Peter Graham's Blog

World Series

2010-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

GO GIANTS!!

2010-09-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

©PeterGraham

2010-03-15T10:39:00.001-07:00

Coal Man, London, 1950

Butchers, Paris, 1950

Chestnut Vendor, New York, 1951

Wine Steward, London, 1951

Pipe Layer, London, 1951

Basketball Player, New York, 1951

Lorry Washers, London, 1950

2010-03-10T11:10:00.001-08:00

portraits from a trip to Bahia, Brazil

©PeterGraham

2010-03-07T21:15:00.001-08:00

2010-03-07T21:12:00.000-08:00

hard at work

2010-03-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

from "RFK Funeral Train" by Paul Fusco

2010-03-07T18:46:00.000-08:00

My Grandma Rita

2010-03-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

2010-03-07T18:19:00.001-08:00

Vintage Surf Wax

2010-03-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

from Surfboard Wax: A History

2010-03-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

my grandparents

2010-03-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

A massive personal project by one of America's most renowned documentary photographers. my great grandfather immigrated to Pittsburgh from Warsaw. He became a successful banker then lost it all in the depression. Imagine what his life was like.

2010-02-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

photos ©Peter Graham

Cataracs Single

2009-10-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

...new single on Universal...

photos ©petergraham

2009-05-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

location scout

Straight Razor

2009-05-29T17:18:00.001-07:00

The first time I got a straight razor shave was in Cuba. I was staying in an apartment in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana for a month with some friends. We went to the neighborhood barber (pics above)...and he suggested the straight razor. Closest smoothest shave of all time. My barber in LA is Ian. "Ian the Barber".

©PeterGraham

Local Shops

2009-05-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

Busy day making the rounds...
... Heavyweight gallery. Eric Coleman happened to be there. Nice to catch up and exchange stories with fellow photographer.
Endovanera studio in Echo Park...
Evil Monito studio. Ricky climbed up into the upper rafters of the studio and grabbed me a new Evil Monito x Kangol Cabby hat...and a nice jacket from 3sixteen...thanks Ricky!
Ricky and I headed downtown to say what's up to Jae at the Cassette studio.

The King of Vodka

2009-05-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Another interesting departure from my usual subject matter...author portrait of Linda Himelstein for her book The King of Vodka, published by HarperCollins.

In this sweeping history of vodka scion Pyotr Smirnov and his family, distinguished journalist Linda Himelstein plumbs a great riddle of Russian history through the story of a humble serf who rose to create one of the most celebrated business empires the world has ever known. At the center of this vivid narrative, Pyotr Smirnov comes to life as a...

©PeterGraham

2009-05-25T17:47:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a week long job in Seattle, Cincinnati, Boston, Miami and Santa Barbara...shooting portraits of college students for a corporate ad campaign.

2009-05-25T17:25:00.000-07:00

2009-05-25T16:56:00.001-07:00

walking around Seattle...

2009-05-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

2009-05-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

Xicano Moratorium to the Ballad of El-Lay: Herron 1970-198

Junglegurl

2009-04-22T12:45:00.001-07:00

VIMBY - Green Grown and Sexy Ep. 1: Jungle Gurl

A couple weeks ago the Vimby crew was in the neighborhood shooting a piece on my friend Natalie and her bikini line Junglegurl...here's the final video.

Zion I Video

2009-04-10T21:26:00.001-07:00

My friends Zion I have a new video...and it found it's way to Kanye's blog ! Crazy how that's a big deal now. It's cool that he's using his blog to help lesser known artists get exposure...and recognizing hot shit for what it is...along with explaining how he's evolving as a less ego driven gay fish. haha
©PeterGaham

2009-04-10T12:12:00.001-07:00

Little Bit

The Cataracs

2009-04-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

the Cataracs. Was a fun shoot....

