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Luke Townsend-Photographer

Name: Luke Townsend-Photographer
Address: Manhattan, NY, 66502, US
Telephone: +17853414161
Rating: 4.8

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Luke Townsend-Photographer

Luke Townsend is a photographer and artist based in the Midwest. Represented by ZUMA Press

12/05/2024

The state of the union is getting pretty fu**ed lately. Greed, anger, hatred, fear, and all sorts of horrible mental qualities are rising, and a whole lot of really amazing humans, who are already subject to receiving those negative qualities from others, are about to have it all multiplied over the coming years. These things fuel stress, fear, sadness, anxiety, ptsd, and all the things that destroy our mental and physical health.

It’s an exhausting loop that never seems to end.

I made this calligraphy artwork as a reminder to give yourself permission to simply breathe…

…exhale
…let it all out

and then simply relax in the nature of mind.

You don’t have to be some realized yogi, deep in a dzogchen retreat to practice the act of resting.

Just a few minutes is all it takes.
Give yourself some grace.

༆ Tibetan Umed Script Study

དབུགས་བཏང་།
སེམས་ཉིད་ངལ་གསོ།

Breathe (exhale)
Relax in the Nature of Mind

11x14”
Carbon and Sumi ink on Canson Aquarelle cp
Multiple editions available

12/01/2024

If you believe the streets will provide, they usually do.

Macy’s 98th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade
New York City, 2024

11/11/2024

Last month I was able to offer my first Tibetan calligraphy t-shirt to my teacher, , upon meeting in the remote hills of Provence, France.

Graciously accepting this gift, lama changed into this t-shirt without hesitation. Theres a real special honor in seeing your teacher, one of the foremost Dharma artists and Tibetan calligraphers, proudly wear your work on the first day of HIS calligraphy retreat!

Lama was in conversation with another student as I walked by on my way to brew a cup of tea, and naturally I had to make a picture, so I sat down on a stone and captured this portrait in the blotted sunlight poking through the trees.

When I was commissioned to create this artwork for I had no idea the support would spread across oceans, with shirts being worn in the UK, France, and soon I’ll be shipping two more to Korea!

To my MHK folks…during the “From the Ashes” print conference downtown art market, I teamed up with True Colours again and we were able to raise an extra $185 for the organization, all thanks to your support!!!

There are more shirts available, with all proceeds going to ! If you have the means, please consider supporting this wonderful organization which will become even more of a vital resource for so many during this shift in American politics.

It’s way too easy to be caught up in hatred, and it’s too great of a burden to bear. Love however, is the only cause of happiness!

Much love to for their ‘two thumbs up’ screen printing, Ash crushed it on that coloured heart background, and for your continuous support!

10/08/2024

A cheers for The Grateful Dudes

Auntie’s Mae’s Parlor | MidFest

09/24/2024

colourbend your reality
embrace the limitless

zeandale, ks, 2024

08/17/2024

Blessing | བྱིན་རླབས་

Twelve years ago I asked a lama for a blessing with a mala I had. After a good chuckle he proceeded in fulfilling my request. Returning the mala, he asked if I knew the real meaning of blessing. I certainly wasn’t confident to trust my own mind and assumed it to be a trick question. I had no answer, lol.

Now commonplace, blessing is seen in language throughout the world. We seek the blessings of religious figures, gods, ancestors, the universe, etc. When good things happen to us we say it’s a blessing…but what is the real meaning of blessing?�
Composed of two words:

བྱིན (Jin)- Synonymous with strength, power, force, capacity/or capability.

རླབས (Lab) - The action of transforming or effectively creating positive inner change, and can also mean the resultant form: the transformation, the positive change itself.

Sabchu Rinpoche explains the synthesized meanings:

- The force which brings about out positive changes from within.
- The power that causes positive, inner transformation
- That which gives rise to the innate capabilities to use effective change in ones self.

Rinpoche describes that instead of the idea of some outside “force” coming from an external source/person, touching someone inside, the closer meaning of the word ‘blessing’ is that “force” which emerges from inside of oneself in the form of positive change.

Perhaps, an external source such as a place/object/person could be a catalyst/spark/‘kick-starter.’ Perhaps one’s own trust toward the source could contribute toward the occurrence of jin lab.

The ultimate attribution is that blessing is the cause of inner, positive changes.

In this developed a deep importance and meaning behind the word and when I choose to use it. It showed me an indescribable preciousness within the people/things in my own life that have been catalysts for positive change. I can’t think of a greater act of compassion. I got quite the chuckle in thinking back to that moment with the mala came full circle.

In working through the composition, this particular arrangement appeared similar to a stupa, of which its shape symbolizes the perfect enlightened mind. Its shape diffuses the forces of chaos and negativity and moves the human mind towards enlightenment.

Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche explained that 'blessing' is the recognition of the nature of mind. We all have beginning-less non-dual nature, and when we see that - that - is blessing.

