Bruce and Tamy Leventhal

While normally I am not a fan of the cliche pictures, sometimes the pictures can be done right. Bruce and Tamy Leventhal, a couple from Minneapolis, has done nature photography well. There is even a sense of artistry in their work. Their work can be found here. [Link] The two photographers are interviewed by the St. Croix Press here. [Link] Their work has led them to shoot nature and cultural photography. In many of the images their is a true sense of utopia that is reflective of the work of the Hudson River School. Bruce comments that his work is more technical where as his wife's work is often more emotive. Images of the couples trip to Kenya, which shows a more cultural focus can be seen here. [Link] What is important is the photographers comment that their style of photography is often driven by the equipment that they carry and that having the right tools for the job effects each picture. While I often find that nature photography becomes cliche I see a new sense of appreciation of nature in the works of the Leventhal photographers. There is a sense of emotion and a sense of place that is often lost in other works.

Banksy: Street Artist

Banksy's Website
Banksy is an anonymous English graffiti artist who uses street art to critique modern society. Banksy displays his art on public walls and often even build prop pieces. Banksy adresses several themes in his body of work. Through graffiti art Banksy makes statements that are anti-war, anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, anti-authoritarian, and often existential. Banksy's work was documented in the 2010 documentary titled Banksy: Exit Through the Gift Shop.

Banksy's work shown to the left depicts a naked man hanging from the window of a sexual health clinic in Bristol. This work was made using stencils and painted on an actual clinic wall. The city council has decide to allow the work to say.

The work on the right depicts a child wearing a large gas mask. This image is overtly anti-war. Anti-war sentiments are running strong these days in the public. On February 28th, I attended a David Gray concert, and he said while sitting at the piano: "These days we invade countries smaller than this piano."While anti-war feelings have been taken up by the public, the world is still at war.

Banksy's anti-capitalism work can be seen through the images like the one below. The work regarding capitalism raises good questions in the viewer. Is this all that life is about? Is our society ruining the environment? etc.

Banksy's work is growing in popularity and he is definitely being noticed. Will his work spark some change in our behaviors?