CThru.com Presents Tony Ward

….. After our sitting Monica mentioned in passing that the advertising agency she working for was moving to larger offices in South Philly and that she was considering leaving the company to branch out on her own. I encouraged her to do so…..

Fashion By Shawn Pinckney

It was a good thing she did. Month’s after Ms. Gursky left the company, her former boss Mark Norris and two company employees were shot to death in their new offices during a board meeting shortly after they moved in, by a disgruntled client. According to police reports, the gunmen was under the impression that he was being swindled on a $1.3 million dollar land deal.

Monica

…..I first noticed Monica standing outside the studio smoking a cigarette during a break at her place of employment, the offices of Mark Norris, a boutique advertising agency, in Philadelphia. Mark’s offices were right next door to the studio, so I noticed Monica frequently coming to and leaving work.

Monica Wearing White

I knew right away that I wanted to photograph her, so I waited until I saw her boss Mark around the neighborhood to ask him to introduce me to the talented designer at his company. Monica contacted me days later to let me know that she was interested and we agreed to meet for drinks to discuss the shoot in detail.

Black Short Shorts With Matching Top

We carried on well in to the evening and had a good time together. The chemistry and imagination shared during our meeting, created the recipe for a sensuous erotic shoot……..

Black Shoes To Match

Monica grew more comfortable as the shoot evolved. So comfortable that she agreed to reveal her natural beauty…….

…..to be continued…….

1958 Chrysler 300D

……Like many of the objects Michael Furman has photographed over the years, photographing automobiles has become a symbol of his perfectionism and unrelenting attention to light and detail. The vision he has created over 30 years has placed him atop the world’s best car photographers.

He has worked and collaborated with many blue chip automotive companies that include; Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, BMW and General Motors to name a few. He has also photographed the Ralph Lauren automobile collection as part of an exhibition and book entitled, Speed, Style and Beauty, the Cars of the Ralph Lauren Collection, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and recently was interviewed by another famous car aficionado, Jay Leno.

TW recently contacted Mr. Furman to ask him a few questions about his successful career.

1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza

MICHAEL FURMAN INTERVIEW

TW: You are nationally known as a master of photographing inanimate objects for many years. What made you turn your attention specifically to motor vehicles?

MF: About 10 years into my pro career, I felt the need to specialize, and to do so with a subject that I always appreciated. In fact, I first picked up a camera as a young boy to photograph a car.

2. What is the most unique or rare car you have ever photographed?

Many of the cars we shoot are famous or one-of-a-kind. This past summer we shot one of the six Bugatti Royales while it was in California.

3. You are obviously passionate about your love for photographing cars. Is passion the key to your success?

My great passion is for light. and my subject is cars. I find the cars and their histories fascinating. Being passionate is critical to being successful at anything.

1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe

4. Do you have any interest in photographing vehicles in motion?

Not really, I have a hard enough time capturing them when they are static in the studio.

5. Do you think GM will regain its global leadership in the production of motor vehicles in 2010?

I think GM will return as a much better company, producing much better cars. It will probably take longer than just one year. They have a lot of work to do.

6. If money wasn’t a factor which car would you drive daily?

Porsche

1951 Hudson Hornet

7. Which part on a car do you think was the most inventive post 1970s?

The addition of computers. It has allowed for extraordinary improvements in efficiency, safety and features.

8. Which car is Michael Furman driving these days for fun?

My Mini Cooper S.

9. What advice can you offer the student of photography on how to earn a living as a professional, like the Michael Furman’s of the world?

Be very dedicated to your craft. Do not accept “good enough” as your standard. Never be satisfied, and always realize that you could do better.

1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible

10. What is the most difficult task in photographing a car to meet your standards of creating a perfect image?

The control of the space in which we are shooting. The car is highly reflective, and therefore shows everything in the studio. Managing that problem is the only way to achieve quality work.

1957 Ferrari 625/250 TRC

….To learn more about Michael’s work, log on to www.MichaelFurman.com….

