Picture This: Kodak Goes Nuts

Bernard Matussière : A La Mode & Undercover

Photographe français, Bernard Matussière a commencé sa relation avec la photographie à l’age de 12 ans lorsque sa mère lui a donné son propre Rolleiflex.

A 16 ans Bernard travaille comme apprenti au laboratoire du journal ELLE à Paris. Deux ans plus tard il entre chez un photographe parisien, Emile Muller, ou il a fait plein labo, tirages géants, prise du vue en tous genres (viande, chausses, livres, voitures, tableaux) pour quelques années et ensuite il part pour le Japon. Il restera 2 ans à Tokyo en tant qu’assistant du photographe japonais Yoshiro Tatsuki. "J'ai fait plutôt la mode et les nues. C'était encore l'époque du kimono. C'ést un japon qui n'existe plus."

De retour à Paris (chez Muller), et après quelques tâtonnements, Matussière se spécialise dans la photo publicitaire ou il rencontre un certain succès: Les campagnes publicitaires se succèdent, travaux pour Levis, Peugeot, Renault, Chanel, Jourdan, Aubade, TF1, Canal+, Barbara, Dim, Interflora, EDF, Compaq etc... Depuis peu, Matussière partage son temps entre la publicité et des travaux plus personnels: expositions et reportages à travers le monde pour une ONG de chirurgiens “La chaîne de l’espoir," un livre qui sortira au printemps 2008.

Matussière a publié plusieurs livres: “Photographe,” en 1993 et “Mésaventures du Paradis,” livre sur Cuba avec l’Academicien Erik Orsenna. "Nue," chez Fitway Editions en 2005. Plusieurs expositions ont été consacrées à son travail: "La Corderie Royale" à la Rochelle, FNAC Paris; Edward Carter Gallery en 2002 à New York. Dernière en date, 2005, Galerie Track à Paris.

SIX QUESTIONS POUR BERNARD MATUSSIRE :

Quand as-tu commencé de travailler avec la photo numérique? Quels sont les advantages?

"D'abord je voudrais dire que la numérique n'est pas une évolution de l'invention de Daguerre – c'est une chose entièrement nouvelle qui fait des images, et c'est révolutionnaire.

J’ai commencé avec la numérique il y a quatre ans," dit-il. "Les avantages sont multiples : fini d'acheter des films, fini de developper les films dans des labo très chers, plus de polaroids et aussi rapidité – le labo ne ferme pas à 18 h et le numérique est ouvert le dimanche! On fait tout chez soi, d'abord, et ensuite la transmission est vraiment extraodinaire. C'est ça la nouveauté principale. On peut les envoyer de n'importe ou à n'importe quelle heure. C'est un monde complétement nouveau."

Tu utilise quel genre d'appareil de photo numérique?

"J'utilise le Canon EOS 1N, que j'ai acheté en 2005. Il y a 12 megapixels, et ça suffit pour tous genres de photos. Ça donne un fichier à peu près 9 mega en raw. Il y a des cartes mémoires qui portent 8 giga."

Dis-nous, comment la photographie a changé depuis le debut de la photo numérique?

"La photo a changé avec le numérique dans le sens ou tout le monde est photographe (Lagerfeld, Sliman, etc). On apprend plus la photo, on fait des photos tout de suite! Après on va dans un labo digital qui arrange tout sur l’ordinateur avec des heures de travail. Sur les téléphone mobiles, on peut avoir ou faire des carnet de notes en photos... c'est pas vraiment la photo, mais ça y ressemble... C'est une autre façon de s'exprimer. Ç'est de l'image, mais pas vraiment de la photo."

Pour l'impression, qu'est-ce qu'il faut savoir pour mieux imprimer les photos numériques? Papier, machines, tirages (ratio pixels - taille), etc.

"C'est pour les spécialistes comme vous, Lalande. On peut imprimer sur tas de supports différents, et des imprimates et des encres qui donnent des résultats multiples."

Dis un peu sur tes compagnes de publicité... Aubade... ça faisait arreter les voitures dans les rues de Paris!

