The Seldoms named Best Local Dance Company

Congrats to The Seldoms who were recently named Best Local Dance Company by NewCity.com!

Press Release:

Lucie Awards Honorable Mentions

The 2012 Lucie Awards are out, featuring honorable mentions for some of Brian’s latest work:

On the Run for Electra Bicycle Company

Katie Jens

Crossfit Wallball for Reebok International

Andrea Cronberg

Andrea Cronberg

Andrea Cronberg

Andrea Cronberg

Erin Gipson

Erin Gipson

Erin Gipson

Erin Gipson

Erin Gipson

Olivia Smoliga for Chicago Magazine

Olivia Smoliga for Chicago Magazine

Olivia Smoliga for Chicago Magazine

Olivia Smoliga for Chicago Magazine

Olivia Smoliga for Chicago Magazine

The Seldoms

The Seldoms

The Seldoms

The Seldoms

The Seldoms

American Photography 28

We’re happy to announce that one of Brian’s images has been selected for the “Chosen” archive of images for American Photography 28!

View the complete gallery here.

2011 IPA Awards: 1st Place!

We are excited and honored to announce that Brian has won 1st Place in the 2011 IPA Awards Professional Product Photography category for his work for Gatorade. Working with a great team from VML in Kansas City, Brian shot a series of athletes pushing themselves to the limits of their abilities, demonstrating passion, determination, intensity and grace – often at the same time.

The winning series:

Complete list of 2011 IPA Winners.

Graphis Gold Award

We’re proud to announce that Brian has received a Graphis Gold Award in the 100 Best in Advertising category for 2011, for his work for Ellington Fans. The selected images can be seen below, or by checking out the 100 Best in Advertising 2011 book when it is released soon.

Brian’s description of the job:

“The ‘It’s So You’ images were created to continue the mood and taste begun by the client’s previous campaign. I was selected because of my particular use of lighting as well as my ability to create and capture beautiful moments. Working in-studio, I needed to create three unique settings that communicated comfort and familiarity as well as intrigue and drama. Each set was based on a well-known style (the Victorian Antoinette, the classic Audrey Hepburn and the sleek modern), but approached with a fresh perspective to add contemporary flair. The fan shadow, though simple in theory, proved to be troublesome in pre-production. Fans were provided by the client, which we used to make scaled-down 2-dimensional props by tracing the blade and unit shapes. These scale ‘fans’ were wrangled by an assistant, adding an element of spontaneity to the shoot: it kept everyone on their toes and working to capture the perfect shots. By forgoing digital post-production and creating the shadow on-set, we created a lush and dramatic environment with a hint of fantasy to it that invites the viewer to step inside and experience the feeling.”

Creature Comforts

No, not the off-kilter British claymation series; we’re talking about the ways in which studios work to be a home-away-from-home; not only for clients and guests, but also for the photographers and their staff who tend to spend an extraordinary amount of time in their creative spaces. This month PDN profiled a number of photographers, including Brian, discussing their regular studio setups; check out the full article here, and if you pick up the print version of the magazine you can scope out a picture of a “default” setup that we frequently utilize in the studio.
Here’s what the studio looks like when we’re set up for a gallery showing:

And here… we… GO!

2010 is starting off with a bang, which is just how we like it. In addition to lining up a busy production schedule, Brian was also featured in this month’s issue of PDN, describing a particular shot step-by-step. The finished product:

Thanks to Jack Neubart for putting this together; check out the full article here!

Open House Recap

[Update: we received a nice writeup in today's Chicago Tribune (10/02/09)!  Thanks to Tribune reporter Lauren Viera for stopping by, we hope to see her (and all of you!) at our next open house.  Read the full story here, or check out the following excerpt:

"At Studio 101 Gallery, the 2-year-old venue run by painter Joslyn Beta Lawrence and her betrothed, photographer Brian Kuhlmann, nature was photographed, framed and hung with gorgeous results, complementing the free-standing birch trunks that decorate this lofty, former live/work space.

The series of 16 overexposed photographs, "Song of Absolution," is a dreamy collaboration between Lawrence and Kuhlmann, who sought the project as "a response to living in an urban environment, while searching for a connection to the natural world." Artist statements aside, many of these photographs offer a voyeuristic glimpse into the modern adventures of Adam and Eve: Kuhlmann and Lawrence filled in as their own models, stripping down to their birthday suits and frolicking about. Thankfully, the blurry, overexposed results are more painterly than pornographic."]

The 39th Annual Pilsen East Artists’ Open House that we previously mentioned was a resounding success: 3 days where artists and galleries in the neighborhood open their doors for the public to meet the artists in person.  Brian showed 3 different personal series he’s been working on, alongside Joslyn Beta Lawrence’s enlarged iPhone polaroids and T. Harrison Hillman’s documentary-style photographs. Lots of new friends and no enemies were made. We are looking forward to hosting an iPhone photo exhibition on the second Friday of November… stay tuned!  In the meantime, the show is still up and available for viewing by appointment.  Email or call us if you’d like to come take a look!

©2009 Joslyn Beta Lawrence