JWM - Volume 2, Issue 3 - (Page 51)

More than any other criterion, choosing work that appeals to you is key. It does help, however, to choose a unifying conceit, whether it’s by photographer, subject matter or period. “Figure out what you respond to in terms of style, approach and composition,” says Matthew Moneypenny, CEO of Trunk Archive, a contemporary photography agency in New York City. To do that, it’s essential to look at as many photographs as possible to educate yourself. He suggests spending time browsing online sites designed for beginning and novice collectors (see Box) before spending money. Small local galleries “THE KEY IS TO BUY PIECES THAT YOU TRULY LOVE RATHER THAN A PARTICULAR NAME.” are also good places to start, as are friends who are serious artists and are represented by a gallery. Charity auctions, too, offer great opportunities to buy work at reasonable prices— and for a good cause. There are hundreds of books on the subject, among them John Szarkowski’s Looking at Photographs and William Eggleston’s Guide, both favorites of Josh Holdeman, the International Director of 20th Century Art for Christie’s auction house. Once you’ve identiﬁed a few emerging photographers whose work you are consistently drawn to, Moneypenny advises to buy a reproduction or two “just to see how you live with the pictures.” If over time you love the image, then buy an original or limited edition by the artist. An editioned photo is one of a number of prints that the artist has made from the same negative or ﬁle. Generally, all pieces in an edition are of similar value, although sometimes dealers charge more for higher numbers in the edition, under the theory that they are almost sold out. EVOLVING AND UPGRADING The best collectors—of anything— are constantly educating themselves and, as a result, are continuously honing and reﬁning their taste. “Everyone buys pieces they initially love, but as their knowledge deepens, they often realize that once-beloved photos no longer suit their tastes. A well-curated collection is always evolving,“ says Holdeman. To upgrade a freshman photography collection, he recommends studying auction-house catalogs—they’re available in both print and digital versions—attending the viewings and talking to specialists. Moneypenny strongly suggests doing so only when you become fairly well versed in collecting. “Find a reputable gallery that you trust and start to work with them,” he says. In New York City, he likes the James Danziger, Bonni Benrubi and Yancy Richardson galleries. “They’re all very friendly and happy to work with burgeoning collectors,” he says. Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips de Pury are among the best auction-house sources, according to Holdeman. “Buy cautiously at ﬁrst, knowing you are going to make mistakes,“ he says. “Set a budget based strictly on your resources to avoid regret.” To indulge a desire for photographs that command top dollar—by Disfarmer, Andreas Gursky or Cindy Sherman, for example—he says to opt for artists whose work has been inﬂuenced by these artworld superstars. “The key is to buy pieces that you truly love rather than a particular name,” reiterates Moneypenny. Indeed, according to ARTnews magazine, some of the top photography collectors in the world buy not for investment, but “because they experience the works and want to live with them.” —KATHLEEN HACKETT Look Before You Leap • 20x200.com The site’s tag line sums it up perfectly: (limited editions x low prices) + internet = art for everyone. • Artspace.com A well-curated collection of contemporary photography, plus an addictive blog designed to help aspiring collectors. • Aperture.org Fine art photography site that allows searches by category (abstract, black-and-white, contemporary, etc.) with an excellent under-$750 section. • BlindSpot.com An online contemporary photography magazine that oﬀers signed limited edition works at aﬀordable prices. • Christies.com A leader in the ﬁeld, regularly setting world auction records, Christie’s is the only auction house that holds Photographs sales in Paris, as well as London and New York. • Sothebys.com Photographs auctions are held in April and October in New York and November in Paris. • PhillipsdePury.com In New York and London, Photographs auctions are in April and October. Tilt-shift lenses, which make ordinary scenes look like miniature sets, have been around since the 1970s, but they are costly and complex. This does the technical work automatically, making it simple to change the bustle outside your hotel window into a charming model railroad set. US$185, neingrenze.com NEINGRENZE 5000T Gain a new perspective on your next adventure with this mountable sports videocamera. It’s small enough to attach to your surfboard, bike handlebars or helmet. And rugged: We shot one out of a potato cannon, sending it 300 feet. It survived, and the resulting video was a blast. US$300; gopro.com GOPRO HD HERO 2 Take your videos to new heights with this ﬂying remote control camcorder. Unlike most model helicopters, the Parrot uses four propellers to ensure stable, easyto-control ﬂight. It’s got two cameras and you direct it via Wi-Fi with your smartphone. US$300; ardrone.parrot.com PARROT AR.DRONE This high-def camcorder takes 3-D videos and 3-D digital stills that play back in 3-D on the camera’s highresolution display or on 3-D-ready televisions and computers. With a 5X optical zoom, 64GB built-in storage and full HD resolution, it’s great for 2-D as well. US$1,700; everio.jvc.com —MARK FRAUENFELDER JVC GS-TD1 J WM MAGAZINE 51 J W M A R R I O T T. C O M http://www.20x200.com http://www.Artspace.com http://www.Aperture.org http://www.BlindSpot.com http://www.Christies.com http://www.Sothebys.com http://www.PhillipsdePury.com http://everio.jvc.com http://www.neingrenze.com http://www.gopro.com http://ardrone.parrot.com http://www.JWMARRIOTT.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JWM - Volume 2, Issue 3

JWM - Volume 2, Issue 3
Table of Contents
Contributors
JW Experts
Editor’s Letter
Distinctive Products, People, Ideas & Style
A Quiet Place
Dive Into Transcendental Meditation; Road Warrior Secrets
A Fish Tale; Beyond Sake
Photography 101; Sharp Shooters
The Portal
The Warmth of the Sun
Storied Cocktails
Pedal Pushers
Mixed Media
JW Experience
My Passion

JWM - Volume 2, Issue 3