"Aubade, j'ai commencé vers 1986 la série noir et blanc des femmes sans têtes habillées en souvêtments... un nouveau manniére de parler et vendre la lingerie. J'ai fait les prémieres 12 leçons d'Aubade. La numero un, par exemple, c'est... "Lui offrir un peu d'ivresse." C'était toujours sympas de rouler dans Paris et de voir mes images dans les abris bus! Et surtout de voir les gens les regarder."

Raconte-nous tes derniers projets...

"C'est la fabrication du livre sur mon O.N.G : La Chaine de l’Espoir qui sort en Avril 2008 – 250 pages de photos qui racontent en noir et blanc le monde qui n'est pas du côté des projecteurs."

Click here to see more work by Paris-based French photographer Bernard Matussière.

Epson 9800 - Belles Impressions Chez Nous

Affiches, les impressions digitales, éditions limitées, notre Epson 9800 est le meilleure imprimante numérique pour tous vos besoins. Nous imprimons sur des dizaines de supports différentes, y compris la toile, tyvek, papier Arches ainsi que du papier photo. Taille maximale : 1 m x 10 m. On peut stocker vos fichiers pour les éditions sur demande.

The 9800 is Epson's latest 44-inch wide format printer using UltraChrome K3™ Inks with a new eight color pigment set (C, Lc, M, Lm, Y, Lk, LLk + PK or MK). This includes a new three-level black technology with inter-changeable photo and mat blacks providing archival colour prints for up to 108 years and B&W for over 200 years. Epson’s variable-sized droplet and Micro Piezo drop-on-demand ink jet system can produce up to three different sizes per print line with a resolution of 2880 x 1440 dpi.

Ça vous interesse? Pour un devis/estimate: Contactez nous: LALANDE PRINTS.

Blue Ceiling at 59 : Danielle Voirin

Looking up: "Blue Ceiling at 59" by Danielle Voirin a new print by Lalande Digital Art Press is now available. The edition is unlimited and signed by Voirin; the work measures 60 cm x 80 cm, and is printed on 192 gram weight Epson Enhanced Matte paper.

BUY THIS PRINT
Price : 100 euros HT. You can purchase using Paypal: Order here: LALANDE PRINTS. (This image by Voirin is © 2006-2007 and reproduction in any form, printed or used on the web is strictly prophibited unless permission is granted by Danielle Voirin).

59 Rue de Rivoli was one of the most well-known artist squats in Paris. The large hotel particulier along one of the busiest axes in Paris housed up to 30 artists at its peak and served as a hothouse for artistic invention for years. But the City of Paris wasn't terribly pleased with the situation and after a massive struggle moved the artists to another building in the 18th arrondisement.

Danielle Voirin befriended a dozen artists at 59 Rue de Rivoli and documented the interiors, exteriors of the squat and many of the artists who spent years there. "The 'Blue Ceiling' was taken when I spent two weeks photographing the squat and artists as they were moving across town," says Danielle. "The City of Paris had by then decided to close the building for 15 months of renovations starting last November. I don't know if the artists will ever move back. In anycase, that era is gone."

The blue-celinged room with its bare lightbulbs drawing lines across the molding is one of Danielle's favorites from the hundreds of photos she took of the squat. "I don't remember anything else about the space where I took this; I was always looking up at that Mediterranean blue."

"Blue Ceiling at 59" was exhibited at the Carrousel du Louvre, through IVY Paris, and at Labo Photo Melco in the 19th where it was part of a portrait of 59 rue de Rivoli that paired black and white images of the artists with colorful shots of the building's interior. To order this print by Pay Pal or other means, contact Danielle Voirin directly.

Qu'est-ce Que C'est?

Vous connaissez le jeu! Alors, dites-nous ce que vous voyez sur la carte vous avez sous les yeux. A vous à jouer. Rappeler: Il faut laisser votre e-mail! L'offre est bon pour nouveau clients uniquement. Allez!

American Gun Goddess

Here's the latest take on America and guns from mail art badboy Michael Hernandez de Luna. The Chicago, Illinois-based artist collages his works digitally in creating sardonic fake postage stamps that stick a stick in the most sensitive places, and he does it all with style and panache. Once printed, all hell breaks loose. Like Michael Thompson, Michel Hosszù, MHdL is one of the stamp champs. MHdL is also the curator of the extraordinary 2005 stamp art show, Axis of Evil: The Secret History of Sin. An exhibition in which all hell broke loose again. CLICK on image to enlarge!

