APOLOGIA

Creating this Links Page involved deciding who will be endorsed by inclusion, and by ommission, who will not. I have decided to link to photographers who have personally affected me, either as teachers, as standards, as friends, or as antagonists that have made me think. I have no reciprocal arrangements with anyone here, though some of them also link their pages to me. I will be adding to these links as appropriate.

THE LINKS

Jacque King of Yeux Photography is at the top of the list. Jacque falls into the categories of teachers, standards, and friends. His styles, personal and photographic, are classic John Wayne: BANG! BANG! Couple of shots, never misses, and it's all over. Jacque has pretty much been there and done that. His stories of Paris or New York or Florida (or for that matter Laos or Cambodia) are authentic, and enthralling. Jacque is one of the first fashion photographers to have a web presence, and has pretty much made a home for those of us who shoot editorial fashion at his Fashion Only Forum. Jacque's spouse Leslie is listed first on my Models' Page. Jacque died today, Thursday October 26th, 2000 in the arms of his wife. I'll miss him.

Glenn McGaha Miller is a visionary and one of the premier "Bad Boys" on the web. His talent and unique vision (that's the word - can't describe GM2 without it) result in very deep, thought-provoking pictures. His creativity spews from a very sophisticated aesthetic sense, coupled with the balls to shoot it and show it. Glenn is Van Gogh without the razor, Lewis Carroll with a camera.

Leland Ray runs a shadow web-kingdom of photographers and models through various sites and forums. I think the link above will eventually get you to everything he wants you to see. Leland is a Southern Gentleman with a kind heart, an eye for the ladies, and a lens that catches the smell of magnolias on his good days. Sample his writing, and try to talk to him on the phone. His voice itself is art.

A. Jay Douglas of Chicago is a fine fashion photographer and a friend. When I posted that I would be visiting Chicago, he offered me his studio, and his help. He shoots some of the best B&W headshots (portraits, really) that I've seen - technically perfect, but with a connection to the model that brings her alive. Mr. Douglas shoots with a subtle sensibility that contrasts nicely with the sledgehammer approach of some of us. I expect to see more fine work coming from Andy as he expands into fashion on a larger scale.

Stephen Clark is a photographer with the taste for fashion. He's done powerful editorial work with several of the same models that I've photographed, and finds different characters than I've found. I envy many of the pictures he's made, and regret missing what he catches. Steve was recently awarded The Angel of Fashion for his site.

Jason Perkins is a kid (he prefers "youngster") that I first met when he was escorting a model to a shoot. He had blue hair. As I was photographing the model in a hotel room, Jason told me that HE wanted to be a photographer. I figured he liked the idea of telling girls to undress with a straight face. But he followed up on it, and has produced some very nice work. He also followed up by having one of my favorite models move in with him. He's off to a good start, and is another artist who's challenging the medium. I expect great stuff, and will be thoroughly pissed if he lets me down. (His link died, but I don't want to take him off. When his site's back up, the link will be too.)

Eric Striffler is a fashion shooter from Long Island. His scans are like camera-ready copy; perfect fashion photographs. I admire his precision and the structure he brings to his work. Eric and I cross paths on the forums. The one time I was looking forward to meeting him, both of us had conflicting schedules and it didn't work out. With scans like those he shows, I'd love to see his prints. I still owe Eric a beer.

drwood has left Los Angeles for his native New York. I'll miss the Black & White and editorial/portrait sections he used to show before creating his reversal process. Though he's a man of few (but blunt) words on the web, drwood is, in person, charming. I'd like to see him show his photography again. P.S. David is back in Los Angeles. He should make up his damned mind.

Eric Ahrens is a Lansing, Michigan photographer of women. I met him and his wife Ellen for the first time in September '99. He's a knowledgable and accomplished photographer. I encourage you to see his work and flip through his links page.

Gary Jones I met for the first time in June '99 at the Billings Fashion Rendezvous. He is nice guy, but not the kind of nice that makes you want to puke. You'll find a whole lot of very good fashion work at his site, and it's laid out chronologically so you can see where he's coming from and where he's going. Enjoy his work and check back frequently, because I know he's got some great stuff that isn't up there yet.

Karl Yuneli of Karlphoto fame, is a gentle man with a love of his art. He was a wonderful host when I met him in September, the models loved working with him and the photographs he produced were excellent. I look forward to visiting Karl again to spend more time talking.

Chip Willis is a fashion photographer who kind of exploded onto the web lately with bright, imaginative and experimental work. His panache, attitude and eye are excellent. I'll try to meet this guy on my next trip to Ohio. P.S. Met him. He's exactly who I expected. Big, gruff, hospitable. And way talented.

Kenn Lichtenwalter does beautiful black and white work. His full-frame composition and the broad tonal range of his scans (and prints) are very beautiful. I actually added this link after becoming jealous of the quality of his B&W and realized that if I'm brooding about it, the photographer meets the introductory requirement of personally affecting me.

Lee Higgs is primarily a fetish photographer. His work is unique, colorful and provocative. Look here for his more extreme work.

Dave Levingston experiments alot. His work ranges from beautiful to fascinating, with most being both. Of particular interest is "The Scream" - Dave's photo interpretation of Munch's painting (though I hope by pointing that out I haven't diminished interest in his other sexy and interesting photography.)

Robert Bruce Duncan made photographs that gave me a dream when I needed one. During some bad times awhile back I could look at his pictures of wooden boats, imagine myself building or restoring one, and felt the ties to the past that they represented. I met him recently when he discovered the Fashion Only Forum and we started talking. In addition to boats, Bruce beautifully photographs beautiful women, and has a permanent show of his portraiture at the Mesa Cafe in Santa Barbara.

Philippos Panagiotou is a Greek editorial (not the fashion kind) photographer that recently contacted me and got my attention with his ability to take me to places I haven't been before. Though he includes a bit of color work, I'm mostly impressed by his fine B&W 35mm photographs.

Mark Avers is an outstanding editorial fashion photographer in New York. His photographs and tears are impressive, and though he's mused a bit about moving to Los Angeles, and I've offered to buy him a cup of coffee if he actually does, my guess is that he'll stay put, at least for the mean time. Go take a look. It's good.

Ashley Karyl shoots beauty in Milan. One would think that his life would be perfect, photographing name models sans clothes and all, but talking to him showed that no matter where one is or what one does, the same human conditions exist. Fortunately, that doesn't show in his work. It's all pure, perfect fantasy. Drop him a line - he likes fan mail.

Steve Diet Goedde is the ultimate fetish photographer. His classic fetish work is available in the book "The Beauty of Fetish" ("BoF II" as well now) on the photography shelves at your nearest full-service bookstore. Check his site for other books. When we first started corresponding he advised me that fetish is best shot from the inside, rather than approached from the outside. I think ultimately he's right, as his work shows an understanding of the subject that outsiders can't approach.

Marek Mezyk is a young photographer that I share quite a few interests with. We've been corresponding for awhile and I like much of what I've seen. He's sincere about art, photography and music, and seems to be a broke as I am, so I empathize with him. His site is growing, and his work becoming more complete as time goes on. I enjoy checking in to see what he's been doing and am delighted by what I see. I recommend you check in, watch his progress and enjoy his photography.

Bill van den Akker is a friend of mine. He watches my cat when I travel and says he taught me everything I know.

Herman Krieger presents his photo essays. Fine, folksy, humorous and well worth inclusion on this short list. The first new listing in awhile (over two years - I'd best go check for bad links above soon).