I met Allan Jenkins roughly a decade ago during the early stages of Blurb’s arrival on the photobook scene. Like all good creatives, Allan was curious about new technologies, and what Blurb was doing, and had already begun using the platform and using it well. His work at the time was connected to Cuba, a country that connected to me through my father’s ranch partner, a Cuban refugee who I had spent considerable time with during my childhood.
On an early European swing for Blurb, we hosted a dinner in London and Allan was kind enough to spare us his time and expertise. I liked him from the minute I met him. Gregarious with a sense of humor, but more importantly, Allan was all in on photography. I don’t remember how, but I got myself invited to his studio and this was where I began to get a better understanding of who Allan is.
This past May, during another European swing for Blurb, I reached out to reconnect and Allan said, “Come on out.” Thanks to the kindness of a stranger who noticed me waiting for the wrong train, I made it to Allan’s studio where I made this short film. My filmmaking skills lack the refinement to do Allan justice, but the work speaks for itself. Allan does have a little of the “International Man of Mystery” to him. There is the hard-to-place accent, and the Spanish and French that punctuate his speech, but when the door of the studio opens, and you begin to take in the uniqueness of the place, you will undoubtedly understand that you are dealing with an artist. Here is my advice. Look at the commitment. Look at the prints and installations. Look at the books. Look at the process. Look at the curiosity.
We can learn a lot from Allan, and I hope you enjoy the fruits of our visit.
Comments 22
You did a great job with your film! Allan is fascinating as is his work. Just a glimpse of how he thinks is absolutely inspiring. I particularly liked what he had to say about remaining true to one’s own work. Not copying, imitating, etc. but doing the work that sparks the heart of what an artist wants to say, the story they have to tell. Thank you for sharing this!
Author
Yes, that’s the part that takes time that most people don’t want to bother with now. Someone just sent me another film about another NYC attempting to be Bruce Gilden.
Wonderful film, I need to get in touch with Allan and see if I can convince him to speak to me on the podcast. His long exposure technique is fascinating.
Author
You should. My guess is he will. Super nice guy.
Coming back after an initial look at Allan’s website and seeing his still life work with food. It is absolutely gorgeous. And I think a small part of it, as it’s his skill with the camera that makes the work, is that he is making photographs of real food. So much of food product in US grocery stores is rather abysmal. Especially the produce. The tomatoes taste like plastic and the aurugala has no flavor beyond peppery. My day-job boss has a farm. Well, he lives on a beautiful piece of land outside of town and he has a very large garden. You’d like him… he’s a master naturalist, certified in mushrooms (whatever the hell that means) and has treated the farm as his artistic palette. There are vignettes of interesting things all over the property, including a greenhouse built on the Earthship model, complete with wine bottle walls and beautiful stained glass windows that his partner made for the project. Anyway, he grows the most amazing food. He has turned the soil in his garden into black gold and the vegetables he grows taste as lovely as Allan’s photographs look.
Author
We are at the point where we are growing vegetables with no nutritional value and no mineral content.
Wow, what an artist. His images are beautiful, so rich in detail and texture. Inspiring, thanks for this enjoyable video.
Author
Glad you enjoy.
Right at the start he says that he often shoots at f32 to “get everything sharp”. That in itself I find refreshing. No bokeh gimmicks.
Also, I’ve noticed that about 80% or so of the photographers that I enjoy nowadays are still using film like him. Just an observation – I have no idea what it means. Maybe the slower process makes you think more?
Author
Not sure. I just judged a contest and so many artists led with “I’m a film photographer,” but didn’t have the goods to back it up. Film was, at least in some ways, holding them back. So much so, I wrote a blog post about it.
What a wonderful “cabinet of curiosities” office/studio he has. His work is beautiful, and I love the matte look of the book. It suits the depth, richness, and old masters look of his photos perfectly. This is very inspiring. It also makes me want to get back to doing some still life photos.
Author
Ha, that’s a good way of putting it! His studio is SO great.
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Author
Got it!
What a brilliant movie! I specifically loved the line “I make objects, not images. ” I also really like the fact that his studio, which looks a lot like my studio, does not look anything at all like what you see on the YouTube “pundit” channels. PS the zine which I promised you by mail is currently in the queue to be printed. / d
Author
Yes, objects. Just what collectors want too.
I don’t know what it is, but I love matte style pages. His attention to details are so cool. I have studio envy, now. He seems like a nice guy as well. I’m a sucker for textures.
Author
Proline Eggshell……
Incredible photographer, beautiful work, thank you for sharing his work and creativity. I enjoyed how he spoke about having different chapters in his creative life, and I loved how for his photography he uses digital camera to sketch the scene before bringing in the big guns!
Author
I think the chapters thing is key. And keeps one fresh.
I really enjoyed this. Thanks.
Author
Glad you like.