Ben Bertucci's Blog

On Set

Ben Bertucci — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:42:34 +0000

For the last three weeks I’ve been working on set with an art department on a production called Pretty/Tough. It’s a teen drama, executive produced by Michael Eisner (the Disney Guy), that’s going to run first on the web. Below are a few pics from my experience.

Hollywood

Ben Bertucci — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:25:58 +0000

Changing Tides

Ben Bertucci — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:54:13 +0000

The past couple years have been a whirlwind of new beginnings in my life. I got married, moved to California and have been in the process of forging a career in the film industry. All the while, photography has been by my side, teaching me more and more about who I am every time I pick up my camera.

For a while this blog has been a way for me to escape into other peoples work and photographic history. As inspiration, that’s beneficial, and I won’t stop being inspired by people or the work that I see. But I plan to move things in a more personal direction. It’s me time.

As I write this I’m in the middle of building my own darkroom! Got the Focomat all set up. I should only have to run to Home Depot a couple more times! Lots more work to print and add to my site, which I also plan to give a face lift and a new purpose.

So without hesitation, I now bring to you… The NEW Blog. Let the fanfare commence.

Huge American

Ben Bertucci — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:09:33 +0000

Wilshire boulevard, Los Angeles.

Holga D

Ben Bertucci — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:01:36 +0000

The NEW (prototype) Holga D, for the digital age. This is a pretty slick looking device.

The Time Away…

Ben Bertucci — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:00:37 +0000

I’m moving a few things around. Rebuilding my site and adding a lot more work. Be back soon…

Until then, here’s a video I love:

Magnum’s Deal

Ben Bertucci — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:36:40 +0000

Recently a lot of people were talking about how the famed photo agency Magnum sold their back catalog for a million bucks. To shed a little light on the exact story behind the sale John Bailey has a great article laying it all out in detail. A must read.

So Maybe I’m Biased…

Ben Bertucci — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:14:16 +0000

The top photo is from the prolific Rafal Milach. After deciding he wouldn’t make it as a musician because he “didn’t have an ear for music,” he moved to photography. His work centers around Eastern Europe and Russia and covers such topics as taxidermy, military school and everyday Russian life. His blog is also worth seeing.

The second photo is from Matt Black. A California resident who has captured some of the most true photos of what it means to be an immigrant in this country. The above shot is from an essay called Oaxacan Exodus and covers the population of indigenous Mexican immigrants that are settling in the valleys of central California and, as Matt says, “are experiencing some of the worst abuses and exploitation in the country.”

(…biased because they both shoot film.)

Few New…

Ben Bertucci — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:22:05 +0000

I’ve managed to take some time away from the task of deleting the spam comments on my blog to print & scan a few recent shots. Just a few things in and around (as in SF) LA.

Oh yea… And the blog is on white now.

The Beauty of Access

Ben Bertucci — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:09:05 +0000

Yesterday marked day two of my ramen chef project. I went mainly to show Murakami the photos I had taken the previous time and maybe eat a little something. When I arrived he was not around. Not too surprising since on the first day of shooting he was a couple hours late meeting me. I later realized that he had been extremely nervous and wanted to get a haircut before I started shooting. Yesterday was different though. When he showed up it was all laughs. He greeted an old couple, two of his many regulars, then came over to say hello. I noticed right away that his demeanor and attitude about me being there had taken a 180. After we talked for a little while about how things had been for the past month he sat me down to get some food before the kitchen closed. I stuffed my face as he tended to his regulars. He was insistent that I put something in my stomach in preparation for all the shochu we were going to drink. After finishing my food I saw that he was still hamming it up with the old couple. He noticed I had finished and waved me over to the table. After the introductions I grabbed the prints I brought to show him. It was then that the doors opened up. I read more than once how bringing your subjects prints can make a normally uncomfortable situation easy. Bruce Davidson wrote in the opening of his East 100th Street book that this was what gave him access to the families he shot. He would show them portraits he had done for other families and right away the doors were opened. This is my first story, and the first time I have had the chance to bring a subject prints. Right away it was as if Murakami, his regulars and everyone that worked there had let their guard down. I’ll spare the details, but the night progressed the same way… Food, drink, laughs, and many more photos. I’m gonna say that yesterday was really the first day of shooting. I’m really excited to see where it goes from here…