c4fap Portraits

http://www.c4fap.org/exhibitors/2011Portraits/

Juror: Rodney Smith!

One of my portraits was selected for a show.

Nom de guerre

http://hypebeast.com/2009/02/nom-de-guerre-2009-springsummer-collection-2/

http://hypebeast.com/2010/08/nom-de-guerre-2010-fallwinter-lookbook/

photographer

http://collabsociety.com/art/photographer-dan-martensen-x-nom-de-guerre-spring-2010-lookbook/

interview:

http://hypebeast.com/2010/01/nom-de-guerre-2010-springsummer-combat-continues-collection/

Nom de guerre

NY

2008 to present.

the name sort of means 'Stone Wall' Jackson.

military research and engineered.

film influence concept and character inspired designs.

greys and blacks.

strong photographic projects.

Contra

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1629504/20100112/vampire_weekend.jhtml

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-08-25/vampire-weekend-contra-versy/

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/08/vampire-weekend-scandal-201008

Thom Browne

I was able to visit the Thom Browne shop on Hudson and Franklin.

Centrifical Force

When I was a kid, my aunt took me to a show similar to this one, where motor cycles go round and round in a bowl.

The Mexican Suitcase

I spent nearly the whole afternoon looking at the rare first exhibit of : http://www.icp.org/museum/exhibitions. The Mexican Suitcase looks like a homemade box of card board with cordoned space that held rolled up 35mm film negatives. This was also in conjunction to the Cuban Revolution with many rare Che contact sheets. There is a Netflix film about how the famous iconic Che portrait arrived. Both shows displayed contact sheets along with the famous prints. The Mexican Suitcase has more contact sheets. I had not seen any contact sheets at all in a museum. It was good to see that the pros also had over exposed or rough shots before they nailed it.

Sara Vanderbeek

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/arts/design/19kino.html?_r=1

9/11

_1000169
Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly

WTC

Nails

2009. I was testing out the Nikon 50 mm 1.4 f lens. I wanted to get some idea for the depth of field. This was shot on film.

Domestic Landscapes

http://WWW.BERTTEUNISSEN.COM/contact.php

Links

http://photographtinawest.wordpress.com

http://www.robertwhitman.com/

http://www.larstopelmann.com

http://www.exfed.blogspot.com/ - ari

Stranger Then Paradise

My favorite Jim J. film. There are several iconic film stills.

Friends of the Gorge

Friends of the Gorge featured my photograph of Indian Point: http://gorgefriends.org/display.php?modin=51&uid=4876

July 4th 2010 Sunset

July 4th 2010 Sunset
Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly

Before the fire works.

Sauvie Island

DSCF2003
Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly

Spent a day on this beautiful island. I put this image on on ImageKind thinking that I would one day make a print of it for my wall.

Willamette Falls

Willamette Falls
Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly

Evening

Radio Lab Numbers

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2009/10/09

Seiko Dolphin

Seiko Dolphin

W.S. Merwin

"I think memory is essential to what we are. We wouldn't be able to talk to each other without memory, and what we think of as the present really is the past. It is made out of the past. The present is an absolutely transparent moment that only great saints ever see occasionally. But the present that we think of as the present is made up of the past, and the past is always one moment. It's what happened three minutes ago, and one minute, it's what happened 30 years ago. And they flow into each other in waves that we can't predict and that we keep discovering in dreams, which keep bringing up feelings and moments, some of which we never actually saw."

-W.S Merwin

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128239404

The William Brown Project

http://www.thewilliambrownproject.com/

http://www.matthewhranek.com/index.cfm

Iridescent Stone II

Iridescent, like the neck of a pigeon.

