I have updated my portfolio and am proud to declare myself just as 'risky' and 'untested' as Barack Obama, but instead like....for photography. I suppose I prefer those labels over 'unispired' and 'stale.'
Here's the new bio, which can be found at the new address for my advertising portfolio:
http://portfolio.tobinrussell.com
BIO
Tobin Russell Brogunier
Tobin comes from New York City by way of Oberlin, Ohio and San Francisco, California. He was born in Maine, where he learned to respect people for the value of their character.
After a couple of published articles inspired an unnamed Los Angeles ad agency to launch a national campaign for Nissan trucks, it became clear that, although his work was good enough to be ripped off, his ability to broadcast his work over the din of NYC trustafarians was limited. Tobin researched his options. Because Minneapolis has a young, savvy agency demographic and a lively dialogue with 'middle America,' Tobin decided this would be the right place to launch his advertising career.
He goes by Tobin Russell. If you want to use the French surname, please pronounce it 'bro-gun-yay.'
Tobin's photography is challenging because it relies on context. It's an ambitious blend of irony, humanity and beauty. While individual images can be very compelling, what is truly compelling are the stories he is telling and how he is telling them: Stories about fundamental and universal human themes. Stories about consequence, experience and achievement. Stories about adversity, about community, and about perseverance.
While America offers tremendous opportunity, for many Americans life is a celebration of triumph over many great challenges. Tobin's work is about being fully, 100% American even when the story is not the myth of an effortless lifestyle America has sold the world.
Tobin's stories find something beyond islands of individual achievement and attainment of fantasy lifestyle. His photography offers a context, a world, a breathing community of contrast, interaction, inspired by the bravery of everyday heroes. Without this story, America doesn't work; with this story, America joins the world.
As Robert Weider is quoted in a DDB blog entry, "Anyone can look for fashion in a boutique or history in a museum. The creative person looks for history in the hardware store and fashion in an airport."