Jay Silverman rose to fame during the era of massive 30 pound source books, purchasing spread after spread in Workbook, Blackbook, etc. I distinctly remember a shot he did of Shaq ONeil pointing to a can of Coke. FYI.
Aw come on, both are technically and visually competent - they're just not "edgy." You want a happy, colorful photo perfect for endorsements and People magazine, there you go. All their subjects can feel safe knowing they're going to look good. I mean I'd much rather see what those subjects would look like through Chris Buck's lenses, but sometimes it's not appropriate.
Liked the shot from Alston of Kevin Spacey, though.
Kwaku's work has always been unbelievably dull, what he is a real artist at is self promotion. You can look at loads of photogs and say why them, and the answer is usually they are geniuses at self promo. The work itself almost doesn't matter. As a sterling case in point, Kwaku has, in fact, never evolved, the guy has absolutely nothing new or interesting to put forward and never has, what has continued to progress are his amazing powers of promotion. If there is a leaf to be taken from his book, it is about this skill, not taking pics.
what is all this? the man has a skill...stop being jealous...he has a style...s-t-o-p being jealous. some people break through and others dont...so be it...go Kwak...I went to school w/ him and he has worked for it...
I went to RIT with Kwaku also- he came to school with his Mom's Oprah connection- and he was really arrogant. One can only guess with money and connections the one way he got recognized. In his bio on his website, he attributes his success to his first assignment at NY Times Magazine- that led to a diverse roster of clients- but he came to RIT with a diverse roster of Mom's friends.
Are you kidding me? These are two of the most pedestrian images I've seen in forty years.
The K. Alston lighting is boring and shooting with a wide F/Stop (A long focal length would have been the correct choice) to drop down the background kinda destroys the fact that it's obviously supposed to be a seasonal environmental portrait. He needs to stick to shooting wanna-be actresses like Tracy Bingham.
wow. you are a bitter photographer. Maybe you should try a little Jay Silverman, so that you can have a successful career. Plus you will have less time to be angry, because you'll be working.
wow , cant believe how many bitter people are out there.dont be anonymous have the balls to sign your name in your comments.I met kwaku just when he got to new york city and whatever success he has achieved, is from persevearance and diligence not because of his supposed connections with oprah.not to mention that hes a nice guy.I havent seen him since he moved to L.A. but always enjoy when I enccounter one of his images.he did it the old fashion way ...knocking on doors and weather you like it or not Talent.
I think Kwaku has great style..with portraits that capture a personality!.nice depth of field and colors commercial nice portraits some fine art video's i admire..i love the rosario pics ....will smith....obama! yes i believe the hate just make kwkau more great...kwaku is far from bitter, a workaholic with passion for people places and travel...n yes maybe work is more commercial but hey you got to eat! I believe the world should stay tunedey 30' something.lol.
Yo! You people need to stop hating. The cat is fierce in his style of work, life, travel and social abilities. He's a dear friend of mine. I've worked with photographers on both coasts. And Kwaku definitely can display a feeling that alot of photographers can't touch. Embrace difference it will take you far! Kwaku I hope you read this! Cuz I got your back bra! Bring it!
I happened upon this posting when I was doing a search for Kwaku's website. I am Kwaku's step father William Watkins. For the record, neither his father, nor myself and my wife, have or had any celebrity connections. He also did not have a lot of money in college or when he first started in NYC. I am not sure how he came up with the money for his first medium format camera in college, but it was not from his mother or me. His father also was and is not affluent. I am not a fan of the Eastwood picture either, but I recall him saying at a seminar he gave at the photo convention in NYC that the circumstances of the shoot were limited. He only had a few minutes with Mr. Eastwood at his ranch in order to take a photo for a Time magazine article on Mr. Eastwood. Mr. Eastwood did not consent to the usualy makeup, wardrobe and location changes that most people do in his industry when having pictures taken for magazine articles. He was more concerned with his privacy and a minimum amount of disruption to his day.
Your karma is in serious jeopardy. I encourage you to work on enhancing your own talent, skills, craft, goals, dreams and desires rather than bashing the most talented photographers out there. Is this really the best use of your life?