Posted via email from Lex's posterous

Peter Beard

Peter Beard

Robert Mangold

Art Paper Invitations

http://artpaperinvitations.blogspot.com/

April First Thursday 01

Ace Hotel

The Scout made a second video on craftsmanship. This one features Roman & Williams. I really like the way they have documents some of their renovation projects on the blog. There are pictures of bricks being laid, photographs of the fixtures along side with shop drawings. In this computer age, it's refreshing to see hand drawings instead of slick CG. I also think that they have chosen to use Blogger to show case their work instead of a flash or highly coded website. It's really using simple tools that are familiar to new exciting ways. A blogging tool has been transformed into a cascading sections to show news, goods, and projects.

Roman & Williams from The Scout on Vimeo.

Art 100

Tonight I went to see two different works. Jame Lavadour and Julia Mangold. The galleries, PDX Contemporary and Elizabeth Leach, were next to each other. Their works are different and also similar. Lavadour's abstract landscapes seems like a shamanic vision after a strong peyote trip. The vast spaces created with a subtle mix of bright color that are layered with pure neon unmixed colors and lines. The toxic color seems to have flatten the space and yet adds depth because of the layering. Some of the pieces are explosions from a volcano against the misty haze of distant land. There are sharp depth of field and jagged mountains. The shapes seems to come purer in it's abstraction where as a realistic or photographic depiction of the landscape would have organically rounded off the geometries. Despite the strong tone, the whole body of work seems to stay with a certain strong palette. A comparison could be made to Cezanne's cubist rendering of the landscape, reducing the mountain mass into flatten shapes. Cezanne's landscapes are more cubic then Lavadors. If Julia Mangold painted a landscape, it would be more a keen to Cezanne then Lavadour.

Then there is the austere work of Julia Mangold. She stays with in a certain tone yet still manage to produce an illusion of space. Her palette is black against the gallery's white wall. Her work contains a certain purity and religious tones. Her vision is also shamanic, though more hermetic and monastic, less gregarious then Lavadour's, though no less powerful. The work hungs on the wall as sculpture and painting at the same time. The more successful compositions are the pure square, almost cubes. Lavadour's forms and lines are organic becoming geometric and Julia Mangolds forms are geometric becoming organic. The lights cast ghostly shadows, light grays angels beneath the cube pieces hanging on the wall. Lavadors are panels that protrude slightly off the wall where as Julia's form extend from the wall and into the space of the viewer and room. In a way, Lavadour's work is minimal and flat. There are few colors within the painting and few shapes in the volcabulary. These issues, these tools are more distinct in Julia's work. Julia also has some pieces that are on a flat plane. They too are dimensionally projecting. The layers of transparency and space is perhaps most similar to Lavadour's paintings. They seem to be layers up on layers of vellum sheets, the top sheet has a slight curve at the top that shows how the pieces were constructed. They are also restricted to pure platonic shapes, like her sculptures. Their layering seems more apparent and constructed where as Lavadour's veils are hazing the mountain peaks beyond in mists. Lavadour rejoice in the un-ruliness, Julia reveal in the restraint.

