Posts Tagged Foto8

Foto8 Summershow 2011 call for entries. Deadline extended to 31st May

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 | Author: Sojournposse Editor

There is still time to submit your work for to the fourth annual FOTO8 Summershow. The previous three Summershows were huge success, where emerging and established talents shared their works in one of London’s most awaited photo event.

foto8-summershow11

Let’s face it – it’s very hard to place the word “fun” next to photojournalism. Foto8 and HOST Gallery manage to do that. That’s why Sojournposse is a big fan.

A panel of judges will choose over 150 images to be displayed at HOST from 8 July – 12 August, where there will be an inspiring variety of framed and mounted images of all shapes and sizes, installed from floor to ceiling. All works included in the show will be available for sale. The print exhibition will kick-off with live music and a street festival taking over Honduras Street, EC1 on Friday 8 July.

A team of judges will choose their favourite photograph to be named “Best in Show”. This will be announced during the fourth week of the show and the winner will be awarded £2000.

We were there last year and we had great fun. We also got to know wonderful new photography talents. At the show the public were presented with social issues and unique stories from UK and around the world.

We look forward to see your work at Foto8 Summershow 2011.

For further information please see www.foto8.com/summershow or email summershow@foto8.com

Categories: Documentary Photography, Photo Galleries, Photography, Photojournalism, Storytelling, The Review | Tags: awards, Foto8, Foto8 Summershow, HOST Gallery, London | No Comments »

Love is a picture: Photography gifts for Valentine’s Day and beyond

Friday, February 11th, 2011 | Author: Sojournposse Editor

By Zarina Holmes

We ask five photography experts – HOST Gallery, Tate Modern, Diemar/Noble Photography Gallery, David White and Robert Gumpert – to suggest a special gift for a photography lover for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

A picture is worth a thousand words. So why not consider giving your beloved a special photography gift that doesn’t wilt, looks great forever and also collectible as an art investment.

Depending on quality, collectible photographs can range from thousands of pounds, down to £30. Take note of special talents at photography shows, ask a curator for advice and make an informed purchase at the gallery.

If the choices given are a bit overwhelming for you, just remember that the gift should be something that gives pleasure and of keepsake value. It is as simple as that.

We asked HOST Gallery, Tate Modern Gallery, Diemar/Noble Photography Gallery, David White (director of photography, duckrabbit) and prison photographer Robert Gumpert to recommend a special photograph or photobook as an ideal gift for Valentine’s Day and beyond. There is something for everyone’s taste.

Tender and everlasting

Anna Pfab of HOST Gallery recommends an everlasting image of a ‘Shoe Tree’ by Kate Peters: “I think this HOST Special Edition Print by Kate Peters would make a lovely gift for anyone interested in photography.”

'Shoe Tree, Middlegate'. Photo © Kate Peters

‘Shoe Tree, Middlegate‘ is from the ‘Pieces of a Song’ collection exhibited at HOST. Only 100 prints will be made and sold. Each special edition print comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by HOST.

For more selections, visit Foto8 online store.

Big, bang passion

If you want to convey burning passion, look no further. Curator Michael Diemar of Diemar/Noble Photography Gallery recommends the Lacoste Elyseé nominee work by Geoffrey H. Short. “As it happens, we have the perfect Valentine’s gift. An explosion shaped like a heart.” The work is currently being exhibited at the gallery until 12th March, 2011.

'towards another (big bang) theory’. Photo © Geoffrey H. Short

For enquiries contact Diemar/Noble Photography Gallery.

Modern poetry

Anna Ridley of the Tate Modern suggests a photobook by Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco: “I think the most recent book which would be fitting for this is our Gabriel Orozco book in the modern artists series. A lot of his work is photographic, not to mention poetic, so could be a nice suggestion for Valentine’s.”

'Gabriel Orozco'. Photos © Gabriel Orozco

The book’s description: “Where do we look to find art? Could it be human breath on the lid of a piano, its fleeting presence caught in a photograph? The tracks made by a bicycle riding through a puddle of water, round and round in a circle? An orange placed in an apartment window? Or a human skull, transformed by a hallucinatory, checkerboard pattern pencilled directly onto its surface?”

