If you have never been to a jen bekman soiree, here is the perfect opportunity. Tomorrow night jen bekman will host a revolutionary opening for James Deavin’s revolutionary new body of work––Photographs from the New World. James, a Summer 2005 Hot Shot and ne plus ultra winner, has put together an amazing show of images taken on the virtual world Second Life. SL is still something rather foreign to me, but after seeing James’ work I immediately decided to jump on the bandwagon. There is quite a buzz going around about this not to be missed show. It seems our ultra James has become quite the hot shot to look up to. And the icing on the cake… Tomorrow night jen bekman will go live on Second Life! Does it get any cooler?

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE NEW WORLD––James Deavin
Opening Reception: Wednesday November 1st, 6–8pm

jen bekman 

6 Spring Street 
(between Elizabeth + Bowery)
 NYC 10012

Phone: +1.212.219.0166

Email: info AT jenbekman DOT com

Read the press release here.

Children’s Portrait by aspiring Hot Shot Natalie Sorenson

The photographer inside aspiring Hot Shot Natalie Sorenson has been a winner from the get-go. As a teenager she produced a ribbon-worthy image and has had the taste for success ever since. Her work explores her fascination with the domestic space and the cherished possessions that lie within. “I like elaborate interiors, collections; objects people select out of obsession. Decor.� Like most of us, her work is her play—she produced her most recent body of work while a nanny for a family with a particularly comfortable abode.

Do you have the winner’s streak? Less than one week now remains in the competition. The clock is ticking. Enter today!

Untitled (Garden) by aspiring Hot Shot Grady O’Connor

Grady O’Connor is interested in the mundane, the simple, and the ordinary. In Grady’s words…

One of my favorite things to do is load up the car and explore. Sometimes I go to other states or countries, sometimes to the parking lot behind the A&P. I love to have my camera with me and document the world around me. I’m interested in how other people live their life and utilize the space they live in. As for specific subject matter, I really have no preference, though I tend to lean towards things that are mundane and ordinary, simple.

One week to go! Get’em in!

Ostinato by HHS! Hopeful James Ting

Aspiring Hot Shot James Ting’s work has been referred to as cold and lifeless, haunting and surrealistic, abstract structure heaven, and spiritual conduit. For him it’s about the initial emotions that force him to pick up the camera and, more importantly, use it. In his words:

It’s my strong belief there are compelling relationships between visual, geometric forms and human spiritual emotions. My visual instinct is to see the world in geometric forms, where daily imageries such as buildings, roads, tree lines, and mountains are distilled into triangles, cubes, semi-circles, converging planes, and other lines and shapes. In my work, the goal is to capture ordinary and banal scenes, and transform these scenes into absorbing images via the endless relationships I see being played out among the myriad shapes, lines, planes, and very importantly, space or void.

Spread your vision. Enter today.

Hey! Are you a Hot Shot?, originally uploaded by msjenbee.

Look at our spiffy new poster. We love it.

Untitled (snowstorm) by aspiring Hot Shot Meg Wachter

Last night I once again dealt with the pangs of regret for not having my camera on hand at all moments––I am simply not that photographer. The thought of venturing out with my camera into the unknown is something that, I will unfortunately admit, drowns me in anxiety. There are those of us who shoot incessantly, amassing quantities of imagery that boggle the mind, there are those of us who produce one, two if we’re lucky, images a year, and then there are those of us remaining, scattered somewhere in between. As if it was this easy.

Beyond fantastic photographer Brian Ulrich passed along some excellent advice from photographer Saul Leiter this week on his blog––”If you can make one really good picture a year, I mean really good, then in 10 years you’ll have 10 really amazing pictures.”

Deciding how to work or at least recognizing one’s own ways is a frustratingly difficult task. Like all mediums, photography offers us endless and diverse possibilities. As I watch the aspiring Hot Shots’ work come in, it never ceases to amaze me how many images can be taken of essentially identical subjects, yet often remain remarkably new. Just last week my advisor, art critic Dominique Nahas, enforced upon me that as long as 3-5% of what you do is unique then you’re well on your way to success. An encouraging percentage, but since then that 3-5% has been bearing on my soul like no other…

Aspiring Hot Shot Meg Wachter’s Untitled (snowstorm) motivates me to change my ways. She so susinctly says, “I am inspired by the unusual, the humorous, and the bold.”

Let the the approaching one week mark motivate you. Enter today!

Worker housing, Gatun, 2006 by aspiring Hot Shot Sam Sweezy

Another fresh entry, Hot Shot hopeful Sam Sweezy’s image of the worker housing in Gatun is one of many he captured in an area which will soon be radically transformed once recently approved construction on new locks begins. Allow me to pass the mic to Sam…

I have photographed architecture commercially for many years. More recently I have also done cultural documentation projects. The most recent is a focused photographic exploration of the Panama Canal Zone, an extraordinary place that was shaped by important technological, economic, social, and political events of the 20th century. The work is not didactic but descriptive, however the choice to make images of the Canal Zone inevitably poses questions about this endangered area and its people. The primary goal was to show the landscape and build environment in this 50 by 5 mile enclave. Eleven sites were photographed, which are either towns servicing the canal or former US military bases.

jen’s hot shots @ joe on waverly

The work of Hey, Hot Shot! winners has been catching many a’ latte drinker’s eye at Joe of NYC. Not too long ago jen bekman partnered up with the hip hangout that is Joe – the art of coffee – to give and get exposure to some very talented photographers.

When I first stepped foot into Joe on 13th, not too long before I joined the jen bekman crew, I was shocked to see such excellent treatment of the walls. It’s a rare occasion to have coffee house art excite you just as much as your steamy caffeine fix…

So go see some excellent photography and enjoy the best cup of joe you’ve had in a while. In fact, I’m on my way there right now…

Visit both Joe locations – 9 East 13th St – 141 Waverly Place

Spray by aspiring Hot Shot Justin Skinner

Originally uploaded by msjenbee.

Fresh from the entry pool, Justin Skinner is interested in unconventionally portraying the problems of the inner city. Shying away from traditional photojournalism, Justin wants to milk photography as a medium for all is has to offer. Using dramatic lighting with what he calls “intense scenes,” he aims to draw the viewer’s attention in with lusciously lit and superbly executed images.

I was sent to a mentor at the age of ten being labeled a ‘delinquent.’ I wanted nothing to do with the man, until he brought up the topic of girls. He had my interest. He told me that if I started working hard at that moment, that someday I could be a Playboy photographer. He didn’t need to say anything else. Eleven years later here I am.

Justin’s goals have changed, but he remains just as dedicated as he was on the birthday of his ambition. Good luck in all endeavors Justin, whatever they may be!

Time is ticking. Enter today!

Chip’s Drawing of a Robot From Outer Space by spring 2006 Hot Shot Andrea Longacre-White

As we get closer and closer to the deadline - we have officially passed the two-week mark - there is much talk about town of Hey, Hot Shot! Props to the competition have been popping up all over the place––Daily Candy, Art Fag City, murketing, Design Observer, Conscientious, Modern Art Notes. A Hot Shot favorite, Alec Soth, recently mentioned the competition on his mandatory blog. Photo District News just gave us a shout out on their blog.

The word is spreading! Winners will be announced on November 20.

Previous showcases have been a shortlist pick in The Village Voice and received mentions in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Art in America, Gothamist, Flavorpill, among others.

Stay tuned! Enter today!