Saul Landell Photography

By | Published 12 May 2012

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saul_landell/


Saul Landell, a photographer from Spain is a fascinating photographer who produces some mesmerising images, not just photographically affluent, but in both post production and adding back stories to his images.
It's very complicated to explain how fascinating his work is without seeing the images yourself, so feel free to have a look and get back to me on what you think. And of course, give him all the support you can, it's what us photographers thrive on.

Here is the description to his page of images, this was originally in Spanish and just put through google translate, so apologies for any inaccuracies. But i feel it very important for you to read what he has to say about his images as it is the most accurate manor of explaining them:


"Between the real and the possible ... could well be that the definition of what I do, pictures that are made from other images, dreams and fantasies that disturb, exploring the intimate space. I have no answers, if any more questions, just trying to explore in order to have referenceswhen I play live, the contemporary generation that calls me, I'm a tell stories .......... improbable stories, impossible more characteristic ofsurrealism or magical realism that rampant urbanization and asepticareas. I go for self, trying to explain what separates man from reality. I find irresistible abstraction ability of photography to perceive reality in spite of being a fiction, so the mirrors, water, horizon and dream places, intimate ....

In the urban culture to globalization and its imposition of trends andstyles that match a consumer society ... back to the intimate and evenkitsch, I roads and paths and overcome by "pure" art and photographyofficially my seat is in the caboose of the train of the photographic art, I'm no photographer, I'm just a craftsman of the visual.Thanks to come up here and be my accomplice, thanks for makingmagic with me through your eyes"(1)


(1) - http://www.flickr.com/people/saul_landell/   (12/May/2012)

(All rights to these images are reserved and are the property of Saul Landell)
(All images sourced from http://www.flickr.com/photos/saul_landell/) 














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Flickr's dead, long live 500px!

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Image sourced from: http://fadedandblurred.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/500px-flickr-title1-600x375.jpg


The long anticipated fate of Flickr seems to be neigh, after many months from Yahoo to gather the once unprecedented photographic pace and presence, it seems there isn't much left that they can accomplish. Flickr has recently gained a Myspace like feel, with masses of advertisements littering each page and a lack of substantial updates to lift this site into the modern age.
Coupled with the lack of a powerful iPhone, iPad and Android phone applications, people don't feel much need to keep their images on this site as no-one will see them anymore.

This has all accumulated into a vast shift into a new website called 500px.com, giving it the new brand of the world biggest photographic community. Granted, this hasn't been the easiest of battles for 500px, many other web based image sharing sites have popped up around the internet but none had much clout.
What sets 500px aside from all other photo sharing websites is its understanding of how much of a visual art photography is. By removing all unnecessary text it has the resemblance of a flipboard, with various different sized images which span the pages, allowing an uninterrupted viewing of photographs.
Along side this they promote an online portfolio which can be linked to potential clients and the option to sell your images on canvases through the site. Along side the massive influx of hits the site is gathering, its potential has moved from the amateur photographic market to the professional market as well, due to its unprecedented platform to not only advertise images, but to also make money on them without having to leave the comfort of your own house.

Screenshot from 500px.com


On a social scale 500px allows a new method of "liking" someone's images, in the same manor you would on Facebook or twitter, this allows a faster paced consumption of images by the public. This has given way to the opportunity to reel in feedback for your latest images within minutes of posting an image, something that blows flickr out of the water. Maintain a blog, write on a friends wall, view their activity, newsfeed style and even view their friend photo's all without leaving 500px.com, giving it a seamless consumption and sharing of images. Exactly how the twenty-first century method of sharing images should work.

Screenshot from 500px.com


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Simon Norfolk

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The work Simon Norfolk produced in Afghanistan is a body of work which massively inspired me, to the extent that hours after seeing just one of his images I bought his book and never looked back. This Man’s perspective of war is refreshing and admiration.

