience.

On one of our last days in Egypt we decided to get out of Cairo and visit Alexandria.  The famous port is Egypt’s second city and had been continuously inhabited since Alexander the Great founded it in 334 BC.  While still a busy Egyptian city, it is a much more pleasant place to visit than Cairo.  It has a distinctly Mediterranean feel and the sea breeze keeps the smog and heat under control.  One of the highlights of our visit was the newly built Bibliotheca Alexandrina which is a contemporary library built on the site of the ancient learning center and housed in a beautiful building designed by Norwegian architecture firm, Snøhetta.

We recently visited Cairo to attend the wedding of our good friends Brett and Vanessa.  I’d heard all about the horrible pollution, the traffic and the crowds - and Cairo did not disappoint.  The pollution is worse that any city in China that I have visited, the drivers are the craziest that I’ve ever encountered and we regularly sat in traffic for an hour at a time.  Despite all of this, Cairo is a wonderful place.  It is an energetic and dynamic city that never ceases to amaze.  The mix of new and old, rich and poor, touristed and untouched, makes it a place that is hard to categorize and even harder to pin down.

New York City always manages to serve up new surprises, but the Willets Point neighborhood of Queens, also known as the “Iron Triangle”, is truly unique.  This small piece of land, squished between Shea Stadium and the Van Wyck Expressway, is home to dozens of chop shops and assorted car parts dealers.  Each shop seems to be manned by workers from a different Latin American country with a couple Hasidic business thrown in.  The businesses of Willets Point have been in a long running battle with the city to improve road conditions and services.  Unfortunately, it looks like a loosing one. The site is scheduled to be demolished and replaced by an upscale shopping and hotel complex to complement the new Citi Field next door.

]]> http://look-closer.net/2008/11/15/the-iron-triangle/feed/ http://look-closer.net/2008/08/23/beijing-2008/ http://look-closer.net/2008/08/23/beijing-2008/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:07:09 +0000 dan http://look-closer.net/?p=504

I know its been a long time since I last updated Look Closer and it hasn’t been because i haven’t been taking pictures. Quite the opposite, I’ve been busy taking a lot of pictures and have not found the time to update as often as I should.
For the past month I’ve been in Beijing photographing the city during the Olympic games. It has been a really amazing experience, being in one of my favorite cities during such an exciting time. Here are a few links to some of what I’ve been working on. More to come soon….

China: Beijing’s Vanishing Hutong (PBS)

Tattoos, Once Taboo, Gain Street Credibility in China

(NYTimes)

In a Beijing Park, an Oasis for Mind and Body (NYTimes)

A few images from a long walk down Fifth Avenue from 145th Street to Washington Square Park.

Check out the interesting new web magazine, Bertha Mag, whose current issue features some of my work along with a bunch of other excellent photographers.

I just got around to developing the one roll of film I put through my Lomo on our three month trip through Central America and Mexico. I’ve forgotten where some of the shots were taken but they still bring back the dry, dusty, lonely feeling that some of the places we visited evoke.

We just got back from a relaxing week-long visit with Tara’s family in Portland, Oregon. After a few days spent celebrating Christmas and checking out Ali & Evan’s new cafe, we headed up to Evan’s family cabin in Central Oregon. We cooked food, slept in, played with the dogs and just enjoyed having a little time away from it all.

Happy New Year!

]]> http://look-closer.net/2008/01/01/central-oregon/feed/ http://look-closer.net/2007/09/24/air-guitar-iii/ http://look-closer.net/2007/09/24/air-guitar-iii/#comments Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:49:55 +0000 dan http://look-closer.net/?p=497

A little overdue, but here are some photos from the latest Air Guitar Chmpionships. Congrats to Andrew “William Ocean” Litz for making it to the World Championships in Finland. See more of my Air Guitar photos here

and here.

I had high hopes for Las Vegas. It has always occupied a place in my mind as a sort of seedy wonderland. A place where the rat-pack history would jump out at you and all night parties would be impossible to escape.