Visit the Tate Modern gallery shop or online store.

Home is where the heart is

Photographer David White (director of photography, duckrabbit) touches on love bigger than romance – the family. He said: “To be honest, I have never bought, or had bought for me, a photo or photo book for Valentine’s Day. However, I do have an image that epitomises love, in my opinion. I would say that though, as the picture shows my wife’s first view of our son, at 2 minutes old. Without our love for each other Louie would not exist, and he and Jane are the greatest things in my life.”

'Love at first sight'. Photo © David White

Sojournposse recommend White’s colourful ‘Fairground Attraction’ work, a tender story of a beautiful, old fashion British fairground.

To purchase a collectible print contact duckrabbit. Also check out The Hinterland photography workshop from 20th-25th May.

All is fair in love and war

Photographer Rubert Gumpert’s suggestions are perfect for the high-brow thinkers. He offers his photography inspirations as alternatives: Don McCullin, Lewis Hine, Phillip Jones-Griffith and August Sander. He said: “I am not much of a fan of what I call the ‘Neutron Bomb School of Photography’ that is so much a part of the scene now (photos of things with no people); but I do like both Alex Soth and Simon Norfolk.”

Robert Gumpert's list. Photos subject to photographers' copyright

His list of books and photographers, in no particular order:

Don McCullin – Is Anyone Taking Any Notice. (RG - Out of print I think).
Paolo Pellegrin – Kosovo 1999-2000: The Flight of Reason, As I Lay Dying.
Gilles Peress – Telex Iran, The Silence.
August Sander – People of the 20th Century.
Chris Killip – In Flagrante.
Phillip Jones-Griffith – Vietnam Inc., Dark Odyssey.
Leonard Freed – Black in White America, Police Work, Worldview.
Shomei Tomatsu – Nagasaki. (RG - Way out of print and expensive, wish I had!)
Ken Schles – Invisible City. (RG - Out of print, expensive and wish I had).

Robert Gumpert will be showing his prison photography work at HOST Gallery from 6th April – 6th of May, 2011.

A rose by a different name

For those who prefer Taschen style of fun-and-frolic, we suggest ‘Rose, c’est Paris‘, a box set monograph and feature-length DVD by French artists Bettina Rheims and Serge Bramly. It is described as: “A multi-layered opus of poetic symbolism, ‘Rose, c’est Paris‘ presents a city of surrealist visions, confused identities, obsession, fetish and seething desire.”

'Rose C'est Paris'. Photo © Bettina Rheims. Courtesy of Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont, Paris

Order online or visit Taschen flagship stores.

Categories: Culture Production, Design & Craft, Photo Galleries, Photography, The Review | Tags: Bettina Rheims, David White, Diemar/Noble Photography, duckrabbit, Foto8, Gabriel Orozco, HOST Gallery, Photobook, Robert Gumpert, Taschen, Tate Modern, Valentine's day | No Comments »

The Legacy of Oil is about our bad romance with oil economy

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 | Author: Zarina Holmes

BP and Shell weren’t getting any love from photojournalists, as evident at the launch of the 28th issue of the 8 magazine, The Legacy of Oil, at Host Gallery on 12 November.

Leading photojournalists, activists and writers including Ed Kashi, Christopher Anderson and John Vidal contributed to the biannually edition dedicated to investigating the impact of oil economy worldwide in today’s society.

The stories are successfully presented in a visually arresting journal despite the heavy subject.

8 Magazine "The Legacy of Oil". Front cover photo by Christian Lutz

Art and oil money is an awkward mix

At the same event, the watchdog of the oil industry, Platform, called for the art community to reassess the roles of oil companies as patrons within the art institutions.

“Oil companies are using art as social license to operate. They have been using many cultural institutions since the last 10 years to achieve this,” said Kevin Smith of Platform.

“The creative industry is important for them to gain social legitimacy. It leads to better access to the corridor of power, the lords and the ladies.”

