Editorial and commercial photographer, Ryan Ketterman, runs a client-friendly, service-oriented business where he believes creativity often is the result of team effort and working closely with his clients. Ryan specializing in people and corporate photography with a style consisting of colorful and energetic imagery.
Based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida Ryan picks a few of his favorite images.
To see more of Ryan Ketterman’s work, go to his website and Altpick page.
by Scott LowdenEvery holiday and even some random weekends, I would find myself driving down Rt. 309 in Hazleton Pa. There’s this building that continually caught my eye, especially when the sun was low and bright. It’s an abandoned machine shop of some type, and I can only imagine the cool widgets they’d make inside. Finally on a recent loop around the Northeast, I put a shoot together featuring my nieces and nephew, whose parents I convinced to let them follow me into this tetanus-ridden environment to create some ‘fun’ imagery. Borrowing some clothes from LA’s Blu Pony Vintage, and pulling a few key props from the nearby Salvation Army and dollar store, a super light version of ‘Lord of the Flies’ was born.
Blair Kelly grew up in a world surrounded by all things Crayola, Lego and Play-Doh, so it was inevitable that he would end up loving art class in high school and eventually attending art school. Blair graduated from Sheridan College’s (Oakville, Ontario) illustration program in 1999 and has been working ever since. His work has been used in a variety of applications such as magazines, newspapers, annual reports, packaging, t-shirts, posters and animation. Blair shares with us his two favorite images.
Altpick Connects: Blair, you chose the above two images as your favorites, why?
Blair Kelly: I am always into my recent work most I guess. One piece is about technology and TV viewership for the cover of Marketing Magazine, the other is about travel tips for UCLA Magazine. I had lots of fun doing both pieces.
AP: How would you describe your work place?
BK: My work space is fairly small, computer on one side, desk on the other, some toys for fun and lots of bulletin boards for inspiration. Here are a few pics, one of which features one of my dogs; Oliver, who will occasionally join me while I work. And one of my favourite toys, Black & White Astroboy, a gift from my best friend. The space works for now but hoping to have something more expansive in the near future.
AP: Three words to describe your style?
BK: Hmm, 3 words might be: Bold, thoughtful, evolving.
AP: If could you live anywhere in the world where would it be?
BK: If I could live anywhere in the world it would definitely be London, England, a great city with such history and beauty. It has a really great vibe, from the cool street style to the pubs, galleries & royalty, it’s a great mix of old and new. I also happen to love all the different versions of the accent.
To see more of Blair Kelly’s work go to his website and Altpick page.
Jane Mjolsness’ artwork has appeared on packaging, editorial applications, books and book covers, fashion, greeting cards. Jane enjoys illustrating complex emotional issues, women’s issues, relationships and food in a stylized, simplistic, elegant manner with great attention to composition, color and line quality.
“My absolute love for drawing and day-dreaming when I was a little girl brought me to the place of illustration. I love to turn a complex idea or concept into an eye pleasing, thought provoking visual treat. originally from Minnesota, I studied in Italy, lived in London, and travelled extensively throughout Europe and currently live in Naples, Florida. I love history and story telling, and understand that the most amazing artists, were actually illustrators.”
“I draw inspiration from Chagall, Gauguin, Klee, Matisse, and Picasso. If I could, I would turn back time and live in Paris in the 1920’s. Although I’m sure it was challenging, just the sheer energy that was going on at that time is mind numbing.”
To see more of Jane Mjolsness’ work, go to her website and Altpick page.
World Space Week is an annual event, declared by the UN General Assembly and is observed during the week of 4-10 October.
World Space Week is the largest annual space event in the world. Some of its goals are to educate people about the benefits that they receive from space, encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development, excite young people about science to inspire the workforce of tomorrow, and to foster international cooperation about space outreach and education.
Today, the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs in Vienna provides the overall global coordination of World Space Week, under the guidance of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and with the support of World Space Week Association, a non-government organization.