The reason why I feel his work has inspired me to such a great height, even though it isn’t in a field which overly interests me is his mentality behind the images. He went to Afghanistan with the mindset of living there and experiencing what its like to be in this war-zone, to hear peoples stories and to literally feel the pain the people are going through. This gives his images an almost empathetic feel to how he’s shown the place. Not the stereotypical approach we seem to be feed from the modern day media. Whom quickly venture out of the compounds of places like Camp Bastian and snap away at the most horrific things they can find, while under huge protection from the military.
Norfolk has taken an almost parallel approach to Afghanistan, he hasn’t gone out there to snap the complete opposite to exactly what he hates that the media portray, because he is almost admitting in his images that this horrific side to a war zone can definitely not be avoided, but he has portrayed it in a way which almost finds unseen beauty about the places where this devastation has occurred.

(Image sourced from http://www.lensculture.com/norfolk_images/norfolk_1.jpg) 
This can be seen to its full potential with the covering image for his book “Afghanistan Zero” This image incorporates the story of this man, who is a balloon seller, which was illegal in Kabul at the time of this image. However now they line the streets, only making pennies, but making many children happy. (1)
The second thing to note when looking at this image is pretty obvious, the massive destroyed building to the centre of the image. This is something Norfolk cant hide from his images, and would be very wrong to avoid, but by not making a massive deal out of it makes the destruction seem more depressing and morose.
Finally is the beautiful dramatic sky and general colours of the image, this adds a strange feel of warmth to the feel of this picture, making one confused as an image of this magnitude and story would normally be portrayed in a much colder and depressing status. 

Is his work Art Photography or Docummentational Photography? I came to the conclusion that his work is definitely Art Photography. This is due to the mannerisms he has in the photographs, he hasn’t taken advantage of the Afghan people or the surroundings, he has shown many different aspects to this war zone, both beautiful and disgusting.
Now that is something I want to open up to debate with everyone on this blog…
Is his work Art Photography or Docummentational Photography?

You can find this book on Amazon for just £40 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Afghanistan-Simon-Norfolk/dp/189923554X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336826310&sr=8-2


(1) – Afghanistan Zero, Simon Norfolk, 


(All rights to these images are reserved and are the property of Simon Norfolk)

(Image sourced from http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llmgg9b9RL1qitnd4.jpg) 


(Image sourced from http://blog.camera80.ro/images/2006/december/simon-norfolk-5.jpg) 


(Image sourced from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88awlG1sy8JYxzdRzIm4-cYX-kMUoGDmnmurGEhAelE5e5NKVMgJLLj7brKujV81DMrgKvUellem0IXFtdjrHSa9lF2l8BCGkwPlOZmYUbuLqbT-SE3MQN_VrwEDULeEGeW6Xcnjkrcda/s1600/simon_norfolk2%255B1%255D.jpg) 


(Image sourced from http://codeless88.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/simonnorfolk1.jpg) 


(Image sourced from http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llmgg9b9RL1qitnd4.jpg) 


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Follow on @BiggerDimension

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The twitter feed us up and running nicely, follow us on @BiggerDimension to be kept up to date with the latest Photography News and reviews!!

(All images sourced from http://www.twitter.com/BiggerDimension) 

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Nadav Kander

By | Published 10 May 2012


One of my biggest influences has to be Nadav Kander, the way his images look and feel is something I’ve always been in oar of. I would like to specifically talk about his work done in China, the Yangtze River series as I have recently bought his book, something I should have done a long time ago as he is one of my favourite photographers.
This series of images is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, it doesn’t feel to me like he had a pre conceived stereotypical feeling towards the place what so ever, the images are some what neutral, both in feeling and political stance, which for one is very rare when talking about any sort of image produced in China.
Each image seems to bleed onto the next in the way it has been composed, exposed and most importantly what it is portraying. This is something to be massively admired because as photographers we are always trying to make a big deal and to dramatise everything we see, however these images have a feeling of what I will call, “child like documentation”, by this I mean that its as if the photographer knows nothing of the atrocities which may have gone on in these places, as if he hadn’t read/heard anything of china, and this was almost like a study of a totally unventured place or how none of the pictures are trying to make us feel any particular feeling towards these scenes. This is something, I feel, to be massively admired and is very fresh, because all of our lives we are looking at images which are produced to sway our perception of something, where as these images purely and simply document Yangtze River. But in a way which is so powerful that they teach us so much, without trying to sway us into a certain feeling we “should” have towards the place. 
I would categorically recommend everyone to get his book Yangtze- The Long River! It has been my biggest visual and photographic inspiration in years, i promise you will adore his work :)

