The Pick

Copyright by Ken Richardson

From the moment Boston-based photographer Ken Richardson was referred to as “a fairly good basketball player” by his high school art teacher, he knew a creative career was in his future. When not working for clients, he’s wrenching on a leaky old motorcycle or pointing his camera at anything with wheels for a project that includes, but isn’t limited to, inflatable SUV’s, drag races, broken motorcycles, homemade bicycles and burnouts.  Altpick had the pleasure of talking with Ken about his photography and his fascination with wheels!

Copyright by Ken Richardson

Altpick: As a photographer what do you like about riding a motorcycle?

Ken Richardson Photographed by Andrea Chu

Ken Richardson: I’m not sure why but a lot of my photographer friends ride motorcycles. I have loved motorcycles since the first time I ever sat on one when I was little. The noise, the smells I love all of it. Looking out of a helmet is sort of like looking through a viewfinder too. It just makes you concentrate on what is happening in front of you with complete focus. For me it’s also awesome to unplug and work on something mechanical with your hands after spending too much time on a computer. Going to my garage to work on an old bike is a great way to clear your mind. I find that to be the most fun thing about bikes these days.

AP: While you were on the Isle of Man photographing the race, did you venture out and ride around the island?

KR: No, but I got to drive the course in a car with Dave Roper (a past IOMTT winner) and Bill Burke (friend, photographer and multiple TT visitor). Being in the car with Dave and hearing about every corner from a racers perspective was amazing. I had a hard enough time driving a car a few blocks on the opposite side of the road. It was cool to be submerged in the place and the historical race. I was photographing for a couple of different stories while I was there so it was nothing but pictures and motorcycles, oh… and some warm beer.

Copyright by Ken Richardson

AP: Tell us a little about how you got into photography.  Who was the person that turned that light bulb on?

KR: When I was young skateboarding was the biggest thing in my life. I grew up trying to photograph my friends on skateboards and snowboards like the pictures I saw in magazines like Thrasher and Transworld Skateboarding.

When I was 13 or 14 years old two skateboard buddies and I cobbled together a darkroom in one of their basements and that did it. I started photographing all the time, and when it came time to think about college I went to art school. There I studied the masters and spent MANY hours in the darkroom. No specific person really. Just the chemicals, the cameras, the places a camera took me and all the magic stuff that happens when you make photos.

Copyright by Ken Richardson

AP: If you had a choice what would be your favorite camera to shoot with?

KR: My favorite cameras that I used a lot were the Mamiya 7 and Mamiya 645. I loved printing the negatives from them. They seemed like the perfect compromise between a 4×5 and a 35mm camera to me. Portable, nice to hold and you could make big prints from them. I still like to use them but I haven’t been in the darkroom for a few years. Lately I’ve been using Canon digital cameras. They are pretty amazing.

Copyright by Ken Richardson

AP: What is your favorite subject to photograph these days?

KR: I have been working on a personal project for a long time on wheels and wheels culture. I am going to be in a show this winter called The Wheels Project with some friends. I’m excited to see how that turns out. For client work, I love shooting anything, but I get really into editorial work. I like getting an assignment to photograph someone with only an address or telephone number to go by and you have to go find a photograph. I tend to shoot smart science people, people who make things, motorcycle stuff and just generally interesting people. Meeting interesting people and going to a new place every day is amazing. I feel lucky that is what I get to do for a job.

Thank you Ken!

To see more of Ken Richardson’s work go to his website and Altpick page.

Copyright by Ellen Weinstein

City girl Ellen Weinstein was born and raised in New York City.  Her illustrations reflect the city’s energy with an imaginative point of view and energy.  Ellen’s style sometimes has a social commentary slant, humor or both, making it thought-provoking and fun.  Altpick had the pleasure of speaking with Ellen about her work, teaching and the upcoming ICON conference.

Altpick :: Recently you went to Italy to teach, tell us a little bit about your experience with the Italian culture, food and students.

Ellen Weinstein: Italy, of course is a fantastic place to visit and be immersed in great art and food. I greatly enjoy the experience of working with artists from different cultures and experiencing that the language of pictures is universal.

Copyright by Ellen Weinstein

 AP : Congratulations with your position as President of ICON8. It must be very exciting and I imagine a tremendous amount of responsibility.  Can you share the theme for next year’s event?

EW: The Illustration Conference is shaping up to be very exciting. We have had a great launch and there are many announcements to share in the months ahead. Serving on the board of ICON is a tremendous responsibility, not just for me, but also for the entire board and our Director, Mark Heflin. We are all busy with our own work, teaching, and families but make time to create a conference worthy of our attendees. The theme for ICON8 is Work + Play and Portland, Oregon is the perfect location for it.

Copyright by Ellen Weinstein

AP: As an artist and teacher, what are your thoughts on the contemporary illustration?

EW: Illustration feels much more spread out in different markets and genres rather than a one size fits all scenarios. I think students understand that they will need to pitch and develop their own projects as well as pursue commissions to make a living as an illustrator. It’s possible to be very well-known in a certain niche and completely unknown to people who work in another. That reality is both liberating and disconcerting.

Copyright by Ellen Weinstein

AP: There’s always a person that acts or is a mentor in someone’s life.  Who was yours?

EW: I was fortunate to have several, Milton Glaser, whose studio I interned in as a student was an enormous influence as an artist, educator and mentor. Through Milton, I met Henry Wolf, the renowned Art Director and photographer whom I worked for almost two years after graduating Pratt. Every day in their studios was a master class in visual thinking. Frances Jetter, who I met through taking her class at SVA, was a very big influence on my work as a young illustrator and very generous with her time and advice.

Copyright by Ellen Weinstein

AP: Which time period in art do you appreciate the most?

EW: That is a difficult question for me; there are works from almost every time period that I appreciate including writing and film along with visual art.

Copyright by Ellen Weinstein

 AP: New York City has always been a haven for artists and an inspiration to create.  How do you feel about the gentrification of almost all of the old neighborhoods in the city?  The old vibe of the Lower Eastside and Little Italy hardly exist anymore.

EW: Like any other change, the shifts seem subtle when you are living it every day. If I had been away from New York for a couple of years, I would feel like Charlton Heston in the ending of Planet of the Apes walking around my neighborhood. I miss independent bookstores or bookstores of any kind and non-chain coffee shops. I guess the one upside is I no longer have to run home in the middle of the street because it is safer than the sidewalks.

AP: Your work is always fresh and out of the box!  How do you stay inspired?

EW: Thanks for that comment, Maria. I had a dear friend, a swimming coach who would say, “you’re either getting better or getting worse, time doesn’t stand still and neither do we.” I think that holds true for everything, especially work. I can only hope to keep learning and remain excited about what I’m making.

Copyright by Ellen Weinstein

Thank you Ellen!

To see more of Ellen Weinstein’s work go to her website and Altpick page.