©PeterGraham

2009-03-31T22:59:00.001-07:00

The Band

2009-03-31T21:07:00.000-07:00

Farm Security Administration photos

2009-03-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

From PDN:
Even today, many documentary photographers will tell you they are influenced by the works of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and 40s. Under the direction of Roy Emerson Stryker, the FSA sent photographers to document the plight of the rural farmer during the Great Depression and the progress of New Deal programs. When the U.S. entered World War II, the photography program continued under the Office of War Information (OWI).

new j*davey video

2009-03-30T15:18:00.001-07:00

my buddies have a new video on mtvU...

Rumi, Josie and Ali...

2009-03-27T21:19:00.001-07:00

©Peter Graham

Stars and Stripes project...

2009-03-27T15:21:00.001-07:00

...my good friend Adrien just put this out...

Adrian Champion Presents: Stars & Stripes - The White Stripes Reimagined from Adrian Champion on Vimeo.
all photos ©Peter Graham

more praise for Avedon's "The Family"...

2009-03-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

A Photo Editor is smart blogging at it's best...but come on Rob...you ripped off my post! haha...seriously...thanks again for expressing our sentiments:

At some point we will arrive at the place where magazines have something to prove again. Maybe they will be owned again by brash men and women who want to electrify their readers or maybe the owners will need to pad their ego before their pocketbook or maybe they will need to prove the power of type, pictures and design on the printed page.

My grandmother: Rita Maran, Ph.D., Editor, lecturer, author, activist in International Human Rights.

2009-02-27T13:50:00.000-08:00

The Raskols

2009-02-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

click to enlarge

Plagued by 60 percent unemployment and chronic poverty, crime in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in Oceania is rampant, earning the city a reputation as being one of the most dangerous places in the world. Much of the violent crime – armed robbery, rape, and carjackings – is committed by young gang members known as "Raskols." In 2004, Stephen Dupont infiltrated a Raskol community to document the individuals behind the facelessness of gang warfare. Building trust over several visits Dupont was able to set up a makeshift studio in which to photograph his subjects. The resulting portraits depict the "Kips Kaboni" or "Red Devils," Papua New Guinea's oldest Raskol group.

Zion I

2009-02-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

©Peter Graham

I shot the album photos for the new Zion I album. It was great to work with these guys...I have much respect for how they continue to stay true to their vision.

NY Times Oscar nominees for Best Achievement in Film Title Design:

2009-02-23T13:41:00.000-08:00

interesting article on the art of the closing credits:

944 profile

2009-02-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

944 magazine asked me for some reflections on working with emerging LA musicians...

CUBA

2009-02-02T11:46:00.001-08:00

©Peter Graham

Mr. Graham...Berkeley 1969.

2009-01-31T18:28:00.000-08:00

My dad might give me shit for posting this but I have to....and I think the FBI has closed that case by now! haha.

People's Park riots. The UCB administration wanted to turn a nice little park into a parking lot. Bad idea. Berkeley students had to hold down their revolutionary hippie stomping grounds...and were already fired up from sticking it to the man about the war and free speech and all. They pretty much raised hell. Reagan called in the National Guard who came in real tough with tanks. My dad was in the thick of it...here he is throwing a tear gas grenade back at the National Guard. Say whaaaaaat?!

I've tried to find the photographer who made the picture. It was for the college paper, the Daily Californian...but wasn't published to protect my dad from criminal charges. If anyone out there knows who took it...please get in touch.

update...

2009-01-27T18:05:00.001-08:00

I found a similar series of Clinton's administration published by Vanity Fair in '93...here's all three (click to enlarge):

"The Family", Richard Avedon. published by Rolling Stone, 1976 The New Guard, Annie Leibovitz. published by Vanity Fair, 1993 Obama's People, Nadav Kander. published by the New York Times Magazine, 2009.

