Exactitudes®

Images from: 45. The Girls from Ipanema - Rio de Janeiro 2000 © Ari Versluis and Ellie Uyttenbroek

Ari Versluis and Ellie Uyttenbroek have compiled an incredible amount of images over a span of 16 years in several different countries. They focus on the similarities of how people present themselves.

You can find more of their work here: http://www.exactitudes.com/

MIAD: The Union

Chelsea, Kiel, Wisconsin © Andrea Bartley

Skully, Wausau, Wisconsin © Andrea Bartley

Kyle, Fon du Lac, Wisconsin © Andrea Bartley

Dseutchland

Unknown, Erfurt, Germany ©Kaitlynn Scannell

Unknown, Erfurt, Germany © Kaitlynn Scannell
Ayal, Jeruselum, Israel ©Kaitlynn Scannell

Artist: Mike Brodie

The Polaroid Kidds © Kaitlynn Scannell

The Polaroid Kidds © Kaitlynn Scannell

The Polaroid Kidds © Kaitlynn Scannell

Mike Brodie is an american born in 1985 not much older than myself. He never formally studied photography and in 2004 took off on a great adventure creating his one and only series, "The Polaroid Kidds." For four years he documented his travels through the rail system capturing without any pressures. His work is honest and forthcoming. He does not try to glamourize the lives of those he comes upon. He captures them as they are. Brodie no longer photographs and has decided to become a mechanic.

You can see his whole series "The Polaroid Kidds" on his website: http://www.mikebrodiephotography.com/

Milwaukee Characters

Emily, Milwaukee, Wisconsin © Andrea Bartley

Nicholas, Milwaukee, Wisconsin © Andrea Bartley

Charles, Milwaukee, Wisconsin © Andrea Bartley

Surprisingly, most of the people I encounter have grown up in Milwaukee or lived here for a significant amount of time. But what should the cut-off be? How long do you have to spend in one area to be considered "from" there? What place do you identify yourself from? Emily has lived in Milwaukee for 15 years, while Nicholas has only been here for 7 years. Do they both call Milwaukee their home? When I photographed people this time, I found that it was easier to get a sincere reaction from them if I strike up a conversation for a short amount of time. It was easier for them to trust me if I explain my purpose for taking their picture and when I asked them about themselves, they relaxed a little more in front of the camera.

Also, I think I want to start shooting verticals as well as horizontals, just in case there is something about their attire or gesture that is interesting.

Artist: Brian Shumway

From Series True Men: Xenia, Queens, NYC © Brian Shumway

From Series True Men: John-Mark 20, Upper East Side, NYC © Brian Shumway

I recently stumbled upon Brian Shumway's work. He is a Brooklyn-based photographer who shoots portraits for editorials and works on personal projects. His portraiture is stunning. He works in black and white and also color, often drawing out beautifully saturated colors and wonderfully soft light. So luscious! His personal work questions the norms of society: blurring the lines between masculinity and femininity, photographing children with psychological disorders, and questioning the validity of high fashion photography with gritty pseudo-fashion shots.

On the Street: Milwaukee

Tevodis Carr, Milwaukee, Wisconsin © Andrea Bartley

Craig Kraeger, Milwaukee, Wisconsin © Andrea Bartley

My first day out on the town to photograph some strangers. I had some hits and misses, but I got a few good ones. These gentlemen were so kind to allow me to photograph them. Kaitlynn and I have both noticed that men seem to be more comfortable in front of the camera. Perhaps the fact that we are two attractive young ladies helps our photographic cause.