Days Like These : Carte de Rencontre No. 7

La Carte de Rencontre No. 7, limited edition of 1000, just published and distributed in Paris, is from a series of surrealist collages entitled, "Days Like These". Like the six preceeding it, Carte No. 7 is perforated in two, like a pair of large stamps. Distributed for free use, la carte is friendly, useful and engaging. A paper machine: "engagement marketing."



Art & Commerce
Lalande Digital Art Press is now working with cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs who want their own Carte de Rencontre, branded with their name, logo, image. Rencontre - Raconter: Taking word of mouth to a new level. Bouche à l'oreille à la carte.

La Carte de Recontre cible des publics variés : les boîte de nuist, les bars, les restaurants, les jeunes, les professionels, tous les tranches de public parisien; on peut changer les images par rapport vos marques, et les designs et messages, tous les mois (ou chaque semaine) pour mieux viser votre programme de publicité. Et la Carte de Rencontre n'est pas cher. Laissez nous vous faire une Carte de Rencontre. Contactez LALANDE et on peut commencer maintenant.

The Way It Was : JFK, Marilyn & Fidel

He was there, he showed up, he took the shot – which in the case of photographer I.C. “Chuck” Rapoport, means some of the most iconic moments in post-War America and Europe caught on film. Some 14 prints of Papoport's most famous works are on view at Jim Haynes, beginning, 28 October in a show entitled "ICONS."

Rapoport, who was born in the Bronx and attended the High School of Art and Design, studied photography at Ohio University. He got his first crack as a photojournalist in the 1960s with Paris-Match Magazine, working out of their New York bureau. His many “Match” photos include pictures of John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Marilyn Monroe, Samuel Beckett, Eva Gabor, Tina Onassis, the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan, among dozens of other icons of the time. His cover photo of Jackie Kennedy in the now classic JFK funeral issue (Numero Historique) was seen around the world. Rapoport was later published in LIFE Magazine, TIME, Sports Illustrated, the Saturday Evening Post, LOOK, National Geographic. His photos of Samuel Beckett were recently on view at the Centre Pompidou here in Paris.
Working with Suzanne Hollands and IVY PARIS, Lalande Digital Art Press helped produce a series of invitation cards for Rapoport's Paris show with Jim Haynes. "He's a great photographer, one of the classic image-makers of 1960s and 1970s," says Hollands. "It's quite amazing to have this work here, plus Chuck is a sweetheart."

The photographs are sensationally printed and breathe life back into the turbulent 1960s, an era where innocence took a plunge and heros were few. Black and white, yet with a gritty elegance, Rapoport's photos decant the moments in which icons emerged into public consciousness, before television took hold of the American (and Western) mind. Like other photographers of his time – Robert Frank and Lee Friedlander – Rapoport shows simply, and directly, what is there. Here is a master of content.

In 2007, Equator Books of Venice, Los Angeles, held a highly successful one-man showing of Rapoport’s LIFE photo-essays concerning NY’s Times Square, "The Way It Was" (in 1965). Rapoport now lives in Pacific Palisades, California, and Manhattan, with his wife Mary, and is currently a film and television writer.

Jim Haynes : 83 rue de la Tombe Issoire 75014 Paris; Atelier A-2 Métro : Alésia.

Forever: Kate O'Connor's Embroideries

"Why does he have Sheryl Crow on his iTunes?" asks Kate O'Connor. And she also wants to know, "If you've found a 'black renaissance style shirt... $20 reward. No questions asked." Kate O'Connor, artist, designer and illustrator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia takes text and image to new place, one that is both personal and universal, acerbic and friendly particularly with her series of embroidered handkerchiefs, two of which we've used in our latest Carte de Recontre series. The limited edition (1000) will be distributed throughout Paris this weekend. (Find 'em, use 'em and then make your own cards with us).