These comments are just unbelievable to me, I can't believe the bitterness and player hating. I really would like to know where the folks who wrote all these negative things like Kwaku's Mom has the Oprah connects and his family is so well off. If you all spent more time and energy perfecting your craft of photography and mastering your people skills you wouldn't have time to write this ridiculous stuff. The reason I can say this is because I worked with Kwaku early on when he was building his portfolio. He had a few celebrities in his book, not a lot, just enough to prove he could do the job. So, I hired him and I kept hiring him, he'd work for pennies because he knew on the back end he'd be a better photographer and business man. See, this thing we call art is a business and the ones who keep working like Kwaku understand that. So all you idiots need to shut up, put up, grow up and learn how to build up. Peace, L
This is not surprising to me. It is not surprising that when a person can not achieve, they have the instinct to tear down the person who has what they want. It is not anger at the person (Kwaku, who I have heard by all accounts is a stand up human being and uber-successful photographer), but rater an anger at themselves for their failures. I am a photographer too (www.salacuse.com ) and I am considerably less successful than Kwaku and yes I am envious of what he has achieved. But I look at the guy and say "that's how you do it" and I take a page from his book rather than tearing one out and shredding it. And just a side note: do you really think it is fair to judge someone's whole career from one photo? haven't you ever taken a bad photo? I have
I've known Kwaku for years. He is possibly one of the hardest working photographers in the business. He is a sincere guy who puts what he has into his work. He's got a personality and one hell of a book-so of course, he has made some money and a name for himself. Far as I can tell, these comments are emerging out of nowhere. He's been around for a long time.
Stumbled on this blog and while I usually refrain from mixing it up, this time I figured something needed to be said. Like the style, don't like the style, style varies between individuals. To slam a guy like that, it's not even that it is uncool, it just makes the slanderer look, well, pathetic actually. I will say this about Kwaku, no one I have ever been on set with has a more energetic and positive personality than he does and once he gets going, you realize why he is at the top of the food chain.
28 comments:
I never got what's so great about him. (KA) The Clint shot looks like a seniors pic that 1000's of portrait shooters have done for teen girls.
i've never heard of this jay silverman. just looked him up and.....wow.....i don't know what to say....
and kwaku alston has noooooooooo style.
Jay Silverman rose to fame during the era of massive 30 pound source books, purchasing spread after spread in Workbook, Blackbook, etc. I distinctly remember a shot he did of Shaq ONeil pointing to a can of Coke. FYI.
Holy shit! Those guys are terrible.
only in l.a. could two completely incompetent 'talents' be known by name.
Come on you guys, we can all use a little visual laxative once in a while......
Kwaku is black?
yup. he is. can you believe it? word is he's really great friends with oprah. she may be his art director.
Aw come on, both are technically and visually competent - they're just not "edgy." You want a happy, colorful photo perfect for endorsements and People magazine, there you go. All their subjects can feel safe knowing they're going to look good. I mean I'd much rather see what those subjects would look like through Chris Buck's lenses, but sometimes it's not appropriate.
Liked the shot from Alston of Kevin Spacey, though.
Oprah's endorsement ain't hurtin' 'im.
I was at RIT with Kwaku. He was amazingly cocky then, I can not imagine him now. His parents bought him all the good equipment. Great dresser.
Kwaku's work has always been unbelievably dull, what he is a real artist at is self promotion. You can look at loads of photogs and say why them, and the answer is usually they are geniuses at self promo. The work itself almost doesn't matter. As a sterling case in point, Kwaku has, in fact, never evolved, the guy has absolutely nothing new or interesting to put forward and never has, what has continued to progress are his amazing powers of promotion. If there is a leaf to be taken from his book, it is about this skill, not taking pics.
what is all this? the man has a skill...stop being jealous...he has a style...s-t-o-p being jealous. some people break through and others dont...so be it...go Kwak...I went to school w/ him and he has worked for it...
I went to RIT with Kwaku also- he came to school with his Mom's Oprah connection- and he was really arrogant. One can only guess with money and connections the one way he got recognized. In his bio on his website, he attributes his success to his first assignment at NY Times Magazine- that led to a diverse roster of clients- but he came to RIT with a diverse roster of Mom's friends.
Are you kidding me?
These are two of the most pedestrian images I've seen in forty years.
The K. Alston lighting is boring and shooting with a wide F/Stop (A long focal length would have been the correct choice) to drop down the background kinda destroys the fact that it's obviously supposed to be a seasonal environmental portrait.
He needs to stick to shooting wanna-be actresses like Tracy Bingham.
BITTER FUCKER<
Jay Silverman died this morning. I just to work for him. I love him. RIP brother.
