The Other City: Thom Bennett
December 2, 2019 – February 1, 2020
Author Night: Tuesday, Jan 14, 6:30pm

“The Other City” is a suite of black & white photographs inspired by the book, “Run, Baby, Run” by Michael Allen Zell. The characters of this gritty, noir crime novel move through a New Orleans only locals know, which Zell has dubbed, The Other City. Thom Bennett has utilized his 100-year-old 7″x17″ Korona panorama camera to explore this city – the crumbling buildings; underneath the bridges; beside the railroad tracks – to discover the backdrop of Zell’s characters. Though the photographs are unpopulated, the traces of the people who have recently left their marks here are evident in the tones and details of the silver chloride contact prints.

Author Night at the Hubbell Library on Tuesday, Jan 14, 2020 (6:30pm) will feature Michael Allen Zell reading from his book, “Run, Baby, Run,” and photographer Thom Bennett speaking about how the novel inspired and influenced this project. Copies of the “Run, Baby, Run,” will be available for sale. Free snacks, beer, and wine courtesy of the Library.

BIO
Thom Bennett is a New Orleans-based photographer deeply steeped in the classical traditions of the craft; his expertise is seen in his darkroom, lighting and camera techniques. Variously employing large format, vintage Polaroid, and toy film cameras, he brings to all a distinct, classic style harking back to the traditions of the 19th and 20th centuries of photography. Precise, direct compositions, clear, pure light, and evocative subjects become a timeless body of work. Thom is equally comfortable in the commercial realm and his work includes a long stint as a jewelry and art photographer for M.S. Rau Antiques, Boyd Satellite Gallery, and Michalopoulos Gallery, among others. His editorial photographs have been seen in multiple publications including New Orleans Magazine, BIZ Magazine, New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, Restaurateur, ByFaith, Homes & Land, Kingfish, and City Business. His fine art photographs have been exhibited throughout the Southeast, including the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans, WORKPLAY, Birmingham, AL; The University of Arkansas, Conway, AR; Delta State University, Cleveland, MS; The New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA., The Darkroom, New Orleans, LA, and The New Orleans Photo Alliance Gallery. He has conducted workshops in large format photography and vintage darkroom techniques in New Orleans at The Darkroom and in Mississippi with the Rebirth Workshops.

Image: Thom Bennett – One Way