Lost and Found: Katsuo Hanzawa
Can we bring a happy ending to the story of this mysterious photographer?
This is a scan of a Sigma ad I ripped out of a magazine en route to SFO from Newark a few weeks ago. I liked the portrait and tried to find information on the photographer, Katsuo Hanzawa. And well, no luck. I’m hoping maybe some of you have heard of him and can link me to some of his work. Who is this bloke?
Fritz Hoffman on shooting film
National Geographic Photographer Fritz Hoffman still carries his Leica to shoot his assignments. For the kind of work he does, he still shoots in film. The reason he gives is great - “digital cameras tempt you to look at the preview, or constantly check settings. Film keeps me in the moment.”
A short excerpt from the May 2008 National Geographic article, Film is dead, long live film.
On the afternoon I spent with Christina Koci Hernandez in San Francisco, a photojournalist in our workshop said something I will never forget. “Stay with the moment, even after you think you’ve caught the moment. Because you probably didn’t if you think you’re done.”
Make sure to spend some time browsing through Fritz Hoffman’s portfolio. I love the series of images titled “Manchurian Mandate”. He also has images of China here.
Ibiza, Spain
In Europe, I spent one day in Ibiza, that infamous Mediterranean island off the coast of Spain known for its club parties and endless merry-making with attractive (and unattractive) people and alcohol. I arrived there in the afternoon and the island wasn’t quite awake yet. Around sunset, everything started to open up and I spent the evening having drinks with my folks in old Ibiza. Everything you imagine of being on a small European island with white buildings and old, heavy, ornately built doors - that was Ibiza.
Part of the charm of Europe has always been the history and longstanding tradition of artisans and craftsmen in different sectors of society. You have families with three generations of shoe makers or ten generations of winemakers. There’s something to be said about that kind of dedication and longevity. I shot the above image in old Ibiza, and it’s one of my favorite images from the entire trip. The reason why: this gentleman was doing some design work in his studio while the whole town was coming alive getting ready for the evening. Quietness in the midst of everything else. And a love for his work.
Interestingly enough, Ibiza was home to an eclectic population. A lot of pro-Tibetan young gypsies in their 20s. It was like a transplant of Berkeley off the coast of Spain. And I loved it. Absolutely loved it.
Typefacing this Blog
March 29th was the official relaunch of Old Armstrong after many, many iterations. It’s now September. I’m still enjoying the writing and the site is seeing a consistent number of readers per day, which is awesome. The design has of course changed since then and I’ve been looking at how this humble blog has been doing.
I titled this post the way I did because I’m trying to figure out where this blog stands in terms of content. What’s its voice? Is it a personal blog? Would it stand on its own feet as a blog on art/culture/photography? I think the hardest thing for me has been balancing my personal posts with the posts on everything else. Do I go 50/50? Or 60/40? These are a few of the questions that I’ve been posing to myself.
So, to help gauge how this blog is doing and where it could go in the future, I’d like to ask a small favor from you - the readers - who have made this entire process so enjoyable. I’d love to just hear from you and get some feedback about the site. What have you enjoyed, what do you like, and what do you dislike? Are there features you’d like to see on this site? The forum is open really, to anything you’d like to say. And it will help me tremendously in figuring out the next step for this blog.
I have appreciated all your comments and more than anything, your loyal readership thus far. I tell you, it makes my day to hear from you.
Hope you’re all enjoying this wonderful Sunday in the Bay Area. I think we get some of our best days of the year when the weather transitions from summer to fall.
Graffiti, Barcelona
Some of the good stuff around the city of Barcelona.
11 Spring Street Graffiti, New York
Depending on your point of view, the hulking 19th-century brick building at 11 Spring Street in NoLIta, a former stable and carriage house, was either a stunning eyesore or one of the most famous canvases and lodestars in the world for urban artists. When those of the latter view heard recently that the building had been sold and would soon be gutted and converted into condominiums, they considered it the end of an era. Bearing their cameras, they began showing up at the building over the last few weeks in a kind of mournful procession.
I hate seeing artwork getting lost to commercial real estate development. Particularly when a piece is so rich in history. Read the New York Times article for more.
Ras Bookstore & Gallery, Barcelona
One of my favorite stops on my short European roadtrip was Barcelona. I love quaint towns and countrysides but I thrive in the urban air of a big city. Barcelona had a very gritty feel to it and what made the city kind of unique was the graffiti and street art that were backdrops to the city’s big monuments, plazas, and 19th century buildings. I loved the juxtaposition and spent more time photographing graffiti than I did anything else.
Ras Bookstore & Gallery is a sweet one-stop shop in the El Raval neighborhood to dig into all things street art, design, architecture, and fashion. I wish I had known about the bookstore while I was there. Flake TV recently did a feature on Ras. To watch it, click this link for some art goodness.
Next time Barcelona. Next time.