The volumes bisected by the white lines that are between the rectangular shapes. Their forms create another shape casted by the gallery light. There are groupings of three square. Each is carefully constructed to bring out the proportions. For example, the smaller square groups has more depth and become more cube like in their volumes while the larger square groupings have flatter depth. This choice seems to be congruent with the way we perceive space and how we measure our body against the work. There were more obvious sculptural pieces as objects on the floor. The volumes, boxes lay flush against each other at times and then protrude no more then half an inch beyond each other. There seems to be a game, a consistency. For example, the horizontal lines between the space of the wall pieces are less then half an inch. There are limitations in dimension to create implied lines. The vertical wall pieces seem less successful and radically different from the implied square. It's not the unruliness's of the dimension that makes them alien to the square composition, it's their departure from the square that creates such a jarring affect. Though they are of the same color of black that unites the pieces, it is the geometry that makes them different and seem to belong to another artist. In the back of the gallery are the prints of Donald Judd. Only two are in black and white. Though they are lines, the black and white twins demonstrate the minimalist technique of varying only a few lines to make a slight but totally different space. It is no accident that the two are shown together. Julia works in the same line as Judd and even her last name Mangold recalls another minimalist, Robert Mangold. I shook her hands but did not ask her if she is related to Robert. Her work certainly carries the line and field color of Robert in shape but not color. It reminds me of Frank Stella's black and white prints and his radical departure in sculpture of metallic french curves protruding from the wall. I would have expected Frank Stella's work to be more like Julia's work if he carried on the same black and white palette and remain pure in his geometry of linear lines and rectangular shapes. Julia's work is a ghost of Donald Judd and Frank Stella. She carries on their tradition and I almost prefer her work to her fore bears, the masters of minimalist. Judd's work is sometimes too pure, dare I say boring, where as Julia's work allows a range of visual games to engage the viewers. Her work recalls another minimalist, Ann Truitt. Not long ago, I saw Truitt's column piece at the Portland Art Museum's Disquieted show. It is a column, an extended cube. In height, it is about the size of a woman. It is perfectly executed, like Julia's work. However, Julia's vertical pieces pales in comparison. If only Truitt's column were black, they would belong in the show as a mother watching over her children, Julia's child, playing quietly, sneakily protruding from each other on the wall and on the floor.

Issuu

Wedding Event BookShow

Events/Wedding by Duc Ly | BOOK INFO

I made a quick rough draft of Event/Wedding images to show to clients who are interested in having a book made of their events. It's a slim volume compare to the Kolo Album that I put together of the images. I think both serve a different purpose. I think that the book would be a great item for corporate events and a Kolo Album would be better for personal events such as an engagement.

Give Me Shelter

I'm trying out Photoshelter. Here's the referral code. What I like so far is the ability to have a blog linked to my photography website. I would also like to sell stock images. I would also like to send my clients a secure password link for them to check out the shoot of the event. This is great and seems to be doing it all for photographers out there. I've made a gallery of images and it allows me to promote it on a blog. Check out my gallery of New Images.

Riviera Clothing

I like how riviera clothing put together their website which is in form of a book. The clean photographs, bright lights capture California. The font and lay out of both the website and book has a personal feel to it and has a simple concept. I really see it as a hard cover book. I wish that my blurb book could be previewed like this book. I could easily imagined this website virtual book as a real book and would want to received their catalogue.

Take Ivy

A Continuous Lean has a few rare spread of this fashion/photography/documentary book from the past called Take Ivy.

Blurb BookShow

Prospero's Book by Duc N. Ly

Gabriel Orozco

I really like how Gabriel uses photography in his notebooks. He uses a common ballpoint and writes in ideas, thoughts, and observations in an organized block, like comic book or architectural handwriting. He uses a 35mm camera and a point and shoot then has the rolls printed in 4x6. Here's an artist using photography as a medium sometimes and using it as a sketch book. Check out his house he designed (photographed by Iwan Baan)

moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2009/gabrielorozco/#18

The Pleasures of the Text

DSCF1742 lolo
Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly

The Pleasures of the Text began as my curiosity of there the reader's mind goes when he/she is lost in a book. It is the same look that video games have? That concentrated gaze. When some one is lost in a book, it's hard to get their attention. It makes photographing them a bit easier as they are not aware of anything other then the book that engages them. In this high tech culture, the printed page is vanishing. I foundly remember the bookstores I frequent at lunch time which no longer exist today and marvel at the places that still survive. I regret not documenting these places before they disappeared. Some places still have high ceilings and floods of light into the skylight. Other places are dark and dingy and seem to represent that part of our brain.

Cherry Blossom at Papaya Thai

DSCF1759 colorcross
Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly

I had the big camera out which gathered a crowd. Then took this one with a digital camera. It happened to be in front of Papaya Thai restaurant. The family talked to me for a bit during diner. They had a huge painting of Can Tho. I might go back to make a picture of it.

flash fiction

Date: Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Subject: [writers-HdSwkTFR] New Meetup: Close Reading - Poetic Devices - Selections of Flash Fiction

Announcing a new Meetup for Reading Like a Writer: Book Club/Writing Workshop!