Art is a currency used to encourage “silence” and acceptance of the horrific consequence of oil companies activities in faraway countries like Nigeria, Canada and the US.

The oil companies’ patronage role within the arts in the UK is becoming increasingly awkward since the Deep Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico this year. It led to a protest by artists at The Tate in June, as the gallery celebrated 20 years of BP’s art sponsorship.

Platform also pointed out that the Royal Bank of Scotland is instrumental in supporting the oil companies at the expense of the UK taxpayers.

oilegacy1

8 Magazine editor Lauren Heinz told Sojournposse: “The edition was put together at the height of the oil spill. We decided then to do a theme on oil. We don’t want to show gas flares because that’s been done so many times. We want to show what oil economy has done to our society instead.”

A photojournalist’s job is to change people’s perception

Swiss photographer Christian Lutz, who is currently represented by VU, shot the cover photo for The Legacy of Oil. It depicts oil expats enjoying a lavish New Year celebration at a yacht club in Lagos, Nigeria, with French champagne in their hands.

When I asked him why he cared about the Nigerian oil issues, he said: “I have feelings.”

Lutz had documented lifestyles related to the oil business in Nigeria on both sides – the oil expats and the local community affected by oil economy.

“I had $150 sushi dinner with the expats on one evening, and then ate dogs with the poor villagers the next day.

“The locals cannot fish anymore because the lakes are now poisonous. They have resorted to eating dogs. Life has a cheaper value there.”

According to Lutz, a photographer’s power can be limited in trying to change the situation. In order to strengthen the message, the images need to be dramatic.

“A sense of drama can create a powerful story. Photography is a pragmatic tool to educate.”

Photographer Christian Lutz

Lutz said that he received threats on this assignment. I related to him about my own experience being intimidated while teaching photojournalism at a country beset by political conflicts.

“Your job is to change their perceptions. You should tell them why they are wrong,” he said.

“Don’t forget Ken Saro-Wiwa”

Benjamin Amunwa from Platform is an active campaigner for the Ogoni tribe in Niger Delta. He also campaigns for RememberSaroWiwa.com. [Ed: On 8th December 2010, Amunwa was quoted on The Guardian's WikiLeaks exposé article on Shell's grip in Nigeria]

“The problem faced by the Ogonis in 1990s is still happening today. In fact, it has got worse,” said Amunwa.

“We should not forget about Ken Saro-Wiwa,” he said, referring to the execution of the Nigerian poet and activist, along with eight of his colleagues 15 years ago.

“Shell is complicit by supporting the Nigerian military. Million dollars of profit were made from oil in Nigeria but the population is still poor. They are left with poison drinking water and lands so polluted that the hunters cannot hunt anymore.”

In 2009, Shell was reported to have paid out $15.5 million in settlements relating to the involvement the company allegedly played in the killings.

Later, the guests were shown a photofilm of Louisiana fishing village affected by hurricane Katrina and The Gulf oil spill. Their options are reduced to working with the oil company or continue struggling with the fishing industry.

Ed Kashi's prolific work on Niger Delta "Curse of The Black Gold"

Looking at the evidence, it is almost certain that the destruction caused by the fossil fuel has almost reached the point of no return. The question now is how ready are we to wean ourselves off fossil fuel and reconsider our dependency on it.

8 Magazine’s The Legacy of Oil is available on sale at the Host Gallery, 1-5 Honduras Street, London EC1Y 0TH or online.

Further reads:

WikiLeaks cables (The Guardian, 8th Dec 2010): Shell’s grip on Nigerian state revealed
Petroleum industry in Nigeria (Wikipedia)
Artic Wildlife Refuge drilling in Alaska (Wikipedia)
Canadian Oil Sands (Wikipedia)
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Wikipedia)
Ed Kashi’s Niger Delta project

Categories: Photo Galleries, Photographers Spotlight, Photography, Photojournalism, Storytelling, The Review | Tags: Christian Luz, Ed Kashi, environment, Foto8, Ken Saro Wiwa, NGO, Platform, Print, VII, VU | 1 Comment »

Five Photography Books for Father’s Day: We ask top London galleries

Sunday, June 20th, 2010 | Author: Zarina Holmes

By Sojournposse Editors. 20 June 2010

Sojournposse got asked a lot by our audience about photography books to recommend as gifts. So we asked leading London photography galleries and publishers – Tate Modern, Trolley Gallery, Foto8 Host Gallery, The Photographers’ Gallery, The Prix Pictet and Royal Geographical Society – to suggest five great books as gifts for Father’s Day (A few suggested six, but they are good suggestions so we allow it).