Admittedly, we gave the city a very cursory inspection but what I saw was little more that a depressing Disneyland theme-park. There were plenty of overweight families walking around with big gulps and obnoxious frat boy revelers but little of the charm that I was expecting.tremors download

I have many fond memories from my childhood of the family flying from our home in Massachusetts and going “out west.” This usually consisted of driving around various parts of the Western and South-Western United States and visiting the many National Parks.

What I observed this time around was a great mix of the natural beauty of the parks and the comic absurdity of middle America enjoying their leisure time.

Since returning from Central America we have been continuing our nomadic lifestyle right here in the good old USA. After a great few weeks in Tara’s hometown of Portland, Oregon, we set out for my first ever cross-country drive. While I’m not sure if we quite discovered the spirit of Jack Kerouac, we definitely got to know this wide and varied country of ours a little better. Here are a few photos from the road…

Mexico City, or the D.F (Districto Federal) as it is more commonly known, has received a bad rap over the years. It is often portrayed as a crime ridden and polluted metropolis but we found it to be one of the most exciting and enjoyable cities that we visited. The mixture of all the attractions of a world-class city with a big dose of Mexican flavor makes it a really incredible place to visit.

Probably the most lasting legacy of Spanish colonialism in Central America and Mexico is that of Catholicism.  In every town and city the myriad churches pay homage to the enduring influence of the religion.

For the past three weeks we have been making our way across Indonesia to our final destination on this leg of the trip. After hiking the Bromo volcano in eastern Java, we took one last overnight bus to the island of Bali. As one might expect, Bali is a beautiful place. Amazing scenery and friendly people are the norm and Balinese religion, music, art and culture are ever-present.

Tonight at midnight we will begin our long journey back to New York City. Our Asian adventure has been a truly amazing experience we are really looking forward to catching up with friends and family and spending a short while in wintry New York. On February 12th we fly to Belize to begin the second part of our trip in Central America.

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A few photos from a late season visit to Coney Island.

For the first month of our visit to Central America, we studied and traveled in the highlands region of Western Guatemala. This area of the country has a predominantly indigenous population who are direct descendants of the Mayan people that once inhabited most of Guatemala and southern Mexico. It is amazing to see how these traditions remain vital to many Guatemalans and the ways in which they have been adapted to the realities of modern life.

Yogyakarta  is considered the cultural capital of Java and is a center of traditional Indonesian arts and music.  It isn’t as gritty as Jakarta but has a thriving street art scene that can be seen throughout the city.  Here

is an article that describes the political, religious and gang-related motivation behind the work.  

After a short break here in NYC we are heading down to Central America for three more months of travel. I’ll still be shooting but will leave the laptop behind so the blog will have to wait until we return. In the meantime, feel free to check out my China project at www.picturechina.net, my portfolio site at www.daneckstein.com or browse through a few of my favorite Look Closer posts from the past two years:

Varanasi
Mongolia
Rockabilly
Handball
Air Guitar
Palm Sunday
Gotham
Halloween
September 11th
Billy Graham

We spent a long weekend in Miami, visiting friends and family and taking in the various art fairs.

Street art and political painting are prominently displayed throughout Central America. Whether it is a general show of support for a particular political party, an advertisement for an election or a tribute to fallen revolutionaries, these paintings show what an important role politics and history play in the lives of the people.

India’s southernmost state of Kerala moves at a decidedly slower speed than the rest of the country.  It is a beautiful place covered with coconut trees, dotted with old whitewashed churches and crisscrossed with busy canals and waterways.  We have spent much of the past few weeks traveling around this enchanted corner of the country- cruising on the scenic backwaters, taking in spice plantations and generally enjoying the relaxed pace of life.

For the week before New Year’s we returned to Palolem, a small beach town in Southern Goa.  There is little else to do here than while away the hours on the beach, so that is what we have been doing. Tomorrow we head for quick stops in Bangalore and Chennai before getting on our first airplane in four months and heading to Singapore.

Happy New Year!