We are excited to host a series of Zoom Reviews with top Industry and Academic Professionals. Critical review as our seniors present their year-long projects and embark into the professional workspace.
Reviews by Industry and Academic Professionals:
Aline Smithson - Founder/Editor at Lenscratch, Visual Artist, Educator, Curator - Los Angeles
Eliot Crowley - Photographer, Educator - Santa Barbara, CA
Justine Barnes - Freelance Senior Producer - Portland, OR
Karen Williams - Stills Curation Specialist, Netflix - Los Angeles, CA
Kathryn Roach - Photo Editor, The New York Times - New York, NY
Kim Harkins - Former Director of Media Arts, Art Institute of California - Orange County
Marianne Lee - Project Manager, Wonderful Machine - Tiverton, RI
Steph Cinelli Celaya - Senior Photo Agent, ViV MGMT - New York, NY
Tim Kothlow - Freelance Photo Editor, NFL - Mission Viejo, CA
Tony Pinto - Creative Director/Art Director - Anaheim, CA
Thankful to these professionals for offering their precious time to the Program and the next generation of Photographic Professionals.
Aline Smithson is an interdisciplinary artist, filmmaker, educator, and editor based in Los Angeles, California. Her practice examines the archetypal foundations of the creative impulse and she uses humor and pathos to explore the performative potential of photography. She received a BA in art from the University of California at Santa Barbara and was accepted into the College of Creative Studies, studying under artists such as William Wegman, Allen Ruppersburg, and Charles Garabian. After a decade-long career as a New York Fashion Editor, Smithson returned to Los Angeles and to her own artistic practice.
In 2007, Smithson founded LENSCRATCH, a photography journal that celebrates a different contemporary photographer each day. She has been the Gallery Editor for Light Leaks Magazine, a contributing writer for Diffusion, Don’t Take Pictures, Lucida, and F Stop Magazines, has written book reviews for photo-eye, and has provided the forewords for artist’s books by Tom Chambers, Meg Griffiths, Flash Forward 12, Robert Rutoed, Nancy Baron, among others. Smithson has curated and jurored exhibitions for a number of galleries, organizations, and on-line magazines, including Review Santa Fe, Critical Mass, Flash Forward, and the Griffin Museum. In addition, she is a reviewer and educator at many photo festivals across the United States. Smithson has been teaching at the Los Angeles Center of Photography since 2001and also teaches at a variety of institutions such as ICP, SFW, MMW, and others.
Eliot Crowley journey in photography began during his childhood, capturing moments of friends surfing in the waves of Southern California and selling prints to them. His artistic path led him to his first One-Man-Show at a prestigious Beverly Hills Gallery in 2005. Following this success, Eliot was invited to join the faculty at the renowned Brooks Institute of Photography in his hometown of Santa Barbara.
Driven by a relentless pursuit of mastery, Eliot pursued a Master’s of Fine Arts Degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, graduating Cum Laude in 2009. Blurring the lines between storytelling and photographic art, Eliot meticulously crafts his images through a blend of talent direction and enhancing production value. His works possess a haunting quality, lingering in the viewer's memory while inviting tactile exploration with the eyes and imagination.
Reflecting on his craft, Eliot muses on the unique ability of photography to mimic reality, distinguishing it from all other art forms. He sees photography as a swift and potent means of creating a "quotation from reality," akin to a powerful, out-of-context phrase. The art of framing in photography, Eliot believes, holds immense power—deciding what to include and what to omit, thereby imbuing images with visual clues and symbolic meaning.
For Eliot Crowley, it is the inherent quality of this "quotation" that imbues a photograph with its true value, encapsulating moments frozen in time, waiting to be interpreted and cherished by those who encounter them.
Justine Barnes is a creative force with a wealth of experiences that color her vibrant life. With a feline companion named Pippy who surprisingly plays fetch, Justine's love for the unexpected extends to her diverse interests. She grooves to the beats of reggae, finding solace and joy in the tunes of bands like Rebelution, Pacific Dub, and Iration.
Her adventures have taken her across the globe, spending five immersive months in Thailand where she delved into the world of underwater videography for a scuba diving shop. A passionate supporter of soccer, especially cheering on the Portland Thorns, Justine also finds delight in the simple pleasures of pizza, the great outdoors through hiking, and the laughter inspired by stand-up comedy.
In her creative pursuits, Justine boasts over 17 years of expertise in content production within advertising agencies. Specializing in video and art production, she thrives on bringing imaginative visions to fruition while navigating the complexities of budgets, schedules, and client needs. Building strong, collaborative relationships is her forte, earning recognition for her meticulous organizational skills and unwavering attention to detail.
With an infectious enthusiasm for her craft, Justine is ready to join forces with you to breathe life into innovative ideas. She eagerly anticipates the opportunity to create magic together!