Frans Ferndinand - Ulysses

2009-01-25T22:36:00.000-08:00

click image to enlarge

Digging through the archives...Dowtown Oakland Mural

2009-01-25T13:47:00.001-08:00

©Peter Graham

click image to enlarge

Avedon's "The Family"

2009-01-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

click image to enlarge

I was in DC two days after the election and went to an exhibit of Richard Avedon's work titled "Portraits of Power". One of the bodies of work on display was "The Family". Commissioned by Rolling Stone, it was a year long project to photograph the men and women Avedon understood to make up the political leadership of the United States in 1976.

This week the NY Times sunday magazine published a portrait series of Obama's team, inspired by Avedon's "The Family" series.
click image to enlarge

I was very moved by Avedon's "The Family". The images are strong and formal yet provide a rare intimate look directly into the eyes of some of the world's most powerful people. The subject matter provide much of the impact of the series, but Avedon's stunning aesthetic treatment takes it over the top. I think it stands out even more when compared to the Times "Obama's People" series. It looks so digital!! Why would they commission this series of historical magnitude, which they acknowledge was inspired by "The Family" and have an amazing photographer (Nadav Kander) who has a classic-not-so-digital aesthetic, and shoot this so digi looking? Maybe they're onto some cutting edge look? (or putting practical considerations ahead of aesthetic ones?) Maybe this look will represent our generation? I hope not.

***to all current and potential clients: I can put your practical needs first...I am not one of those difficult to work with artists! :-) :-) happy happy! Requests for digital have resulted in great work. www.petergraham.com >> Can YOU guess what's digital and what's film??

K'NAAN

2009-01-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

Great to see his music getting out there.

©Peter Graham

I shot his last album cover. I first met with him while he was recording a song with Damian Marley...can't wait for that one to come out.

Crown Royal Ads

2008-12-17T23:16:00.001-08:00

2008-12-17T23:14:00.001-08:00

Seems like there's a lot of liquor commercials on TV lately. They all seem to have the same Frank Sinatra meets 007 top of the world vibe...which is a pretty great fantasy...especially these days. These Crown Royal ads with the down home feel not only stand out but are actually really well done. I wonder if they did some kind of market research and determed that Crown Royal drinkers are in general broker than Ciroq and Grey Goose consumers and would relate? Or maybe it's vice versa and they're selling people a romantic notion of the other side of life. Blue collar cool or big baller cool? It's nice to be given some lifestyle options when choosing how to get intoxicated. haha.

***UPDATE***

IT'S THE ECONOMY!

LA Times Article: "The Absolut Vodka commercials that aired in Los Angeles and 14 other cities during Sunday night's Grammy Awards marked the first time in years that liquor ads ran in prime time on network-owned stations. As the recession takes its toll on firms that rely on advertising, TV stations aren't the only companies running ads once considered inappropriate. In recent months, the NBA rescinded a ban on courtside advertising by liquor companies. Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. did the same for ads they run on their websites. Billboard operators have allowed more strip clubs to hawk their establishments on roadside signs."

Grandma's famous chicken

2008-12-05T15:01:00.000-08:00

My grandma used to make chicken and potatoes for me, my brother and our two cousins. It was always a real treat. One day I gave it a try and what do you know...it came out alright. Had friends over to enjoy my version of Grandma Rita's chicken last night. Good times!

TAZ

2008-12-04T00:08:00.000-08:00

©Peter Graham

new 944...

2008-12-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

...thanks to Ricky Kim for making my photo look good!

©PeterGraham

2008-11-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

©Peter Graham

J Valentine. Chinatown, SF. This was for album packaging on J Records. Never released. But it looks great in my book! double page...you gotta see it!

2008-11-04T09:41:00.000-08:00

Rafael Saadiq

2008-11-04T07:24:00.000-08:00

©Peter Graham

Shot at Evil Monito Studio for 944 Magazine. His new album is good!

BOXIE album packaging

2008-10-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

new artist on J Records...Boxie. Shot at Fast Ashley's studio in Brooklyn.

©Peter Graham

Bayje album packaging

2008-10-26T14:50:00.000-07:00

just got back from NYC...shot a couple album covers...Atlantic Records new artist...Bayje.