How that all seemed to come together without that plan in this way is quite remarkable!

08/12/2024

Dee Radkey warming up in that magical afternoon sunlight before headlining the last Arts in the Park on July 26,2024.

Slowly working through all the images and events from the last two months, from multiple Arts in the Park, Nirvana Hope, Eddy Green, Matt Wade/Dane Meloan, and more Pride in the Parlor Horse Gurl Summer!

08/06/2024

In the night,
seeing Orville as I walk on by,
it’s enough to make a young man ——

Pride in the Parlor - Horse Gurl Summer
| July 2023

08/06/2024

Ray, aka: Cowboy Killa, lost in the sauce during Pride in the Pink Pony Parlor at

(Image made at this exact moment of ‘s song.)

Thanks for a helluva night!
More tk…..

05/07/2024

2024.05.01
Manhattan, ks

‘Free Free Palestine’

Pro-Palestine protestors face off a line of afternoon traffic at the corner of Bluemont & N. Manhattan Avenue last Wednesday.

Organized by the K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, many students, and community members marched across the campus of Kansas State University in calling for an academic boycott, and for KSU to divest from all research grants, investments, and partnerships with Israel.

©️Luke Townsend / ZUMA Press

05/05/2024

024.05.01
Manhattan, ks

‘Ag School Profits from Ecocide’

Protesters marched through the lawn of Anderson Hall at Kansas State University on Wednesday. Anderson Hall was the former home of the Agriculture College and now houses the Office of the President.

Organized by the K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, many students and community members are calling for an academic boycott, and for Kansas State University to divest from all research grants, investments, and partnerships with Israel.

The K-State YDSA has demanded in an open letter to K-State President Richard Linton, to “step down from your role within the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD). Your continued involvement with BARD contradicts our schools values of agriculture, as Israel commits ecocide by destroying Palestinian crops and soil.”

©️Luke Townsend / ZUMA Press

05/04/2024

024.05.01
Manhattan, ks

‘Free Palestine’

Palestinian flags were raised on the lawn of Anderson Hall at Kansas State University on Wednesday as students and community members gathered to protest not only the genocide of the Palestinian people, but K-States continued financial and academic investments with Israel.

One of the Universities oldest buildings, Anderson Hall houses the Office of the President, and in an open letter to KSU President, Richard Linton, the KSYDS said that “our association with any organization that supports forces implicated in human rights abuses is contradictory to the values of our academic community.”

Organized by the K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, many students and community members are calling for an academic boycott, and for Kansas State University to divest from all research grants, investments, and partnerships with Israel.

©️Luke Townsend / ZUMA Press

05/04/2024

2024.05.01
Manhattan, ks

Scene from Wednesday’s protest for Palestine at the corner of Bluemont & N. Manhattan Avenue.

Organized by the K-State Young Democratic Socialists of America, many students, and community members marched across the campus of Kansas State University in calling for an academic boycott, and for KSU to divest from all research grants, investments, and partnerships with Israel.

©️Luke Townsend / ZUMA Press

04/27/2024

After a long & chilly 420 morning frolicking through the central meadows of Manhattan, I nestled down between the cushioned leather folds in the shoe of a local giant with high hopes of dozing out into a cozy, peaceful afternoons nap.

Midway through this unconscious journey down the rabbit hole of my mind, the croaking of a few local pond frogs lured me out of my deep sleep, which on any normal occasion might have been cause to indulge in a tasty treat of crispy frog legs.

Approaching the pond I felt the rumble of the frogs croaking shake the earth beneath my feet, and peering through the rods of marine fauna, I saw before me a creature of only legends lore! The creature, draped in a shiny purple cloak, indulging in the rare nectars of vanilla and lavender, could be none other than the Frog Wizard himself. In the sight of such rare magnificence, I let out a wallow of gasp!

Startled, the Frog Wizard leapt from his lilly, disappearing into the fading light of the marsh. Curious to catch another glimpse of the legendary Frog Wizard, I followed a trail of nectar drops down an old alley where hundreds of locals were carousing about.

Taking a swig, I was reminded of a place I once knew. Someplace warm. A place where the nectar flows like wine. Where beautiful people instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano.

Climbing to the top of a buildings roof I sat down next to the Frog Wizard, and as we gazed upon the performances below, I realized in that moment this could only be one thing…

…FROG WIZARD FEST!!!!

and sure do know how to throw one helluva party! I’m so glad I could be there to make photographs of this legendary festival!

Although I was only there for the last two bands, and rocked downtown Manhattan harder than I’ve ever seen!

This is the Manhattan that makes me happy!

more pix tk…

04/22/2024

420 was one helluva high this year and I can’t even express how grateful I am for this rad human, for the insane amount of support, trust, and belief she’s shown to me and my work!
Thank you 🙏

I couldn’t be happier to design this artwork for and seeing so many wearing these t shirts during was insanely heart warming! When I suggested making an artwork of Tibetan calligraphy, I never expected Katie to run with it so unobjectively, and I couldn’t be more proud to have this message of ‘Love’ highlighted and spread through this beautiful language!