Karen Williams is a freelance Photo Director, Producer, and Visual Storyteller with 10+ years’ experience at major media and brands. She has created and art-directed images for prime brands and media, including Square, Airbnb, AARP, MasterClass, Wired, and San Francisco Magazine. Having produced hundreds of photo shoots, spanning the entire creative process from securing talent to onsite logistics to post-production. A has stepped into leading photo departments and visual aesthetics, managing all collaborations with creative teams and photographers.
Kathryn Roach is an experienced photo editor in both editorial and commercial spaces. Her career began in San Francisco at award-winning ReadyMade Magazine - a pioneer of its kind and time in the publishing industry. Since, she has transitioned to New York - working for such publications as Dwell, Make, CNBC, and now the New York Times. She is a dedicated and creative collaborator with a deep well of contacts. Her passion lies as a visual storyteller, with a strong foundation in digital and print. Featuring excellence for design and adept at interpreting needs to create powerful visuals.
Kim Harkins, retired and formerly the Academic Director of Media Arts at the Art Institute of California - Orange County. And previously Program Director and Professor of Commercial Photography at Gwinnett Technical College. Kim continues to be an active member of the Society of Photographic Education - locally and nationally. Kim has been involved with higher education as a photo educator since 1976 - specializing in the history of photography. Restoring vintage and historic cameras is one of her favorite pastimes - having sold several collections over the years.
Marianne Lee has years of experience as a professional photographer with a strong sense of pride for her Midwest, Michigan heritage. She served as the National Board chair for the American Society of Media Photographers and volunteered for years in leadership. All of which led her to realize she would be happier helping photographers rather than being a photographer. Through ASMP Marianne has spent countless hours talking to photographers around the country and getting to know them and their stories. She has a firm belief that the work that photographers do is incredibly important to our culture and society. When she is not aiding photographers you can find Marianne raiding the family pantry for chocolate or riding around rugged scenery on her bike.
Steph Cinelli Celaya is the Senior Photo Agent at ViV MGMT, a seasoned Artist Representative and Creative Consultant with a rich history in the photography industry. With a keen eye for business development, Steph excels in all facets of photo shoot production, adeptly managing budgets, navigating licensing agreements, and skillfully negotiating terms. Additionally, her expertise extends to the fine art of photo editing, showcasing a comprehensive skill set that elevates her role in connecting artists with opportunities for creative expression.
Tim Kothlow is an outdoor adventure photographer whose images have been used all over the world by internationally recognized brands and publications. With an indirect approach to shooting and a calm demeanor, Tim is able to sit back and make photographs as natural moments unfold with his subjects. Using an indirect approach allows the subject to be at ease while providing the most natural story to photograph.
In recent years, Tim has expanded beyond making images into the world of photo editing. Now besides telling stories through his own images - he works with other photographers to help tell the best stories with theirs. With some experience in photo editing for his university’s student-produced magazine and interning in the photo department of Surfer Magazine, Tim made the jump and began working with a picture news agency known as ZUMA Press. While working at ZUMA, Tim worked with a number of world-renowned image-makers in both breaking news and long-form storytelling capacities. A short time later, a photo editing position opened up with the NFL and Tim landed there for 5 seasons. During his time at the NFL, he built up an extensive knowledge and skills base which has opened the door to work with many of the biggest sports teams and leagues around the country.
Currently based in Mission Viejo, CA, Tim is balancing the freelance photography + photo editing life. When he isn’t collaborating on photo assignments, you can find Tim bodysurfing waves throughout Orange County, on a boat somewhere, or exploring the underwater world.
Tony Pinto is an award-winning professional designer and art director, collaborating with prestigious clients such as Disney, Edison, Cedars/Sinai, and Kaiser Permanente. In recent years, Tony's focus has shifted towards crafting compelling books for art museums, galleries, and individual artists. Serving as both designer and producer, Tony oversees every aspect of book creation, from cover design to content curation, infusing his passion for books and design into every project.
Beyond his prowess in book design, Tony is also a skilled photographer, specializing in capturing the essence of artists through portraiture. His dedication to the creative community extends to his involvement with AIGA, where he has been a longstanding member and served on the board of the local chapter.
As a multifaceted artist, Tony's repertoire spans painting, drawing, photography, and screen printing, with his works frequently exhibited in galleries. His creative interests are wide-ranging, encompassing literature, photography, illustration, design, architecture, cinema, underground comics, and music, particularly drawn to the vibrant scenes of punk, new wave, and no wave from the 70s and 80s in New York.
During weekends, Tony immerses himself in the thriving art scene of Los Angeles, attending art openings and engaging with the vibrant creative community that fuels his passion and inspiration.