Keep thinking.We do and that’s what you want in an agency.

photo: Lon Levin

Keep thinking.We do and that’s what you want in an agency.

More than once I had art directors tell me my style

was way too ‘European’. Of course

that proves the fallacy. I’ve never

even visited Europe.

“ “

james

“I never wanted to be a rebel. I don’t like attracting gruff frowns. But I just do not comprehend the concept of ‘you can’t do that!’.

I noticed James Vaughan’s work on the internet and I was compelled to contact hi. I liked about James work is the story telling aspect of the photos and the artistry. He was kind enough to answer some questions I asked of him.

How did your parents influence you as a young creative ? Were they encouraging? They were both encouraging- in differ-ent ways. My mother, who was an artist, was very enthusiastic. She got me into art classes at a very early age. Took me to museums etc. My mother had a kind and sensitive soul drawn to that which was beautiful and noble and I’m proud to say some of that rubbed off on me. My big sister is also an artist and teacher. She was a role model and inspiration. When I was a little kid she was this cool ‘artsy’ beatnik type. My father was a scientist, a chemist. The director of research at Goodyear.Later he started his own company and was a very successful pioneer of mod-ern plastics. He was himself very creative. But I think that art, with a capital ‘A’, intimidated and confused him.It’s a regretful separation that is all too prevalent in the modern world. Today- working with business clients- I think of my father and try extra hard to keep my process transparent and my ego in the backseat. Looking back, I see that my father was much more supportive, and tol-erant ... than I gave him credit for.

Do you have any pet projects you’re doing for yourself that you could let me in on? I have a wildly successful website about imagery in pop-culture and history. It has vaughan

INTERVIEW PART ONE

vaughanjames

When I was a kid the big picture magazines were going strong. Every week I looked forward to LIFE and LOOK. I would cut out pages and put them up on the bulletin board in my room. It seems like I just sucked in everything visual. Television, magazines, movies. My family took long car trips and I stared out the window hour after hour like my brain was a movie camera. Three events stand out; and they are a credit to the ‘adults’ in my life.When I was five my big sister took me to a revial showing of Walt Disney’s ‘Fantasia’. My mother took me to ‘ Expo-67’ - the world’s fair in Montreal. And my big brother, on a whim, took me and a buddy to see Kubrick’s ‘2001’. But it was my interest in politics and social causes that actually directly led me into photography. Being a photo-journalist seemed like a noble cause. That was my major at Columbia College of Chicago. I ran around shooting a bunch of free-lance photo-stories. It was exciting and romantic. Wearing an old field jacket with a couple of beat up Nikons around your neck makes you feel a kindred soul to Hemingway. It was all a product of the times... the 1960’s. And those years staring at LIFE and LOOK.

I am a romantic and an idealist.My interest in photo-journalism was a way to utilize my natural artistic talents to crusade for a better world. Using images to convey an idea, to tell a story, is the essence of photo-journalism.

What motivated you to become a photographer?

You studied photography and Journalism. How did that form you as an artist?

END:PART ONE

“Tony Donaldson will do anything to grab that electrifying moment. Watching him in action has a magic all it’s own.”

– Steve Kmetko, Television Personality

TONY DONALDSON

Tony Donaldson got his start as an athlete, racing BMX then starting his own BMX free-style team. His freestyle team toured the Midwest doing shows at fairs, festivals and events. He started his first business when he was only 15. Associated Press photographer and friend Seth Perlman took Tony under his wing and taught him the basics of photography, within months he was working as a stringer for AP then earned himself a staff position at a BMX magazine he had grown up reading. After working for several years on several magazines, he went out on his own. Tony’s clients include magazines like ESPN, Time, Millimeter, Golf, and the New York Times,

In high demand for his knowledge of the business, creative and technical sides of photography, he’s written product and software reviews, an editorial column, consults with government and aerospace contractors and lectures at conventions around the country on photography. You can find the two books he’s written, both on BMX, on Amazon.com. He’s currently working on another book or two. Clients love him for the power of his images and the ease of working with him. He can work within extreme time limits, Tony has a gift of developing instant rapport with his subjects, drawing out interesting and sometimes rare sides of them. From a quick editorial portrait to a large layout, Tony and his crew bring out the best in people.

“Tony is the

real deal. A

photographer

who both

understands

the artistic

value of the

“right look”

>

Article written by Lon Levin

rosenbergJUSTIN

“After shooting for many years in South Florida, I decided to pack up and head west . . . way west, to Los Angeles. I have fallen completely head-over-heels for this city, and after living here for a few years, I feel I have a greater understanding of Dr. Dre and Tupac’s “California Love.”

“My name is Justin Rosenberg and contrary to popular mythology, I was not born with a camera in my hands.”>W R I T T E N B Y L O N L E V I N

Two years ago I walked into my new position as president of a design firm called BTS Communications. I inherited 14 people who would work for me and the first one I got to know was photographer Justin Rosenberg. Within a hour he had given me all the information I needed to know about the firm. I was skeptical of him at first but I came to realize that somehow this big bear of a young man was dead on. Aside from that he was enormusly talented and I was determined to mine his talent and encourage him to break out.

I’d like to claim I had something to do with his growth as an artist but that’d be a lie. It’s all him. He is always searching for a different way to do things or trying to discover a bit of information that will increase his abilities. He lives and breathes photography. Late nights trolling down-town LA or early jaunts to the LA River are not uncommon for Justin. He and I have spent time together shooting at different shoots and I have l;earned so much from him noy only technically but artistically. He is an artist’s artist.

rosenbergJUSTIN

>

My name is Justin Rosenberg and contrary to popular mythology, I was not born with a camera in my hands. I was born a normal birth, in a hospital, in Plainview, NY . . . and unless my parents lied to me, I popped out cold and hungry, sans camera. Fortunately, the trauma of enter-ing a new and scary world didn’t phase me all that much and I eventually picked up my first camera (in the odd chance you’re dying to know, it was a 1978 Canon A1 that my father still owns).

After shooting for many years in South Florida, I decided to pack up and head west . . . way west, to Los Angeles. I have fallen completely head-over-heels for this city, and after living here for a few years, I feel I have a greater understanding of Dr. Dre and Tupac’s “California Love.”

My main-stay is photographing humans–editorial, commercial, music and family Sometimes I professionally photograph non-human entities such as dogs and cars. I’ve had the lucky fortune of photograph-ing magazine covers (WeMerge Magazine, Beit T’Shuvah Magazine, The Vista View) as well many other national and interna-tional publications (Jewish Journal, Oc-tane Magazine, Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, Jewish Week, CSQ, and more)

Random Facts:• I have a full-on obsession with Sushi. I might even consider bartering my services for copious amounts of good raw salmon.

• I once was suspended on the back of an ATV while photographing a $1 million+ car (with less than stellar brakes) barreling after me on a steep hill. I survived, and my got first double page spread.

•I believe in transparency and authentici-ty, something I’ve learned since I decided to get sober from drugs and alcohol in January of 2011. - I do not have a large intestine. Long story short, I have battled Crohn’s Disease since 2001 and subse-quently lost my large intestine in 2011. I only put that here, because as I men-tioned above, I believe in authenticity and Crohn’s Disease is a major part of my “sto-ry”. I am currently working on some photo-graphic projects geared towards spread-ing awareness of a disease I have dubbed, “The Little C”. Incidentally, If anyone finds my large intestine, hit me up on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

levinphotography

levin

photography

lon

(818) 268-9953