Kate O'Connor works from the Co. & Co. Studio, an award winning art and design collective she co-founded with a group of art school friends in the Spring of 2003. She holds both a BFA and a BDes from The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. And she loves British artist Tracy Emin's artworks (the YBA also uses embroidery).

"Emin's work is so confessional" she says. "I went to NYC a couple of years ago and it just so happened two of my favorite artists, Tracy Emin and Maira Kalman had shows on. By chance both were showing embroidery work. It seemed like a really obvious way to translate very quick immediate ideas and drawings. Through the process of embroidery you're forced to slow down and work on the same image that took a minute to draw, and translate it into something that takes hours to do. It's a way of honouring a little tiny drawing from your sketchbook. So I came back to Halifax and asked my Co. & Co. partner Kate Sinclair to teach me how to embroider and that was the beginning of this body of work."

Kate plans on hooking up with a gallery this fall to get her sardonically witty embroideries out into the world. "I have a couple of pieces for sale in Brooklyn at Cinders gallery," she says. "They sell between $150 and $200 depending on the complexity of the image. I think I'd sell them on a case by case scenario, but some I'm not willing to part with just yet!"

Currently Co. & Co. includes four partners based in Halifax, NYC and one in St. Kitts. The majority of their clients are arts organizations, art galleries and universities. Partner Ray Fenwick works exclusively on illustration using his extreme talent for type design. "We were all competing for the same crappy jobs so we decided to join forces and pool resources instead." To make ends meet Kate worked full time as an art director at local alternative newsweekly The Coast for three years (while two partners held down the office) and finally quit last December to work from Co. & Co. full time around the same period Fenwick joined full force. "It's a more flexible situation, allowing me time to travel and work on art." Kate's text works are also wonderful. One series inventories people's bookshelves in a delightly scribbly hand. O'Connor, who I ment via Coudal.com, an advertising design site based in Chicago, launched Co & Co Studio with art school friends. The company, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she lives, develops print and digital designs for clients all over the world. Projects include editorial, corporate and company identities, logos, web sites, catalogs, posters and packaging. Check out this group of geniuses, they're hot.

WYSIWYG : Tania Mouraud

What You See Is What You Get. Tania Mouraud loves her words. Her great text work, WYSIWYG, an art piece born of the digital age is, well, what it is. Tania is a long-time artist friend, a one-of-a-kind original. The giant wall painting, part of the Centre George Pompidou collection is now a permanent installation at the BPI Centre Pompidou (since 29 September).

La peinture murale, collection Centre G. Pompidou, est en installation permanente à la BPI du Centre G. Pompidou depuis le 29 Septembre, 2007.

Steve Wells Photography: A Kiwi in Paris

Photographer Steve Wells is living out a dream. He was born in Zambia, moved to New Zealand when he was 10 and then crossed over to Australia in 2001 where he worked as a musician and then a professional photographer. But in Sydney in 2006, the Kiwi fell in love with a French woman – "at a pyjama party" – and therefore, France, where he moved less than a year ago.

"For a number of years I had been thinking of exploring France and Europe, so i decided to sell everything, and come too. After a few months in Lyon with family, we moved to Paris," says Wells. "I love it here, there is a gritty energy I adore."

Wells has spent years shooting fashion, film stills, music/club documentaries and has just arrived in Paris, ready to take on the Gallic capital. Lalande is helping Steve put together his marketing portfolio, printing up cards and other materials to help him hit the ground running.

The photographer is currently working on Paris, but avoiding classic tourist spots, and attempting to see Paris from a new point of view. A tall order as Paris is one of the most photographed cities on the planet. But Wells does have a fresh take. His photos of Rikka, a dancer, in Lyon is but one example (above). "We had the luxury of time for this particular shoot," he says. "We played with red - lipstick, shoes, a towel, a tomato. She was staying in a great apartment in lyon, so we explored the space, and with minimal direction, I simply documented what I saw. This is one of my favorite images from the shoot." Another fashion shot of raw coffee on a model's lips makes you want to rush for the expresso bar! (below, right).

