26 episodes

An exploration of visual storytelling

Frame & Sequence Podcast Todd Ritondaro

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 23 Ratings

An exploration of visual storytelling

    ep. 26 Norm Clasen - Part 1

    ep. 26 Norm Clasen - Part 1

    The Marlboro Man campaign, conceived by Leo Burnett and photographed by Norm Clasen, is arguably the most iconic ad campaign every photographed. 
    Norm's stunning iconic photography was some of my first impressions of the American West when I was young, as it was seen in just about every magazine published in the 1980’s and billboards across the US.
    His incredible sense of story, combined with his acute eye for finding great light even in the harshest of conditions, is truly inspiring.
    Norm was kind enough to sit down with me to share his stories and techniques.  I hope you enjoy this episode!
    Norm Clasen (b.1939) was born and raised in Southern California. An avid outdoorsman from an early age, Clasen's passion for photography grew from his love of the natural world. After attending the University of Colorado, Norm moved to Aspen in 1962, where he founded and ran an independent advertising agency. 
    In 1978, a series of coincidences led to Clasen being invited to shoot for Marlboro.  The campaign was a natural fit, drawing on his intrinsic understanding of horses and the cowboy way of life. Clasen would go on to spend the next thirteen years of his life as a principal photographer for the campaign. 
    Clasen’s authentic point of view helped guide the campaign to its zenith, with his work appearing in newspapers, magazines, and billboards across the world; helping shape a visual lexicon integral to the iconography of the American West.
    Norm Clasen lives and works in Carbondale, Colorado.
    Find Norm's work at his website:  https://normclasen.com/
    And his Instagram @normclasenarchive
    Find me on Instagram @toddritondaro
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    • 48 min
    ep. 25 Dewey Nicks

    ep. 25 Dewey Nicks

    Frame & Sequence Ep. 25 - Dewey Nicks 
    Dewey Nicks is one of the great fashion photographers from the glory days of legacy publishing and the height of the super model age.  He has photographed some of the biggest names in fashion and in Hollywood.  He is also an accomplished commercial and film director.
    In this episode we talk about his education and early influences in photography.  His career in fashion and editorial photography.  And he shares some great stories about working with some of the top models in the 1990’s as well as some of the incredible art directors and stylists. We also talk a bit about his personal style and aesthetics and much more.  Enjoy!
    Find Dewey on Instagram @deweynicks
    And his book, Polaroids of Women on Amazon
    Dewey Nicks was born in St. Louis, the gateway to the West, as the son of an advertising man. During family vacations to Hollywood as a child, he became intoxicated with its glamour and eccentricity. His love of fine arts finally drew him to California to study photography at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
    Since 1986, he has been working as a professional fashion and commercial photographer. His talent, combined with a deep well of enthusiasm, has landed his work in magazines such as Vogue, W, and GQ among many others. He has also created classic advertising images for clients including Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, and Polo.
    In 1995, Nicks added Commercial Direction to his resume. An Ameritrade spot in 1999 garnered him the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Award for “The World’s Funniest Commercial.” That same year he became a Director’s Guild nominee for outstanding directorial achievement in television commercials.
    His reputation as a top fashion photographer and skilled commercial director have made him uniquely qualified to shoot both print and television spots for clients such as Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Quiksilver, and Unionbay.
    In 2000 Greybull Press published Kustom, Nicks’ first book of photographs inspired by the very ideals and unique expression that originally attracted him to California.
    Constantly looking to broaden his horizons, Nicks moved into filmmaking. His documentary short Hell House premiered at Slamdance and had its New York debut at the Museum of Modern Art. In 2002 he directed his first feature film, Slackers starring Jason Schwartzman, James King, Devon Sawa, and Laura Prepon.
    Versatile and talented, Dewey Nicks will be shaping popular culture for years to come. Grounded by his mid-western roots, Nicks’ body of work combines an authentic visual sense with a great knowledge of the arts to convey his pragmatic understanding of the zeitgeist of contemporary America.
     
    Find me on Instagram @toddritondaro
    Join the Frame and Sequence Substack newsletter for more podcasts and semi regular newsletter exploring photography, cinema, art, and travel.  

