It was almost one year ago that I was in Ethiopia for the first time. I left behind my photo shoots in North America to go work on a personal series in the Omo Valley. My life is a critical balance between commercial and personal work. One could not exist without the other. These two worlds collided for the first time last Saturday. We had a whole bunch of people come check out the installation.
It’s Nikon Girl!
The prints were “floated” in their spaces by some spray-painted string and bathroom tension rods.
A dolly track?! Cameras have been following Ryan and I around for something secret… Details to come at a later date.
The prints, generously printed by WHCC, were installed in the Foundry. There are so many more people I need to thank… (in no particular order)…
Ryan for holding my light
My dad for wanting to be on TV and coming all the way from Lindsay, Ontario to help hang stuff
My uncle Ian for the extra professional help
My cousin Michael for staying at my apartment to wait for the prints to arrive the day before the opening
Jazmine – for organizing everything to do with everything and getting a bunch of stuff for free
Allison Du Val, owner of the Foundry
Celeste and Audrie- for curating the event and putting up with my BS
Sterling for running back and forth thousands of times gathering supplies
Michele Nelson at WHCC
My agents Carrie, Patricia and Donna for inviting the right people
Paul Jones and his company JTE Spirits for the booze
Songs Of Love
Karaoke Killed the Cat for the crunchy tunes and non-stop energy
Blair, the entire film crew, and Lee from Canamedia
Benjamin Bates and Jordi for coming all the way from the Netherlands to support
And of course most of all my translator and close friend Anteneh, because if it wasn’t for him, I’d have no pictures to display at all.
JL
ADD A COMMENT (61)
Rudolf Christian // January 24, 2010 09:31
Joey, you really inspired me. Your pictures extraordinary. and I liked the video Nikon Girls. I saw your picture in the Mentawai. Unbelievable. Very nice. I'm from Indonesia. I'm quite surprised you've arrived there. You are my idol.Rudolf.
Mark // January 24, 2010 09:48
Looked great. Congrats.
Isabell Schatz // January 24, 2010 09:55
Congrats!!! I'm so glad you finally got the possibility to show your wonderful personal work! More!!! Get some books printed, eventually! ;-)
Filip // January 24, 2010 10:37
Great photos, great place, congratulation.
Binny // January 24, 2010 13:49
Waiting for the secret....
Colorado Wedding Photographer // January 24, 2010 16:04
Amazing work... and the installation looked great!JasonG
mattbeaty // January 24, 2010 17:55
As always, it looks great Joey. Keep doing what you do!
Chris // January 24, 2010 17:59
I have been following your work for a while now and all I can say you are an inspiration to the photography community. In looking at the photos in the blog post, I seriously had goosebumps and chills down my spine. Well done, my friend and keep doing what you are doing! Look forward to your next photos from Africa!
wac // January 24, 2010 17:59
great presentation. what kind of backing are the images mounted on?
Chris // January 24, 2010 18:00
I have been following your work for a while now and all I can say you are an inspiration to the photography community. In looking at the photos in the blog post, I seriously had goosebumps and chills down my spine. Well done, my friend and keep doing what you are doing! Look forward to your next photos from Africa!
Sam // January 24, 2010 19:31
Beautiful exhibition. Well done.
jasoncohen // January 24, 2010 21:31
beautiful images and a beautiful space
Matthew London // January 24, 2010 22:00
Hey Joey, Nice meeting you in person. The show looked great! Good work!
Rob ahern // January 25, 2010 02:47
Yeah it's Nikon girl! Great location the bricks work so well with the low light.
Jason the Saj // January 25, 2010 06:09
Hey Joey,How long are your works on display at the Foundry?- Jason
Dan // January 25, 2010 06:50
Wow, what an awesome gallery space. Your photos go so well with it. Well done!
Tweets that mention Abyssinia Installation at The Foundry | Joey L : The Blog -- Topsy.com // January 25, 2010 11:14
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Francis Vachon, vanou, Filip MolÄan, Julien McEvoy, Dmitry Gudkov Photo and others. Dmitry Gudkov Photo said: @JoeyLdotcom on his installation at the Foundry. Beautiful portraits, really cool place, shot a wedding there once. http://bit.ly/5G8UpA [...]
Aaram Safai // January 25, 2010 12:18
Turned out awesome! Wish I could have been there to see your work on print!
John Batdorff // January 25, 2010 20:28
Incredible work.....
Tim M // January 25, 2010 20:57
Man this looks so tight! I wish i could have been there, or could go.. I think you should try one of these out in LA, im sure it would be a huge hit dude!
Angela // January 26, 2010 13:50
Congratulations Joey, looks awesome!
Jen May // January 26, 2010 17:48
Beautiful location to show off your beautiful work :) By the way, I met Cale and discovered he knows you. Would like to meet you one day!
Greg Davis // January 28, 2010 08:54
Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration Joey. I heard your name in good company a few times recently at Imaging USA.
Greg Davis // January 28, 2010 08:55
Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration Joey. I heard your name in good company a few times recently at Imaging USA.
Greg Davis // January 28, 2010 08:55
Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration Joey. I heard your name in good company a few times recently at Imaging USA.
Greg Davis // January 28, 2010 08:55
Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration Joey. I heard your name in good company a few times recently at Imaging USA.
Shawn Winsley // February 01, 2010 14:00
Joey. AMAZING display!! When are you going to set up an exhibit in Lindsay? I only get to NYC once a year but Lindsay almost everyday! Truly awesome work.