We are happy to find that the lists apply all year round beyond Father’s Day. If you have your own top five, or think we miss out a really good book, please share with us on comments form below. Enjoy browsing.

The Tate Modern

The Tate Publishing team were first to respond with a great selection. If you haven’t yet, visit their current exhibition Exposed: Voyeurism, Surveillance and the Camera.

Tate Modern Top 5 from left: Francis Alys Postcards, Exposed: Voyeurism, Surveillance and the Camera, Mitra, Jeff Wall: Modern Artists Series and Red Star Over Russia.

Exposed: Voyeurism, Surveillance and the Camera. With images from the 1870s through to the present day this book features the work of street photographers and paparazzi, surveillance and documentary photography in an examination of what can be called ‘invasive looking’.

Red Star Over Russia. A collection of Soviet photographs and posters from the collection of photographer David King.

Jeff Wall: Modern Artists Series. A profile of the career of internationally acclaimed photographer Jeff Wall who recreates everyday scenes in large, narrative photographs.

John Baldessari: Pure Beauty. This book is the most comprehensive volume on the Californian artist known for his quirky photo collages.

Francis Alys: Postcards. An affordable artist’s book of 26 postcards which Alys used to record his actions and broadcast his ideas.

Mitra Tabrizian. A book on the Tehran born photographer and film maker whose work involves local people as actors to stage elaborate scenes for her large-scale photographs.

FOTO8/Host Gallery

Photojournalism journal, Foto8, and Host Gallery team have compiled a good list ranging from Robert Frank’s The Americans; a classic, self-published book by Bert Teunissen, to a more expensive, limited edition book with a print.

Foto8 Host Gallery Top 5 from left: Dead Eagle Trail, The Americans, East of A New Eden, On The Road and Pipe Dreams.

The Americans by Robert Frank. The Steidl edition of The Americans celebrates the 50th anniversary of this landmark book. It features two images printed from different negatives than the ones used in all other editions. Images printed from different negatives than the ones used in all other editions. The design of the book was overseen by Robert Frank.

On the Road by Bert Teunissen. The offset printed tabloid comes in an edition of 2,500 and is presented rolled, tied with a specially printed ribbon and in a custom printed box. On The Road is an introduction to these Travelogs. A selection from the thousands of negatives produce a book that concentrates on the more that 50,000 miles that Bert traveled by car for this project. All images were shot from behind the steering wheel while driving through Europe. They were made with the Olympus Pen; the legendary half-frame camera of the 60s and 70s.

East of a New Eden by Alban Kakulya and Yann Mingard. The photographers Yann Mingard and Alban Kakulya document the places and landscapes that mark the end of the Western world in this photographic survey of the EU’s Eastern European external borders.

Dead Eagle Trail by Jane Hilton, Limited Edtion. Dead Eagle Trail is a culmination of numerous road trips that Jane Hilton has taken across the United States whilst documenting the fading legacy of the American Cowboy culture. This book is a celebration of The West, from the buckaroos of Nevada to the cowpunchers of Arizona. The special limited edition version of 50 contains signed C-Type Hand Print and individually numbered signed book, inside slipcase.

Pipe Dreams by Rena Effendi. Besides corporate public relations campaigns, little photographic evidence exists about the impact of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has had on Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

Trolley Books/Trolley Gallery

Maverick art books publisher and gallery, Trolley Books/Trolley Gallery, is the publisher of Gentlemen of Bacongo (recommended by Photographers’ Gallery and our editors). They also recommend six other books for Father’s Day.