What: Close Reading - Poetic Devices - Selections of Flash Fiction

When: Sunday, March 14, 2010 6:00 PM

Where:
McMenamins Tavern & Pool
1716 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 227-0929

This month, we will be reading several pieces, each very short, and each very free. In this way, we will not bogged down with discussion of 'plot' or logistical confusions, so we can focus upon language, visuals, and emotions. We will compare and contrast each piece, and how effectively each uses poetic techniques to enhance its narrative.

I've attempted to be diverse in my selections:

Jack Anderson's "Calamitous Dreams", part of the "Traffic: new and selected prose poems" collection. (If the link doesn't work, you should be able to find it yourself through Google Books.)

T.S. Eliot's "Hysteria"

Ernest Hemingway's "A Very Short Story"

Raymond Carver's "Little Things"

I encourage everyone to print these out, read and re-read, and annotate.

Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/Reading-Like-a-Writer/calendar/12033473/

Posted via email from Lex's posterous

Dreamtigers

Dreamtigers
Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly

Happy Chinese New Years. Year of the Tiger. I was at Wallace Bookstore and found this book. I made a picture of it for the occasion.

2010 begins a new decade and the new symbol. The idea began when I saw Borge's Dreamtigers at a bookstore after the new years. I had seen certain images of the tiger pasted to my bedroom wall as a child and I regard it as protection. I had been told my my parents that when we sleep, our soul being becomes an animal and roam the landscape of dreams. I believe that we became our Zodiac counter part, our doppleganger. It was believe that the face of the dreamer would not be distrubed or deface because the dream counter part would not be able to recognize the host upon it's return. The realm of sleep and dream is sacred. TThis is the reason why pictures of people sleeping is frown upon. I was looking at the color and symbols of Red, the Chinese red. At the time, I was looking at images with the color red as symbols of love. I had an idea for a while of gathering all of the images that I had taken that has something to do with Asian and the Asian culture. Part of it seems that I have fallen into the same cliche and stereo types. It might be a mirror that reflects my own prejudices and preferences.

Going Gonzo

going gonzo DSCF1546
Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly

The pleasure of the text
Hunter S. Thompson

Chickamauga

Here's a picture of Charles giving a reading several years ago at the Wieden/Kennedy building in Portland, Oregon. I heard about Charles writing studio which he keeps immaculate. That would be a cool space to make a photograph.

I thought this is a great picture from Charles's wife Holy. I believe that is a close up pictures of Charles reading his poem.

Can Tho

Okay where to start? First Friday is a great art scene in the SE part of Portland. I was at the 23 Sandy for the artist reception. The place was packed. I got to see my friends and my teacher!
I stood near my image 'Indian Point' to answer questions. Near me stood Josh Hobson's and his image "Coming, Going, Coming."
I asked Josh where that was taken and when he said 'Can Tho', I could not believe my ears. That's where I grew up I tell Josh this. Josh was listed as a non-portland artist because he was just a few weeks ago. His picture arrived in Portland before he did. Josh had travel with his wife in Vietnam and Korea (to teach English). Portland has welcomed Josh in a big way because his other image is showing at the same time at the NewSpace Center for photography. (The show is call Carnival.)

I had to show Chris Bennett's picture: 'View from Hart Mountain'. I thought it was quiet a coincident and thought I make a post of it. The show will be on until the end of February.