This year’s United Nations “Space” stamps feature images of Nebulae. A nebula is a gigantic interstellar cloud of dust particles and gases in space. It is made up of mainly hydrogen and helium gases. The term nebula comes from the Latin word for cloud. Nebulae come in many different shapes and sizes and can be light years across (trillions of miles). Some nebulas are regions where new stars are being formed, while others are the remains of dead or dying stars.
Designed and illustrated by Sergio Baradat, this series of the U.N. “Space” stamps’ official first day of issue and sale is today, August 9th. For more information or to purchase, go to the United Nations Postal Administration site.
See more of Sergio’s work, go to his website and Altpick page.
The ‘Lemon Shark’ or better know as the ‘Yellow Shark’ has the most distinctive color among the shark species. Illustrated here by Alessandro Bonaccorsi from Zuppassion, the yellow shark is mainly found along the Southeastern coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. They primarily depend on their sense of smell and feed on small prey including mollusks and crustaceans.
To find out more, go to this informative video on The National Geographic site.
To see more of Alessandro Bonoccorsi, go to his website and his Altpick page.
Photographer Carolyn Ross chose this image as one of her personal favorites because she had a specific vision in mind of what she wanted to capture. “I feel like all the elements came together to make it a breath-taking photo. The expression on her face, the wetness of her hair, and the lighting all combine to create a feeling of female sensual energy. It feels very intense and powerful.”
To see more of Carolyn’s work go to her website and Altpick page.
Illustrated for the United Kingdom’s March 15th “Red Nose” Day
Cartoonist and illustrator, Kate Taylor, creates strip and single panel cartoons and illustrations for a wide variety of clients across the media. Her work has been featured in numerous magazines, newspapers, calendars, greeting cards and has been animated for television. Here are some of her favorite cartoons…
Part of a series recently illustrated for Snap Surveys.
“Money Saving” illustration was inspired by Kate’s Yorkshire roots where the locals are known to be ‘careful with their money’.
“The moving house illustration” was for ‘New Home’ greetings cards.
To see more of Kate Taylor’s work go to her website and Altpick page.
William Swank and his wife, photographer Lennette Newell, went to a book signing at the Fraenkel Gallery many years ago for Richard Avedon’s Sixties book. Lennette asked him what his favorite image was. He replied “the one I took yesterday”. So in the spirit of Richard Avedon, here are William’s most recent and favorite images with a little insight about them in his own words. In discovering that a tie to the bounty of nature is never far from a camera’s hungry eyes.
Multicolor radishes (pink, red & purple)
Altpick Connects: When did you start your ‘sustainable food’ series and why?
William Swank: Spring 2009, my goal was to start a series that would be contemporary and ongoing with a perpetual potential for new imagery and subject matter that I was genuinely passionate about. I’ve always had a keen interest in cooking and believe fresh, seasonal and local ingredients are best. Also, I grew up surrounded by farming and ranching on a dairy farm in Northern California. I’m very connected to food production.
Picking radishes
WS: These images are part of my ongoing series on local, seasonal and sustainable food. The magical quality in the light from the sun at a low angle continues to inspire me. I do like to shoot the plated food on location using a mix of natural and strobe lighting to give it a sense of the place it was created.
Fresh picked Romanesco
AP: What else inspires you when you’re in the fields photographing the farmers and workers?
WS: My brother farms on the land my mother grew up on and has been in the family for nearly a century. I respect and admire farmers and farmworkers, their work is important. The production of food is timeless and paying homage to it is inspirational.
Romanesco, detail
AP: As a food photographer, do you also cook and why?
WS: I cook regularly, sharing good food with family and friends is the ultimate gesture of caring. Cooking your own food is also the healthiest way to eat.
AP: When on location where is your favorite spot to shoot?
WS: If it’s overcast, plant and tree foliage are photogenic from all angles. I prefer to photograph people backlit when the sun is low in the sky.
AP: If you could have two careers and one would be photography, what would the other one be?
WS: The other career would definitely be cheese making.
We think his camera would fall for the craft of cheese making. To see more of William Swank’s photography go to his website and Altpick page.