Trolley Books & Gallery Top 5+1 from left: America off Track, Open Wound, Don't Be So, The Chain, Love Me Turkmenistan and Recollections.

Recollections by Philip Jones Griffiths. Beautiful black and white images by the Magnum photographer of Britain in the 1950s and 60s. From Wales to Liverpool, London to Northern Ireland.

Don’t Be So by Paul Fryer. Illustrated by Damien Hirst. Poetry with a punch, and illustrations to go with.

The Chain by Chien Chi Chang. Handbound concertina publication in engraved metal case.

Open Wound. Chechnya 1994-2003 by Stanley Greene. A tome which examines a dark and bloody period of history.

America off Track by Jarret Schecter. The vast landscape of America, seen through the window of a train.

Love Me Turkmenistan by Nicolas Righetti. Satirical view of the leader and the country he shaped around his own image.

Royal Geographical Society

The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) doesn’t recommend books. It is not a gallery as such. However, this society has funded many great geographical expeditions documented via photography. They informed Sojournposse that this month they have awarded wildlife photographer, Frans Lanting, The Cherry Kearton Medal and Award.

Lanting frequently contributes to the National Geographic magazine. You can buy the RGS membership as a gift so dad could enjoy the society’s talks and events.

The Photographers’ Gallery

At the time of writing, The Photographers’ Gallery team were busy changing their exhibitions. However their bookshop manager managed to give us excellent suggestions. The gallery also sells cameras and other types of photography gifts.

Photographers' Gallery top list from left: Gentlemen of Bacongo, We English, Stenoflex Classic Pinhole Camera Kit and Small Trades.

Small Trades by Irving Penn. Published by Getty Books.

We English by Simon Roberts. Published by Chris Boot.

Gentlemen of Bacongo by Daniele Tamagni. Published by Trolley Books.

Athletes by Anderson & Low. Published by Twin Palms.

Stenoflex Classic Pinhole Camera Kit. £25.00

The Prix Pictet

The Prix Pictet has put together a list of all photographers that were shortlisted for either the first or second Prix Pictet. Many of the projects highlight issues that are often overlooked, or unknown to the public.

The Prix Pictet top list from left: The Beautiful Time, Oil, Capitolio and Far East Far West.

The Beautiful Time: Photography by Sammy Baloji. Published by Museum for African Art, New York.

Oil by Edward Burtynsky. Published by Steidl Photography International.

The Diminishing Present by Edgar Martins.

Far East Far West by Benoit Aquin.

Capitolio by Christopher Anderson. Published by RM.

Categories: Design & Craft, Inspiration, Photo Galleries, Photographers Spotlight, Photography, The Review | Tags: Foto8, Photobook, Print, Tate Modern, The Photographers' Gallery, Trolley Gallery | No Comments »

O England My England: Chris Steele-Perkins on home, photography and yes, the Photographers’ Gallery

Saturday, June 12th, 2010 | Author: Zarina Holmes

By Salina Christmas & Zarina Holmes

We’re fans of Chris Steele-Perkins, and were quite impressed by his work which was featured some time ago at a Magnum Photos show called ‘Bitter Fruit’.

Sojournposse was excited to be able to attend the Magnum photographer’s talk on his latest book, England, My England, held on 8 June at the HOST gallery in East London. The talk was enlightening, but the Q&A session, which followed the slideshow presentation, was unforgettable.

Chris Steele-Perkins signs an autograph after his talk at Foto8 on 8 June 2010.

Steele-Perkins made the photography blogosphere livelier this week with his comment on the Photographers’ Gallery at the talk. He said it is shit (click here to read the transcript). We mentioned it on Facebook that evening. Duckrabbit published a survey on their blog the following day: “Is the Photographers’ Gallery shite?”

A video by Sam Cornwell was published the day after.

Quick links
• On England My England	• On The Photographers’ Gallery	• On designing his own book
• On a very personal subject	• On doing what you love best	• On portraiture
• On the thought police	• On censorship	• Advice to newbies

Anyway, what’s the point of embellishing on what Steele-Perkins lucidly elaborated on that evening. Here is Chris Steele-Perkins, in his own words:

On England, My England

England, My England is a body of work spanning four decades. Steele-Perkins is known internationally for his work with Magnum Photos on subjects such as Afghanistan and Japan. His England my England journey began with a question upon his return from the overseas assignments: “Do I see England in a different way?”

