Interview with Allen Bourgeois aka airfrogusmc

I don't know how I missed this. I guess the original is in German, so the browser auto-translate is a bit iffy in places, but great interview nonetheless.

https://hamburgarts.de …e-amerikazentrum-hamburg/

Scrumhalf wrote in post #19241970
I don't know how I missed this. I guess the original is in German, so the browser auto-translate is a bit iffy in places, but great interview nonetheless.

https://hamburgarts.de …e-amerikazentrum-hamburg/

I just saw this Sam. Thanks for posting it. The exhibit in Germany was a couple of years ago now. It was an amazing experience.

Another different article and interview in German from the Hamburg exhibit.
https://www.kultur-port.de …chicago-claus-friede.html

Here's what it translated to in Google Translate

"On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the town twinning between Hamburg and Chicago this year, the America Center in Hamburg HafenCity is showing black and white photos by the American photographer Allen Bourgeois.

The Chicago-based bourgeois served as a soldier with the U.S. Marines for several years before a scholarship enabled him to study photography. Since then he has only been armed with a camera - and apparently he always has it with him.

The strong bearded man has a friendly charisma and is happy about the many visitors to his exhibition opening. Nevertheless, he tries to stay hidden, does not push himself forward in the direction of the lectern, and has to be looked for in the crowd by the opening speaker: “Allen, where are you? (Everyone, where are you?) "
He can obviously make himself invisible, because his “Streets, Alleys and Other Observations” from Chicago testify to this. He loves the situation, he is looking for the right moments to trigger the action with a breath of motion. He never comments on himself in his photos, prefers to remain hidden.

Bourgeois works with contrasts, reflections, shadows, looking through, is almost always artistic and only a little documentary on the way. He tells photographed stories, not fairy tales, not invented ones, but rather real life stories.

His photographs are influenced by Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004), Robert Frank (* 1924) and Garry Winogrand (1928-1984), whom he also immediately gives as role models. And he speaks of them with great respect. He also appreciates Vivian Maier (1926-2009) and finds her more international than Robert Frank, who was born in Switzerland, although she took photographs in the USA.
He surrenders prefers not to take on any label as a categorization, not even that of "street photography". He is an observer, a master at recognizing and capturing moments that usually happen in a fraction of a second before they disappear. Spontaneity is the hallmark. “I can't plan my photos,” he says, “I experience these moments with my eyes open and my eyes wide open”. This is how they come about, his photos, and lie between humor and irony, but also oppression, and sometimes they are sometimes based on tragic moments.


An already older man with a highly durable gel and a pointedly raised but only moderately styled punk hairstyle looks with wide eyes at the display of his smartphone. From a passing sport utility vehicle (SUV) you can see a woman behind the tinted window, who in turn photographs this man with her smartphone, while Allen Bourgeois takes photos of the whole scene. Like a quick ball effect, there are lines of communication within the picture that react to each other and are connected to each other. This short moment of happening tells a whole story only through this photograph and promotes thinking far beyond this moment.


In the same row there is a picture showing two young people taking a selfie. The photo cell phone attached to a telescopic pole, in which the two look in love, is a very different moment for them than for the equally young man, who slumps down on a blanket a meter away, crouching on a blanket. The plastic cup in front of him is almost empty, maybe just two quarter-dollar coins in it. The cardboard sign is crumpled and almost in the same pose as the person, on which it can be read that he is homeless ... "Due to family and job loss ..." (Because of family and joblessness).


In another photo, we are directly looked at by a man whose eyes contain fear and pain as well as hope and comfort. Between his hooded sweater and his face you can still see the edge of a wool hat that keeps him warm. He, too - can be presumed - is homeless, but proud.


Two women walk in front of a large window in which the person opposite is reflected and talk. They ignore the happy dancing shadow sisters dancing around them as shop window decorations. "En Passant" would have been a good title, but all of Allen Bourgeois' work is "untitled".

The longer Bourgeois worked on this observation project, the clearer it became to him that these photographs are also a mirror of our society. They are snapshots - sometimes ironic and sometimes banal, often humorous but sometimes - like here and there - sad. Observations that may show us all how careless we are and who we are."


Local paper on the Hamburg exhibit.
https://www.oakpark.co​m …d-other-captured-moments/

For anyone interested heres a few other interviews I have had over the years. Leica featured my work and words a few ago.
https://www.leica-camera.blog …pontaneous-relationships/

An interview and exhibit I had at Tamakin here in Chicago a few years back
https://tamarkincamera​.tumblr.com …rview-allen-bourgeois/amp


Steve Huff
https://www.stevehuffp​hoto.com …ochrom-by-alan-bourgeois/

And
https://www.stevehuffp​hoto.com …n-405-by-allen-bourgeois/

Very good and well deserved.

kf095 wrote in post #19244955
Very good and well deserved.

Thanks Ko....

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Thank you for writing that all out for us, Allen.

I always enjoy reading about your work!


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19245328
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Thank you for writing that all out for us, Allen.

I always enjoy reading about your work!


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Thanks Tom,

I just copied and pasted from google translate and I have been told that is a little off but close.

It's been tough this past year and half. I was scheduled to be in a group exhibit here in Chicago last Sept but of course it was cancelled.

Here's to a better 3rd quarter 2021.

Allen

Thats pretty cool and a nice validation. Interesting read.

Croasdail wrote in post #19248895
Thats pretty cool and a nice validation. Interesting read.

Thanks.