Actor

…..I was having dinner with one of my favorite German Models, Sandra Bauer at the famous Cuneo restaurant in Hamburg’s, St Pauli district when Emilio walked in. It seemed that everyone in the place knew who he was, while Sandra and I watched Emilio, a tall, handsome, gregarious character give a big hug to the owner of the well known establishment.

Sandra Bauer

Cuneo is the oldest continuously running Italian restaurant in Germany, even surviving the tortuous allied bombings of world war two, when Hamburg was virtually turned into a modern city after the war, because there were so few old buildings left standing.

After speaking briefly to the owner, Emilio went behind the bar to pick up an acoustic guitar. Within moments the place fell silent, as the guests watched Emilio pour his heart out as he serenaded the smoke filled rooms, as he sang traditional Italian love songs. Sandra and I were so moved that we both started to cry. Emilio’s singing does that to you. Singing of course is just one of his many talents. As the evening evolved, we later learned that Emilio was an actor!

Sketch Of Sandra

Emilio came over to our table to introduce himself, which was the beginning of a life long friendship. Since our chance meeting at Cuneo’s in 1995, I have witnessed the rise of an enormous acting talent who embodies many creative facets, including his fluency in German, Italian and English. To learn more about Emilio’s talent and his acting career, log on to www.emiliodemarchi.com.

Passion Of The Christ

True Love

Posted by Alex Remnick

The series is called “Mike and Kate” and it depicts an actual couple, who have been dating for over a year now. While shooting, I worked with the following guidelines in mind.

•Neglect the inclination to overly display or emphasize the presence of nudity
•Attempt to realistically and objectively depict the dynamic of a relationship outside of the public eye
•Draw symbolism from the seemingly un-symbolic space in which the shoot took place
Nothing in this shoot was set up, except for the fact that Mike was nude. I left for a few minutes to get more film, and when I got back, Mike was playing his guitar. Kate removed her bathrobe in the last few images because she thought she looked silly in her bathrobe.

Mike And Kate

These images are about true love, and what that term really means. Not true love in the fairy tale sense of the word where a poor young orphan meets a prince and they live happily ever after, but rather, what love truly means. Mike and Kate have definitely had their share of fights, but they can always count on being able to come back to these moments. They can always hang out half-clothed on a Sunday afternoon, do nothing, and be happy just to be together.

…….Alex Remnick is studying photography at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ed Simmons

Posted by Ed Simmons

The costs of War, always exceeds whatever may be gained by way of the Spoils of War. It is pointless, unless the true motivation is to thin the herd. A lot of wealth to be made in the manufacturing of weapons. War can become an addiction. These weapons dealers step right up, just like any dealer, of any commodity steps up, when he senses a hunger for his product. The world would do much better if it were at peace, we all know the devastation that would come from a nuclear bomb, this thought is so frighting. It keeps us from thinking about the devastation brought upon the Earth by conventional weapons daily. Every bomb, every jet or helicopter that crashes, every artillery shell, leaves a scar. We know that our Earth, at this time in history, is having a little trouble keeping up and cleaning up all our messes. Wouldn’t you think, we could give her a break?

Man is the only species on the planet, that entertains itself, by destroying all that is around him. I read once, the meaning of life, was to make shade where it will benefit others. Maybe we should start making some shade. There have been a lot of wars in my lifetime. The only one we ever had a chance of winning, was the War on Poverty. We had that enemy on the run in this country, even around the world. I can remember when it changed, the idea of letting the rich get richer, that the fix would trickle down, and raise the poor out of their despair. To have meaningful agreements, first, we have to find all that is common, with blinders on. We have to navigate through all that is uncommon. It is not local or national , truly it is global. Minus a couple of nuts, I don’t think there is a man or woman on this planet who wants to see it destroyed.

Why not set a date in the future, say 10 or 20 years out, where a world treaty could be signed, declaring a moratorium on inflicting any damage to the earth. I don’t think we wait for 10 years to end the wars, its all a waste, there’s never nothing left. We could use all that money, working for solutions for a future.