“This is not a travel book. It is my experience on England. It’s ‘everydayness’, and how everyday can be special. I omitted celebrity portraits and landscapes to feature only ordinary people.

“I just want to show that England, for all it’s shittiness and all the complaints, although far from perfect, is not too bad.”

On designing his own book

“The challenge of making the book is to make it coherent.

“You do read metaphors into you work that sometimes no one else does.

“I considered two approaches, a group sets of photographs tied to one related concept, or a simpler approach which I used for England, My England. I create a narrative that follows the time frame. This makes the editing process easier.

The photographer explaining his narrative style to the audience.

“It’s important for a photo to have a sense of cover. Why is that picture on the front cover? Because I like it. The photo is shot in the 80s, an era sat in the time frame of the entire journey.

“Spreads are important, sometimes, not always. You got to play on spreads. I add blank pages occassionally as breaks. The creases in the middle of photographs don’t bother me [because] life isn’t a flatline.

“I design and lay out the book myself. A photographer can reclaim authorship through a book or an exhibition. You have to make it yours.”

On featuring the photo of his mother’s funeral in England, My England

In the book, the photo is placed next to a photo of flowers.

“I have photographed a lot of dead people in my career and published them. I thought that applies to myself as well.

“My brother doesn’t like it. But it’s my book.”

Looking through the book after the talk.

On the Photographers’ Gallery

“I don’t hate the Photographers’ Gallery. I just think it’s shit.”

“Once it was ethical, but now it was hijacked [content-wise].

“It hijacked money available to photography in this country. It represents a narrow set of interests. Galleries at Newcastle and Liverpool can’t get money from the Arts Council; it all goes to that tub of lard. And then they feed us a diet of crap. I am offended by them, not because I am a photographer, but because they have got to show the best of photography.

“They could have done many great shows. The shows at Tate Modern and the Barbican are much better. It seems that any bad conceptual work, they put it on. But if you look over the spectrum (of works displayed), they’re very poor. Also, cripples are not allowed in. [At the gallery's launch] they could have put up a big show about Soho [where the gallery is based], but they threw it away. That was rubbish.

“Because The Photographers’ Gallery is there, it doesn’t mean we have to say ‘Wow, it’s The Photographers’ Gallery’. They get £1.2 million in funding, and what are they doing for photography?

“Sometimes they got it wrong and they put on a real good show.”

On doing what you love best

“The Teddy boys was the subject I covered for The New Society magazine, which ended up being a three-year project. [On occasions] something gets to you and you really get into it. Then you can produce some of your best works.”

On portraiture

“Ninety nine point nine percent of the time, I don’t set pictures up but that [picture of the music band] was set up. Once you do portraiture, your subject is pretty much set up anyhow.”

On the thought police

A response to Sojournposse’s question on the restrictions in photographing children.

“It’s a surveillance society. It’s unbelievable but it’s there and it permeates society, especially with regards to kids. It’s sad, I think. Not all people are perverts. But it’s so easy to put a whipping stick in. This situation is perpetuated by the tabloid media.”

…And censorship

“Photo editors? They just want to avoid getting into trouble. There’s a kind of movement towards the depiction of more static people in photography. It’s perhaps related to this in a way. Photographing people is more difficult than it used to be.”

Advice to new photographers

“I’d make videos.

“Just stick at it. You’ll find a way to do it if you care enough about it. If you don’t believe it enough, it won’t get done.

“It is important that when something gets to you, you go for it. That’s what makes a good photographer.”

England, My England is available on Amazon.com and at selected book stores.

Categories: Culture Production, Design & Craft, Inspiration, Photo Galleries, Photographers Spotlight, Photography, Photojournalism, Storytelling, The Review | Tags: Chris Steele-Perkins, Foto8, Magnum Photos, Photobook, Print | 2 Comments »