Thank you so so much to everyone who purchased a shirt with the compassionate intention of supporting such a wonderful and needed organization in Manhattan.

Much love also to Dane, Ash, and Sarah at for their continued artistic collab and ex*****on of the weird s**t in my head for that beautiful coloured heart background…and for their masterful screen printing!

Remember……

“Love Is The Only Cause Of Happiness”
བདེ་བའི་རྒྱུ་གཙོ་བོ་ནི་བྱམས་བརྩེ་ཡིན།

04/15/2024

Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethaaah today. Mawwage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam wifin a dream!

My first wedding where I wasn’t “working” but that didn’t stop me from sneaking some pix!

So so glad I got to be there on your day with the best families ever!
James & Taylor, love y’all infinitely and way to throw a banger of a party!

04/10/2024

བརྩེ་བ། བདེ་བའི་རྒྱུ་གཙོ་བོ་ནི་བྱམས་བརྩེ་ཡིན།
LOVE - Love is the Only Cause of Happiness

I never thought that when I was summoned to the house that would ask me to create the design for the 2024 TC t shirt to be released on 4/20 during Little Apple Pride!

My career in the arts has been in photography, and so being asked to create a design for an organization was insanely anxiety inducing, and also quite rare to be given carte blanche on a project - the level of trust that accompanies such freedom - well, the pressure was on!

I wanted a main piece to the design uniting around a central concept, a concept that fully embodies the values of TC and the positive impact they have on our community; LOVE

Having played around with this word stacking design as a gift for two of the most deserving people ever, .faithh , I expanded upon that for this piece. There’s a script style in Tibetan, called Khyug, that allows for a much more open expressiveness to the writing, to which I composed the Tibetan word for ‘Love’ - ‘བརྩེ་བ’ to mimic the shape of a heart. It needed another element, a sort of ‘anchor’ for the calligraphy to set upon, something colourful and attractive to the eye.

I was so happy to hear that will be printing these shirts! Knowing that they also happen to be some of the dopest artists to collaborate with, and that I would try and do something that I clearly can’t execute, I sent Ash the most horrid first draft concept ever, just a sloppy heart shaped mess of terribly mixed colours. It was bad. This is the genius of Ash! They took my concept and crushed it, creating this wicked rad, digital mixed paint “splashes,” I don’t know what you even call them. A perfect match of vision and ex*****on! If you’re not following Ash or Dane then you’re really missing out on happiness, it’s that simple.

Lastly, I chose to incorporate a line of text that ties back to the artwork I did for last year’s TC Auction which sums up the entire concept. That line reads: “Love is the Only Cause of Happiness.”

Thank you all so so much for your support and trust to create this year’s shirt!

04/09/2024

Solar shadows

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Manhattan, NY
66502

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17853414161

Website

http://www.luketownsendphoto.com/, http://www.luketownsendprints.com/

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Like most kids, I aways dreamed of being an artist. From age 11, to age 16 halfway through my Junior year in High School I signed up for every single art elective class I could. I never got into a single art class. I watched as other kids made the cut simply for an easy ‘A,’ while I hoped, more than anything, I could be in one of those classes. It wasn’t until halfway through my Junior year in HS that the photo teacher gave me a chance. That one chance led me to NYC where I worked with photographers at the top of their game. It was the best ride ever, the greatest way to learn and hone your skills, but I still felt like a technician for someone else’s vision. I called myself a photographer, but never an artist. From that early age, our school system pushed into my mentality that I am NOT an artist, and it has stuck with me ever since. To call myself an artist felt wrong, like a huge lie that would be found out. It is loney and discouraging, never feeling like you can be/show who you are, or that the work you do will be appreciated and resonate with people. It wasn’t until I embraced the one thing that changed it all…the community around me. When I began to lean into my friends, whose energy and love is so strong and pure, it was like a key had opened a door that had been shut for decades. True friends will push you further than you ever thought, and will be a safe outlet to grow into who you were meant to be, free of judgement, manipulation, games, and false support. Those people can save lives, and can show you life you never thought possible. I could never have imagined that another business would want to feature ME, let alone my work as a guest artist collaboration….and now it’s on T-shirts, y’all!!! For the ENTIRE month of February, @switchwicked is taking pre-orders of my Kansas Morel shirt, and every order is a chance to win an original Morel Cyanotype Print! The Morel embodies the interwoven connections of community and f

A quick Christmas Eve studio visit to see how this 8x10” cyanotype print of my Rosencutter Oak turned out! @leicacamerausa @cyanomasters #cyanotypeprint #kansas #oakleaf

Luke Townsend-Photographer

12/05/2024

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11/11/2024

10/08/2024

09/24/2024

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05/07/2024

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04/27/2024

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