Sold out 20×200 edition Untitled (Astoria Park, Queens, New York), by Carlo Van de Roer

“It’s a gateway drug for art.”

Today’s Houston Chronicle writes on all things Jen Bekman — specifically 20×200, Hey, Hot Shot! and the gallery — in “On the Internet, it’s real art for $20.“

Sold out 20×200 edition Untitled (Astoria Park, Queens, New York), by Carlo Van de Roer

“It’s a gateway drug for art.”

Today’s Houston Chronicle writes on all things Jen Bekman — specifically 20×200, Hey, Hot Shot! and the gallery — in “On the Internet, it’s real art for $20.“

In the July/August issue of STEP magazine, Jen’s 20×200 project got a nice little review — “Art, Afforded” it’s titled — and alongside the great words about 20×200 was a lovely bit on Hey, Hot Shot!.

Her seasonal photography competition ‘Hey, Hot Shot!’ is like an American Idol for photographers, with a stellar rotating panel of judges and some pretty incredible exposure: winners receive a gallery showcase and an opportunity to be represented by Bekman.

Luckily for you, the next edition of HHS! will be opening tomorrow, your chance to be the next Amer— I mean, Hot Shot! Check back to this blog for an official announcement at the start of the contest.

Max, Recarpeting, Lena’s House, Nampa, Idaho 2005 by HS Shawn Records

Fall 2005 Hot Shot Shawn Records has come back for round two. This edition he submitted work from his family-based series La Playa. A little over a year ago we attempted to fill you in on the happenings and accomplishments of Mr. Records––the list was long and it continues to grow.

And Shawn is not the only one, Hey, Hot Shot! has done quite a bit of growing itself. Not only have fifty amazing artists graced the walls of our little Spring Street space, but the competition has turned into a major, one of a kind opportunity with loads of excitement and support making it, as we like to say, the best thing going for emerging photographers.

Last month I missed this opportunity, but today our dear blog is officially one year and one month old. In April 2006, former Hot Shot guide Anna Wolfgang kicked things off, setting the bar high for what has been a non-stop bloggin’ blast. We’ve brought you news of the endless array of amazement that is the jb. Our panel has reached superstar status, we had our first Ultra solo show, and we put together the very first of its kind HHS! Yearbook––the New Photographers Annual. The list goes on. Now we’re on the brink of Ms. Bekman’s mega-exciting-we-absolutely can’t-wait-venture, 20×200. The future is looking brighter than ever.

With the deadline for the Spring 2007 edition upon us, take tonight and/or tomorrow as an opportunity to not just enter, but to browse the blog’s archives, take a peek at our family history, and mark your calendars for one month from today for what we know will be another stellar showcase.

Oh the excitement for a Thursday afternoon––Raul Gutierrez has signed on as a panelist for the Spring Edition of Hey, Hot Shot! Raul, already an invaluable member of the jen bekman family, is a Hot Shot himself, a Spring 2006 Hot Shot to be specific. An amazing photographer, writer, and thinker, Raul’s website and blog offer endless hours of consuming pleasure. Mr. Gutierrez has also been working hard with Ms. Bekman on the anxiously awaited, awesomely-awesome 20×200 project. [If you find yourself unfortunately out of the loop, read about that excitement here.] And, you’re in luck, an old HHS! interview with Raul can be found here.

Raul Gutierrez is a photographer and design consultant who has had an eclectic career working behind the scenes in Hollywood, on Broadway, and on the internet. He recently showed his long term project, Travels Without Maps, at the Nelson Hancock Gallery in New York and has been in of a number of group shows including Hey, Hot Shot! Gutierrez also maintains Heading East, a website that is often (but not always) about photography. He is currently working on a book of Travels Without Maps as well as a number of photography related internet projects.

We love Raul and you should too! So much excitement, such a f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c panel.

The concept is simple: Prints in limited editions of 200, for $20 each. We’ll introduce two new editions a week: a photo one day and a fine art reproduction on another. These prints will be high quality work done by great artists. You’ll be able to sign up for a membership, buy gift certificates and have opportunities to buy larger pieces at affordable prices too.

Read the announcement over on Personism.

We’re still in private beta for a few more weeks - Sign up for our mailing list and we’ll keep you posted!