Robert Redford. Photo by Ron Galella

Ron Galella is a controversial man. As one of the most famous celebrity photographers of the last half-century, he’s been called everything from a parasite and a vulture, to the “Godfather of the U.S. paparazzi culture.” And in the new documentary Smash His Camera, we’re given a whirlwind tour through the career of Hollywood’s most-hated man.

In his review of the film, Roger Ebert quotes Andy Warhol: “A great photograph,” the artist said, “shows the famous doing something unfamous. Ron Galella is my favorite photographer.” Galella spent nearly fifty years hiding out in search of famous faces, and he collected over three million of images of celebrities like Elvis Presley, Robert Redford, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando (who punched him, causing him to lose four teeth and break his jaw), and his favorite, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Still, Galella sees his work as more than just fodder for gossip magazines. “I look for the glamor,” he says. “I’m interested in portraiture. I’m not like these other guys who take celebrity pictures now. There’s an art to what I do and it’s all about the expression. It’s not just about taking a picture of someone famous; anyone can do that.”

The documentary, which premiered last week at the Sundance Film Festival, showcases this tension between the two Galellas - the monster who hid in bushes and stalked movie stars, and the artist who captured some genuinely beautiful photographs. For Roger Ebert, this contradiction is why he is so fascinating. “He is a viper, a parasite, a stalker, a vermin. He is also, I have decided, a national treasure.”

To see a collection of Galella’s work, visit his website at RonGalella.com. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for Smash His Camera when it hits wide release.

The postcard is losing its luster. As a medium of communication, and as a picture-letter showcasing one’s home or travels abroad, it has fallen victim to the advancements in technology that allow us to send photos instantly. But at the turn of the 20th century, postcards were one of the most popular (and cheapest) ways to document and share the life of your community.

In the new book “Folk Photography: The American Real-Photo Postcard, 1905–1930,” photography historian Luc Sante has collected some of the most haunting, moving images from this period. These 122 postcards, also known as “real-photos” because they were created in actual darkrooms and not printing presses, show a side of small-town American communities rarely seen by outsiders. That’s because they were created by and for small-town America.

Millions were made in the brief 25 year period. Their subject matter ranges from candid shots of community picnics by the river, to somber portraits of a family posing stiff and awkwardly in front of their barn. The postcards, at one moment chilling and the next sentimental, are exactly the sort of images that will leave you pondering our nation’s endless history of  anonymous artists.

And as the erudite Sante writes in his introduction to the book, they end up giving us a “self-portrait of the American nation.”

The photo postcard is a vast, teeming, borderless body of work that might as well have a single, hydra-headed author, a sort of Homer of the small towns and the prairies. Self-taught and happily ignorant of the history of the medium, this author was free of the sort of second-guessing that cripples artists. He or she was out to do a job, to please a public, to turn a dollar, but also to record things faithfully, to include as many details of a scene as the frame could contain, to hold up a mirror to that bit of the world shared with the clientele, maybe to make the familiar strange, simply by noticing things.

To see more real-photos from the “Folk Photography” collection, and to purchase Sante’s captivating new book, head over to the publisher’s website, YetiPublishing.com.

Photograph © Chris Burkard 2009. All Rights Reserved

The latest episode of Advancing Your Photography (AYP) finds the Silber Studios team interviewing surf photography phenom Chris Burkard. At just 23, Burkard has had more success than many photographers twice his age. He has worked for over 35 national and international magazines, is the winner of the first annual Follow The Light Foundation grant, and has been the senior staff photographer for Water Magazine and Surfline.com. He also recently published his first book, The California Surf Project.

With little formal training, Chris brings a raw, youthful enthusiasm to his photography. His shots, whether they’re of surfers jetting through the curl of a wave or the sun rising behind a field of grass, show a unique ability to capture light and composition. In our interview, you’ll learn about Chris’s tips on how to elevate you photography to the next level.

1. Inspiration — The key to taking great photos, says Chris, is finding out what inspires people. Photographers are blessed to able to travel the world and bring little pieces of it back with them through their art, and your goal should be to inspire others to travel in your footsteps.

2. It’s all about the simple moments — Chris finds inspiration in simplicity. As a surf photographer, he prefers to use natural light and document surf culture with native scenes. One key piece of advice he offers is to shoot things and locations that are attainable so people can actually see themselves going there.

3. “The insect perspective” — In trying to get those unique angles, Chris sometimes uses what he calls “the insect perspective.” Get down beneath eye-level and try for a bug’s-eye view of your subjects. You’ll be surprised at the unique shots.

4. Think about what is really significant — Most photographers tend to believe what really matters is their own perspective of what they’re shooting. But as Chris says, many times it’s not what you the photographer are seeing, but rather what your subject is seeing, thinking or feeling. Considering this perspective reversal will increase your awareness and add a whole new layer of depth to your shots.

To learn more about Chris Burkard’s indispensable advice on how to advance your photography, watch the latest episode of AYP. Also, make sure to check out Chris’ site over at burkardphoto.com.