I remember Kennedy putting the challenge of Space Exploration before the people. The Moon seemed, at the time, just out of reach. I know a guy that talks of his time, under a console at Johnson, with a slide rule in hand, figuring it out, as they went along. We got so much more from these efforts, than just the landing on the Moon. Our lives today, for better or worse, are what they are today, because of all this. The problems we would encounter, setting up a colony on the Moon, are all the problems we face today on this planet. The science we would gain without question would justify the costs. This science is priceless. If I were to talk about grabbing the Brass Ring, many young people wouldn’t have a clue, to what I was talking about. On the Merry Go Rounds, as I was growing up, an arm, stacked with Brass Rings would drop. As you went around, you would reach out, trying to grab the ring. You didn’t turn your rings in at the end of the ride for a prize, grabbing the ring was the prize. You didn’t keep it, you gave back.

It may sound to simple, but we as people, are at our best, grabbing for the brass ring. World war II, the War to End All War, the Moon Landing, the Special Olympics, the War on Poverty, all things I see as grabbing the brass ring. Our Planet spins, like the Merry Go Round spins, the arm is down, the rings are there. When are people going to forget about all the arcade games, the cupie dolls, whack a mole, ping pong balls in a fish bowl, and reach for the brass rings again.

Portrait Of Yoko, New Years Eve, 2009

Posted by Yoko Grosshans

……..Ever since I was three years old, my parents’ traveled a lot. From that early age I had a golden opportunity to visit places all around the world. My father’s job as an environmental chemical engineer, required extensive travel and not wanting to miss time spent with his children and wife, he chose to bring us along on many occasions. Mom and dad instilled in me a passion for having an open mind to new and different cultures which eventually led to my yearning to become a photojournalist.

Traveler

In my early teens, dad introduced me to photography which taught me the importance of developing both verbal and visual communications. Those early influences got me interested in studying photography and communications in college at Temple University and Tyler School of Art. I remember the very first photographic opportunity, when I traveled throughout Southeast Asia for a year with camera in hand like it was yesterday. I spent four months in India where I had the pleasure of studying with the gracious, tender and loving Dalai Lama for an extended period.

Yoko's Lingerie By Victoria's Secret

Richard Gere happened to be visiting his holiness at the same time, which made the experience additionally memorable. I would have to write a book to express all the other experiences I treasured while visiting the ancient country of India. The 4 months I spent in Nepal were also incredibly memorable. To live on a mountaintop and wake up every morning surrounded by the Himalayas is indescribable.

Yoko's Makeup Ashley Bohl For Mac

The time I spent in Thailand was beautifully crazy, if that makes any sense. In Bangkok, The Red Light District brought me a sense of sadness, but the full moon parties were a blast. I enjoyed the islands which were so calm and serene and where I also learned to scuba dive was a cherished moment . How does one sum up year’s worth of experience? Perhaps there will be more stories to tell…..

Medical Clinic, Haiti, 1987 . Photo By John Grant

Posted By John Grant

…….I was there in 1987 visiting a doctor friend who worked in a clinic in the middle of the island and made two-hour treks to tiny villages up in the mountains three days a week. One thing I will never forget is watching a man who worked in the clinic use a pair of common pliers to extract a tooth from the jaw of a 30-year-old peasant woman. He was having a hard time wriggling the thing out, and she was suffering immensely. But she did not let out even a peep! It gives me the chills just recalling the scene.

The 23-year-old memory of that woman’s stoicism actually inspired me six months ago to extract a painful, loose tooth of my own. In my case, it was considerably easier, and I saved a $100 dental bill. As comfortable Americans, we should purge ourselves of any sense of superiority vis-a-vis Haiti and learn to respect and honor Haitians for the suffering they have endured — and are enduring at this moment.  In that spirit, we should extend our hand.

If nothing else, the earthquake disaster should wake Americans up to what an amazing place Haiti really is — absolutely unique in the Western Hemisphere, an island liberated by Africans brought to this hemisphere in chains as slaves. While poverty and horror are the usual images that pop into Americans’ minds when they hear the word “Haiti,” the real story is much more complicated and full to the brim with stoicism, art and music. And, folks, if we get all superior and see voodoo as third-rate theatrics and nonsense, it’s no different than all religions — it’s people trying to make sense out of darkness and death. The fact is, we could learn a lot from Haiti.