Lalande asked Steve about the basics for shooting digital these days. Here's the Steve Wells Bible:

1. Get it right in camera: Use a grey card for the color temperature, clean your sensor & clean the image before you take it.
2. Always shoot raw, it's the most flexible format. 3. Push the exposure, there is more information recorded by the sensor in the 'bright half'. 4. Don't spend too much of your shooting time looking at the preview. Once you are happy with the levels, etc, get on with shooting - like you used to with film. 5. Most important: Always always back up your work. I have 40 gigabyes of photos sitting in a corrupted disc. That's 40 gigabytes of nudes, portraits, an entire trip through New Zealand... Can anyone help? Contact : Steve Wells.

La Saison 2008: A La Carte

Put it on a card: Cartes de voeux, Christmas cards, seasonal notes.

Lalande Digital Art Press designed this special "Frogland" card for the year end card frenzy. Perfect for your company's best wishes, or your family's cards to anyone anywhere for 2008. Our cards can be personalized with your name and special message, or carry your company logo and address.

If you have your own photo, drawing or design, we can print those too, incorporating all your elements into an original card that will wow your friends and family. Say a photo of your house or your family along the Seine, the view from your rooftop, or your kids sporting the tri-colors...or even your kids' drawings. Let people know you take the Season seriously! Quantities: Minimum 25. Contact Lalande for prices and details. Let the season begin!

Pour votre cartes de voeux, clickez ici maintenant: Contact Lalande.

Le Projet Autonome

Né d'une envie d'indépendance et de création, Le Projet Autonome, exposition de Studio TRBDSGN, mêle des matériaux simples et un process de fabrication habituellement utilisé en signalétique qu'une gamme d'objets voit le jour. Pensé comme un jeu de construction, chaque élément prend vie par simple emboitement. Suite logique d'une réflexion sur la relation entre le graphisme et le design, l'autonomie de chaque objet réside dans sa liberté d'appropriation. Spécialiste en llustration, print, web et logo pour une gamme d'entreprises, TRBDSGN a lancé Le Projet Autonome à Toulouse à investir l'espace GHP lors d'une exposition évolutive: présenter une nouvelle collection d'objets et de meubles sous le label Projet Autonome.

Lalande Digital Art Press a travaillé avec Rodolphe Restout (onde), graphiste freelance et co-fondateur du Studio TRBDSGN, crée en 2001, en réalisant ses supports imprimés.

Créé en 2001 par Onde, Hobz et Honda, le TRBDSGN collectif fonctionne comme un laboratoire de recherche, en permanente évolution, saisissant la moindre opportunité de travailler de nouvelles techniques et matières.

Leur travail rentre dans un état d'esprit. Ils ont comme doctrine de privilégier le plaisir dans ce qu'ils font. Le fait d'inclure cette notion, ajoute à la qualité de leur projet, une envie de le perfectionner constamment. En se concertant, en apportant une critique constructive à chaque proposition, le TRBDSGN se construit autour d'un projet commun, où l'individu et le collectif trouvent leurs places grâce à un puissant esprit d'équipe.
Aujourd'hui le TRBDSGN évolue en créant son Studio et se donne les moyens de réaliser des projets ambitieux. Cette évolution donne l'opportunité de montrer un savoir faire à la fois créatif, original et professionnel.

Le Tribar: Bastille

Vous connaissez bien sûr la rue de Lappe, quartier Bastille: 300 bars et restos sur une route de nuit de 300 metres! Voici le Tribar. Unnouveau client Lalande Digital Art Press est "three-in-one" : Bar, Resto et Club. ( Mais, il faut dire que "club" veut dire aussi "strip tease." Alors, c'est Paris, quand même.) This the place to have your bachelor party (or your bachlorette party), sip sweet colorful cocktails and chat up the girl or guy sitting next to you, have a blast, get home at 5 in the morning.

Ambiance sympa, jeunes, go-go; cocktails tropicales, bier, et tout pour le grand soif. A manger: Menus "Spécial Groupe" : Menu à 32 euros. Receptions: Entreprises : séminaires, arbre de noel, dîner de fin d'année, présentation de produits, pot de départ. Privée : anniversaire, mariage, enterrement de vie de célibataire. (<-- From the Tribar website!)

Les coordinées: Tribar: Quartier Bastille: 20, rue de Lappe 75011 Paris. Tél. : 01 47 00 10 83.