- pete crouser
The work is marginal at best
wow. you are a bitter photographer. Maybe you should try a little Jay Silverman, so that you can have a successful career. Plus you will have less time to be angry, because you'll be working.
Let us see your book? I had the pleasure of working with Kwaku on several occasions. Personality goes a long way. Get one!!!
wow , cant believe how many bitter people are out there.dont be anonymous have the balls to sign your name in your comments.I met kwaku just when he got to new york city and whatever success he has achieved, is from persevearance and diligence not because of his supposed connections with oprah.not to mention that hes a nice guy.I havent seen him since he moved to L.A. but always enjoy when I enccounter one of his images.he did it the old fashion way ...knocking on doors and weather you like it or not Talent.
I think Kwaku has great style..with portraits that capture a personality!.nice depth of field and colors commercial nice portraits some fine art video's i admire..i love the rosario pics ....will smith....obama! yes i believe the hate just make kwkau more great...kwaku is far from bitter, a workaholic with passion for people places and travel...n yes maybe work is more commercial but hey you got to eat!
I believe the world should stay tunedey 30' something.lol.
Yo! You people need to stop hating.
The cat is fierce in his style of work, life, travel and social abilities. He's a dear friend of mine. I've worked with photographers on both coasts. And Kwaku definitely can display a feeling that alot of photographers can't touch. Embrace difference it will take you far! Kwaku I hope you read this! Cuz I got your back bra! Bring it!
I happened upon this posting when I was doing a search for Kwaku's website. I am Kwaku's step father William Watkins. For the record, neither his father, nor myself and my wife, have or had any celebrity connections. He also did not have a lot of money in college or when he first started in NYC. I am not sure how he came up with the money for his first medium format camera in college, but it was not from his mother or me. His father also was and is not affluent. I am not a fan of the Eastwood picture either, but I recall him saying at a seminar he gave at the photo convention in NYC that the circumstances of the shoot were limited. He only had a few minutes with Mr. Eastwood at his ranch in order to take a photo for a Time magazine article on Mr. Eastwood. Mr. Eastwood did not consent to the usualy makeup, wardrobe and location changes that most people do in his industry when having pictures taken for magazine articles. He was more concerned with his privacy and a minimum amount of disruption to his day.
Your karma is in serious jeopardy. I encourage you to work on enhancing your own talent, skills, craft, goals, dreams and desires rather than bashing the most talented photographers out there. Is this really the best use of your life?
These comments are just unbelievable to me, I can't believe the bitterness and player hating. I really would like to know where the folks who wrote all these negative things like Kwaku's Mom has the Oprah connects and his family is so well off. If you all spent more time and energy perfecting your craft of photography and mastering your people skills you wouldn't have time to write this ridiculous stuff. The reason I can say this is because I worked with Kwaku early on when he was building his portfolio. He had a few celebrities in his book, not a lot, just enough to prove he could do the job. So, I hired him and I kept hiring him, he'd work for pennies because he knew on the back end he'd be a better photographer and business man. See, this thing we call art is a business and the ones who keep working like Kwaku understand that. So all you idiots need to shut up, put up, grow up and learn how to build up. Peace, L
This is not surprising to me. It is not surprising that when a person can not achieve, they have the instinct to tear down the person who has what they want. It is not anger at the person (Kwaku, who I have heard by all accounts is a stand up human being and uber-successful photographer), but rater an anger at themselves for their failures.
I am a photographer too (www.salacuse.com ) and I am considerably less successful than Kwaku and yes I am envious of what he has achieved. But I look at the guy and say "that's how you do it" and I take a page from his book rather than tearing one out and shredding it. And just a side note: do you really think it is fair to judge someone's whole career from one photo? haven't you ever taken a bad photo? I have
I've known Kwaku for years. He is possibly one of the hardest working photographers in the business. He is a sincere guy who puts what he has into his work. He's got a personality and one hell of a book-so of course, he has made some money and a name for himself. Far as I can tell, these comments are emerging out of nowhere. He's been around for a long time.
Wow!! You are so jealous of this man, it is unreal. Get a life and a job..
Stumbled on this blog and while I usually refrain from mixing it up, this time I figured something needed to be said.
Like the style, don't like the style, style varies between individuals.
To slam a guy like that, it's not even that it is uncool, it just makes the slanderer look, well, pathetic actually.
I will say this about Kwaku, no one I have ever been on set with has a more energetic and positive personality than he does and once he gets going, you realize why he is at the top of the food chain.
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