Visit to the Annenberg Space for Photography
After having read so much about this new photography exhibition space, I just had to pay a visit while I was in L.A.
Yes, ladies and gents, I’ve been back in Singapore for a week, and even started a new job. So much happened in my three weeks in the U.S. – a non-stop barrage to visit as many new locales as possible. On one of those legs — Los Angeles — I rode the public bus for 40 minutes to get to this place you see above: The Annenberg Space for Photography.
I was first acquainted with this exhibit space almost two years ago, while I was still a student at Columbia’s journalism school and getting my first high on photojournalism. The Space was branded as exclusive in its presentation and lofty in its vision. This was a place dedicated for the kings of photography, and not just a community museum looking to add another section to its many departments.
But when I got there (and got lost finding it), what struck me was its diminutive size. It really isn’t a museum because even the smallest I’ve seen is a giant compared to the Space. At about the size of two basketball courts put together, there was only room for one exhibit — a multimedia treatment of National Geographic’s recent special issue on water. Photos in that issue were enlarged and hung on walls. Okay, nothing special. The glory came in the Space’s cinematic-style amphitheater, which sat about 20, that projected those images in such vividness that I swore it was more detailed than high-definition.
Apart from a few shelves of classic books on photography, that was pretty much it. I spent a little more than an hour watching photographers’ video clips, flipping books, and admiring wall prints.
There were certain signs that the Space wanted to be more than a little alley with a few hanging prints. A couple of those Microsoft Surface computers allowed visitors to browse the digital files. It was my first experience with this next-generation device, though now that I think of it, it’s really like a giant iPad. I wasn’t allowed to take photos within premises (how ironic), but I did snap off a secret shot in the restroom. When you find an LCD screen on the restroom mirror, you know you’re not in Kanses anymore:
While not completely blown away, I’m proud to say I’ve visited the Space. In time, it could grow to become a household name in the U.S. It’s an impressive showcase, and a must-visit for the serious photographer/photojournalist.