    • 1 hr 10 min
    ep. 24 Jamie Beck

    ep. 24 Jamie Beck

    Hello and welcome to Frame and Sequence episode 24 with Jamie Beck!  
    Last October I had the opportunity to spend a glorious fall day in Provence with Jamie and she was kind enough to share with me a glimpse of the romantic life she has created there.
    I’ve admired Jamie’s photography for a very long time and have always been inspired by her creativity and approach to life. Not to mention her prolific output of work.
    After a beautiful lunch outside at Bastide de Marie, with her husband Kevin and daughter Eloise, she invited me back to her studio where we opened some champagne and talked all things photography.
    In this episode we talk about her early start in photography, her early days in NYC as a fashion photographer and running her own photo studio, her move to Provence, her approach to her personal work and creative life, life in Provence, and much, much more.
    This conversation really inspired me to dig deeper into my own work and I hope you enjoy!!
    And for some additional questions with Jamie, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to my Substack newsletter. 
    A bit about Jamie:
    Jamie Beck took her first photograph at the age of thirteen and soon after began earning her living as a professional photographer.
    By twenty-eight, she opened her own commercial photographic studio in lower Manhattan. Jamie has shot campaigns and editorials for some of the world’s most famous brands, including Chanel, Donna Karan, Nike, Oscar de la Renta, Google, Samsung, and Microsoft. Her work has appeared under the mastheads of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, on Netflix, and in digital ad displays for Disney. She has been commissioned by luxury brands such as Chopard, Cartier, and Volvo and has twice been named by Adweek magazine as one of the industry’s top 100 creatives, with numerous features written about her body of work in Communication Arts, WWD, and Time.
    With her camera never leaving her side, Jamie has spent almost twenty-five years traveling the world, one photographic frame at a time. In 2016, she took what was to be a one-year sabbatical to create a personal body of work in the South of France, which changed the entire course of her life, one that blossomed into a career as an art photographer and delivered her a French-born baby girl named Eloise. Jamie lives in Provence with her husband and daughter. Follow her on Instagram @JamieBeck.co and her prints and other works can be found here jamiebeck.co
    And her upcoming book An American in Provence: Art, Life, and Photography is available for pre-order.

    • 1 hr 9 min
    ep.23 Robert LeBlanc

    ep.23 Robert LeBlanc

    Robert LeBlanc is a New Orleans based hotelier, restaurateur, and storyteller.
     
    I’ve always been fascinated with storytelling through food and hospitality experiences and Robert is one of the people who does it best.  His restaurants in New Orleans are some of my favorite culinary experiences in the world.  And his newly opened hotel, The Chloe, a renovated mansion on St. Charles Ave.in New Orleans, is truly a one of a kind place.  
     
    In this episode we talk about the important influences his family had on him growing up.   His early entrepreneurial adventures in the music industry and how music influences him creatively.  We talk about how and why he decided to make the leap to opening restaurants and eventually a hotel.  And how he approaches spaces and projects creatively, the importance of a good play list, and much, much, more.
     
    It was a real treat to spend some time talking with Robert on a rainy afternoon in New Orleans and I hope you enjoy this episode!
     
    Find Robert on Instagram @robertleblanc
    and
    The Chloe Nola - @thechloenola
    Sylvain - @sylvainneworleans
    Cavan - @cavannola
    Barrel Proof - @barrelproofnola
     

    • 47 min
    ep. 22 Tom Richards

    ep. 22 Tom Richards

    Originally from London, Tom Richards is the Assistant Director of The Florence Academy of Fine Art and Principle Advanced Painting Instructor.
    In recent years Tom has exhibited his work in London and undertaken numerous commissions in Europe and beyond.  
    This episode was recorded exactly a year ago in January of 2020 when I had the pleasure of visiting with Tom in his painting studio in Florence Italy. 
    In this episode we talk about what drew him to painting and fine art.  We talk about The Florence Academy’s approach to teaching drawing and painting, the importance of keeping a sketchbook, and the painters that inspire him.  We also talk about the parallels of painting and photography and how to hone one’s approach to seeing and much more.
    I’ve admired Tom’s work for a long time and his paintings truly are masterful and must really be seen in person to be fully appreciated.  It was a real treat to spend some time with him in Florence surrounded by his beautiful paintings and I hope you enjoy this episode!
    Find Tom on Instagram @tominflorence
    and 
    The Florence Academy of Fine Art
    @florenceacademyofart

    • 1 hr
    ep. 21 Renato D'Agostin

    ep. 21 Renato D'Agostin

    Renato D’Agostin is a photographer based on the the outskirts of Venice, Italy.
    I have admired Renato’s work for a very long time and I had the pleasure of meeting up with him last January at his beautiful warehouse studio and darkroom.   
    The first time I saw Renato’s work, it completely changed my perception and expectations of what photography could be and could do. 
    Dislocating subjects from their realities, he depicts his perception of the space around him, the relationship between the architecture and people, opening a new portal in the spectator’s imagination.
    His works have been exhibited in several exhibitions in Europe, the United States and Asia and published in numerous books.
    Renato shoots mainly black and white film and we talk about his photography and his approach to his work and the importance of the darkroom as an extension of his process.  
    We talk about his time living in New York City and assisting photographer Ralph Gibson and what drew him back to Venice.  We also discuss his approach to exhibiting his work and why he loves making books.  And we delve into how he thinks about projects and much, much more.  
    Renato is one of the most inspiring artists I have ever met and he shares so many gems in this episode.  I hope you enjoy!
    Find Renato on his Instagram @renatodagostin
    and his website
    https://www.renatodagostin.com

    • 1 hr 17 min

Customer Reviews

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23 Ratings

23 Ratings

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