In Good Company

This February's First Thursday I'll be hanging out at 23 Sandy Gallery. The gallery is hanging the ND10 Down & Out show that moved from the Wallspace the previous month. What a great way to start of the new year. There are four of us out of 42 photographers that are from Portland, Oregon. Here are the four Portland Photographers: Chris Bennett, Heidi Bertman, Duc Ly, and Jeff Krolick. Jeff's work has been feature in many place, Jen Bekman's gallery is one of them. Chris, I believe is the Director of Newspace Center in Portland SE studio, which I've been using for studio photography. I look forward to meeting these talented photographers. I'm a bit star struck, particularly because I've seen Alejandro Cartagena's Fragmented Cities, Santa Catarina. His work has been selected for Hey Hot Shots, and few others that I've missed. Pausetobegin.com has an interview with Alejandro and other photographers.

Jeff Antebi.com has been doing some very powerful work in Haiti before the earthquake.

I've looked at there work recently on the websites and admire their approach.

Paperstars's Work

imagekind.com member

Paperstar is my niece. She just put up a website. Check it out.

Posted via email from Lex's posterous

How do you find your subjects?

This question has been on my mind lately.

Here's some answers: Alec Soth; Two photographers talking about subject, heart, and mind.

Indian Point

.

This photograph is now in a group show.

Over this last summer of 2009, I've been going on a lot of hikes along the Columbia River Gorge region between Oregon and Washington forests and mountains. I go with my friends who are expert hikers. They are my guides. They have seen incredible views of St. Helen, and other Colorado range. I'm always amazed that they rarely photograph the views. I climb the hills for the views. I've been lead up to Indian Point's secret spot. Some of the trails are hidden like this particular spot of Indian Point where I took this photograph. I gaze down and out towards the mighty Columbia River. My guides points to the opposite side of the River to Dog Mountain's peak. The ground below has signs of modern industries, cars, and damns. There are signs that the landscape is changing. I try to imagine the time when the Native Americans looked out to these majestic land before industrialization. These are some of the most sacred spots. On Silver Star Mountain trails, there is a path through huckleberry berries and brambles which leads to a sacred spot. The Native Americans build a shallow pit made of rocks. The initiate will then lay in the pit for a day perhaps night and wait for a vision. For me, the hike is a meditation of breaths, and exhaustion of body and mind. I carry my problems with me in my head and try to unpack them along the way, to work them out and wait for insights. Dropping a problem here and there and picking up new vision, insights and preserve them in my camera. I always carry a camera or two with me on these excursions. The images show a privilege view and make my physical exertion worthwhile. I carry these visions to the flat land and share them with my friends. I'm always proud of them and know that someday I won't be able to climb any more and will be glad to have the hard earned views. Photography allows me to capture the vision, a modern invention to express what has always been inside for those who choose not to share.

Wall Space Gallery

wall space seattle ND10 Down & Out Catalogue

The blog post regarding show is flatfile.blogspot.com

update: http://lexly87.blogspot.com/2010/08/friends-of-gorge.html

ND10 Postcard

ND10 Postcard

Originally uploaded by lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly.

Our 4th annual New Directions exhibition,
Down+Out
juried by Carol McCusker, curator of the Museum of Photographic Arts
is pleased to present 42 artists challenging the ideas of distance and scale.

Participating artists -
Robbie Acklen | John Aldredge | Jeff Antebi
Cordelia Bailey | Chris Bennett | Heidi Bertman
Andrew Binkley | Charles Blackburn | J. Wesley Brown
Alejandro Cartagena | Pete Cosenza | Matthew Derezinski
Kristen Fecker Peroni | David George | Colin Graham
Steve Guttenberg | Ray Hau | Nicole Jean Hill
Joshua Hobson | Adam Jaocno | Kirby Johnson
Jeffrey Krolick | Sarah Marie Land | Larry Larsen
Nathan Lunstrum | Duc Ly | Kora Manheimer
Patricia McInroy | Daniel Melo | Charles Mintz
Emily Nathan | David Jaewon Oh | Wayne Palmer | Ric Peterson
Dawn Roe | Wendy Ross | Michael Seif
Sarah Sharp | Peter Tilgner | Ronit Toledano
Anna Maria Vag | Jacqueline Walters

Here's the On-line Gallery

More information here.