It’s near enough to 45 years since the death of Rahsaan Roland Kirk1 that Bad Crow Review World Headquarters is awash in his music. We’re listening this moment to his final album, “Boogie-Woogie String Along For Real,” which is just glorious, and which he recorded and released less than two years after suffering a major stroke that left him partially paralyzed, and less than a year before a second stroke did him in. He died a young man, from where we’re standing; he’s been gone now longer than he was alive.
We’ve been neglecting the photography aspect of the newsletter, other than stapling our own work to the top of it, and today is meant to remedy that.
Press outlets often publish collections of work from their own and other photographers during the week. Here’s Reuters with what they describe as the “oddest photos of the week,”2 which are more offbeat than odd except for one or two. The giant floating bath duckie—that might be odd.
The Guardian’s photo collections are routinely excellent. Here’s one of the great British documentary photographer Chris Killip;3 and here’s one celebrating the work of their late photography chief, Eamonn McCabe.4 Our favorite recurring Guardian collection is the week in wildlife.5
We’re not sure how they managed it, but the Guardian has next year’s Paris Fashion Week on film.67
Gordon Parks ranks among the great American photographers. The National Gallery of Art has a small selection of his work,8 an expanded version of which is also available on Pinterest9 (annoying free registration if you don’t have it), and a downloadable powerpoint presentation,10 which should allow you to view the photos without the program.
Joel Meyerowitz is as responsible as anyone for the use of color film in street photography, although he also shot in black & white. His best-known and most stolen photo is this one,11 posted on Twitter by Meyerowitz himself. His gallery has a small selection of his works for viewing,12 and his web site a larger one.13
Gambol gaily through the links at the end: you’ll be edified, gratified and satisfied.
We’ll leave you with some Bad Crow creature shots.
Well not sing, exactly.
Cat grew up and turned into a terrorist.
We come in peace; we leave in pieces.
A photo in the impressionist manner of the creature formerly known to us as the hunch-necked stabby beak bird.
Immortalized now.
That’s all we got, comrades. On behalf of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, the creatures, and our lonely selves: take care, be well.
Paris Fashion Week is probably not on film, mostly.