James K // February 01, 2010 17:41
wow - looks like a stunning collection of photographs. shame i'm the wrong side of the pond...
Joel Khaw // February 02, 2010 23:59
Love all your works. Very inspiring indeed!
Adam // February 05, 2010 09:46
Great Pictures :) Amazing
Corey Ann Leamon // February 05, 2010 16:39
Your work is absolutely incredible... I'm in love with it all and there's no simpler way to put it!
Capeto // February 05, 2010 17:48
Joey, what an inspiration you are... what a talent you have...I am from Colombia... I hope to see you down here sometime. Awesome exhibition - great concept!Looking forwar to hear back from you!capeto
Mike Yip // February 06, 2010 03:05
Beautifully done displays. What a great way to use the available space of the venue. Were your work on sale too during the display?
Brian McQuain // February 06, 2010 05:34
amazing, i wish i could have been there.....hawaii is just to hard on the pockets to make trips, despite how badly i would like to go.
Anna Rodgers // February 07, 2010 10:47
wow Joey your exhibition looked amazing! bet it was a surreal moment for you having one - its astounding that you have already achieved so much whilst being quite young. You and Lara are both incredible...............its very inspiring for the older people like (me!!!!) to see what you have done with your life so far!
Rajesh // February 07, 2010 19:47
Man you got so much talent and passion for your work. Respect.
shawn chamberlin // February 08, 2010 03:39
what a beautifully displayed exhibition. seeing your work inspires me to jump into more ambitious personal work. i really love the stuff you've been coming up with, keep it up. thanks.
Darek Jankowiak // February 08, 2010 08:53
Amazing photos !!! Congratulations and greetings from Poland !!!
Jenna Julianne // February 08, 2010 22:16
WOW! WOW! WOW! What an incrediable location to feature a photographer's images! Awesome way of displaying your work Joey! Hope the opening night was amazing! Looks like you had a lot of support from family and friends!!! Awesome! Can't believe how big some of your images are blown up! Will those fit in your apartment!? Also, have these been pulished in any magazine!!?
murat // February 09, 2010 08:50
Looks absolutely stunning...
Elena Hernandez // February 16, 2010 10:23
Simply gorgeous display of your wonderful artistry Joey.So very proud of your achievements. Looking forward to seeing you do a movie someday soon!
Georgi Anastasov // February 19, 2010 06:36
I love your work! Looks great in that setting!
karl Bratby // February 19, 2010 22:38
wow this place looks amazing...
Mark Conrad // February 22, 2010 12:17
I"m so amazed on how you presented your works. the photos are already great. Making them float in a foundry is just... "WOW"Congrats! cheers!
Anna // February 24, 2010 18:15
Wau, I am blown away. You always see those photos from the third world and they all look the same, but these ones - oh not even close! these are just so far away, to the good side i mean, from all the ones i've seen before. I truly cannot believe how this kind of talent is even possible :)
Asad // February 28, 2010 05:39
I really liked your pictures , but more than that I would like to know what your learnt from the tribes you photographed.Please let me know where I can read it.
mark // March 01, 2010 11:26
Great article on the omo valley in National Geographic this month. Your work is inspiring many. Check out my photos of the Dogon Kingdom of Mali @ www.markpengelly.comLater M
Molly // March 02, 2010 03:22
Wow, what a show . Love your work
Frank // March 03, 2010 07:13
U're fantastic Joey!! Congratos for your worksFrank
Michael Kalbo // March 03, 2010 19:18
Congrats. Looked like it was an amazing event. Keep up the amazing work.
Michael Kalbo // March 03, 2010 19:18
Congrats. Looked like it was an amazing event. Keep up the amazing work.
Paul Morton // March 09, 2010 19:28
Dude, the apartment looks incredible--you did a great job and have fabulous taste (or money for a designer with fabulous taste).I love the showing too--what a great space to to display your incredible images. I'm jelous and wish I had 1/10th your creativity/brains/can-do-attitude!
Adrienne // March 13, 2010 09:49
Wow..!! What a great location you have. Congrats and just want to say how incredibly talented you are. I wish you many many more years of great success
Ross // March 17, 2010 04:09
Hey man, I really like the work. I was looking at the pictures of the abyssinia on your site though and I noticed that pretty much every person in the photos looks either sad or super serious. Did you do that on purpose or are they really that way all the time? Granted I'm looking at these from a photojournalism point of view but I am wondering what you intended when you put the shots together. Whats your underlying message?Great shots though, really awesome. Hit me back
Adam // March 18, 2010 23:09
Really stunning work. Love how you presented it.
André Diogo Moecke // March 31, 2010 14:32
Great pictures, and great exhibition!I will also advance, and say great pictures and style you have in other photos. Being so young and world renowned is an incentive to other photographers. Congrats and more sucess.
Nottingham Rouston // November 16, 2010 11:19
Absolutely brilliant. Great stuff, incredible work!
Beauty Products // January 10, 2011 12:54
You are simply amazing Joey. Keep up the good work!
Samuel Burns // March 26, 2011 06:31
Looks like a great space and fantastic installation. Congrats.
Alison // July 14, 2012 19:06
Fantastic work! Were the printed images glued to white matte cards to give them those borders and make them easy to hang or they they were printed on some special paper. Just curious how the unframed pictures hang so well without rolling.
Thanks JoeyL
Wedding Photographers Mansfield // February 13, 2014 03:43
some pretty stunning photography a true inspiration well done
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