©Peter Graham

Consequence and Kanye West - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

2008-09-18T07:47:00.001-07:00

Boogie X No Country

2008-09-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

Didn't think this movie could be any grittier...till Boogie took pictures of it playing on his TV!

"fresh kid"

2008-08-26T23:28:00.000-07:00

my shot of Taz on Kanye's blog...

Who's Gonna Save My Soul

2008-08-26T09:50:00.001-07:00

MADE IN QUEENS - OFFICIAL FILM TRAILER

2008-08-15T20:08:00.001-07:00

Chemical Brothers - Out Of Control

2008-08-15T18:22:00.001-07:00

New Jack City II

2008-08-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

Heard the sequel is in production. Great story about the writer Michael C. Martin

A Tout de Suite

2008-08-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

Angel-A

2008-08-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

Amazing movie

Nas "Hero" Dir by Taj

2008-07-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

Love to see my folks do their thing. Taj is doing his. Went by his set last week...the video will be out soon.

©Peter Graham

400 Blows

2008-06-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

I like this movie.

Les Nubians

2008-05-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

Les Nubians put up some shots from our shoot on their website

©PeterGraham

HELLA TIGHT

2008-05-23T15:39:00.001-07:00

Some friends I grew up with in the Bay started up a hat company...I took the photos for their website...

©PeterGraham

Croquet & Cristal

2008-05-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

I've shot a couple album covers for Bad Boy Records...Diddy needed a personal photographer for his little $5mil party celebrating his new Hollywood Star...I usually pass on the event gigs but I figured this would be interesting...

©Peter Graham

latest tear sheet....

2008-05-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

I could see Mack 10 and Glasses Malone playing themselves in a movie like Training Day. I had that kind of scene in mind for this shoot in Downtown LA for Rides Magazine.

©Peter Graham

2008-02-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

©Peter Graham

Grapes of Wrath

2008-02-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

FIX YOUR FACE

2008-01-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

Campaign for Josie Maran Cosmetics...

©PeterGraham

GOAPELE

2008-01-09T13:15:00.001-08:00

took some amazing photos with Goapele yesterday...

©Peter Graham

...my first and favorite subject. got a lotta love for her and her family.

alwayswithyou.tv

2008-01-03T19:30:00.000-08:00

A good friend and visionary documentary filmmaker Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi has a new project about technology and development in India. Check the site...alwayswithyou.tv

I shot still photos for Eli's documentary about hip hop in Cuba...Inventos. You can read about his work in Jeff Chang's book Total Chaos. Some of the Cuba photos...

Pinky Toe

2008-01-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

Had a little accident...

...nothing to crazy. You know...another day out in the water...wiped out on a humungous wave and snagged my pinky toe on my leash. Wasn't that bad...but a shark ran into me and tried to eat me...had to kick it 5 times in the face to make it swim away. All I got was a broken toe...and a little bite in my board...

...If you see me with my special shoe you'll know why.

Benazir Bhutto

2008-01-01T21:27:00.001-08:00

I'm one of many people who never heard of her until she was assassinated. What a tragedy. I hesitate to iconize political figures who I know little about but she seems to be one of the most interesting people of our time.

click to enlarge

Too $hort

2008-01-01T14:41:00.001-08:00

Just shot the album cover. Was thinking about concepts and rediscovered a classic video -- "Life is Too Short".

Ise Lyfe

2008-01-01T14:24:00.001-08:00

Shot his album cover a while back. Spoken word poet and MC. Talented.

©Peter Graham

Larry Clark

2007-12-31T20:07:00.001-08:00

Larry Clark is a pioneer. From his photography book TULSA...

to his films like KIDS...
and KEN PARK...
...he's helped articulate human experience on the level of the greatest artists.

Classic

2007-12-31T20:02:00.000-08:00

Dirt Nasty - 1980

2007-12-31T18:20:00.001-08:00

Do It Again - The Chemical Brothers

2007-12-31T18:08:00.001-08:00