(All rights to these images are reserved and are the property of Nadav Kander)

(Image sourced from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3lk03i15VWNAPqVlt0BVLB6YzGoO6KjFykC3OLhdbDBN2Podbp0klZXbby_j4TKmAsvkpZM6-GxDxDoiB1Bl0QM3rifYzR61TWZiqym_lN-lREXiYlZPBkblyUqxB8DEGS3rDYej6L-Q/s1600/Nadav+Kander+-+Yangtze%252C+The+Long+River+-+Changxing+Island.jpg) 

(Image sourced from http://www.artdesigncafe.com/IMG/jpg/Nadav-Kander-Prix-Pictet.jpg) 


(Image sourced from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkoMaYrdMa14AIQgm3xk_tS2U32RZiPpxffj0aA1HUMBHOy3c5UZz2OB1KOPZDJi5OAOJyiXxeopx36ITHiBX5zJKduqKnZYFiIVU96urcFJV4Q3mijYPCGUW1q7WD_dnecIxzZLGmiiB/s1600/nadav+kander+yangtze1+-+mouth+%2528wusongkou%252C+where+river+meets+sea%2529%252C+near+shanghai.jpg) 

(Image sourced from http://www.curatedmag.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/yangtze-longriver-front.jpg) 


(Image sourced from http://www.dailyicon.net/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/yangtze05dailyicon.jpg) 


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Delta Heavy - Get By

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Saw this music video today and loved what has been created by Ian Robertson. Dubstep tracks have a habit of lacking in music video's, and this is a refreshing approach to making the music more appealing and "main stream"
In essence, sick video, check it out!


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Olympic photograph ban policy, NOT as we first thought...

By | Published 29 April 2012

(Image sourced from http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44223000/jpg/_44223626_stadium_design416.jpg) 

After news broke last week on the London Olympics policy to ban all publicising of images taken at the olympics on social network sites (for the full story see http://biggerdimensions.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/no-photographs-at-london-2012-olympics.html), there has been an uproar from photographers, journalists and the public, demanding answers to what seems to be an absurd movement.

A spokesman for the London 2012 Olympic Committee (Locog) has issue'd a response stating that they "are not looking to stop private individuals from posting photographs on social networks" and that the intentions of the T&C's in the olympic is to prevent photo's being used for commercial purposes, thus gaining the individual monetary value over the olympic committee.
He has also acknowledged that the wording was unclear and all will be clarified when tickets are mailed.

Yipee!!

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Follow the news on Twitter!!

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@BiggerDimension



I've decided to release a Twitter account to accompany this blog, as to make it easier for you all to keep up to date with the interesting news and reviews. This page will also allow you to be informed quicker and easier with new posts on the blog, so you won't miss a thing!

Another big part of this blog is contribution, I seriously encourage and ask of you to comment and share, through this form of contribution we will gain higher amounts of traffic for the site, leading to a more worth while blog. So tweet, re-tweet and comment, go go go!! @BiggerDimension 


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Twitter!

By | Published 27 April 2012

Exciting news coming soon, after todays re-vamp of the site there will be a new twitter page to keep you up to date easier on all of this juicy photography news, keep tuned for more info, coming your way by the end of tonight!!

For now, get your teeth into the new page header and logo...

(All rights to this image are reserved and are the property of BiggerDimensions & James Robinson)

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No photographs at the London 2012 Olympics

By | Published 26 April 2012

(Image sourced from http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44223000/jpg/_44223626_stadium_design416.jpg) 
It appears that the London Olympic committee have set in place a ban of taking any photographs in the London Olympics and then uploading them to social networking sites.
This is stated in the ticket holders terms and conditions:

"Images, video and sound recordings of the Games taken by a Ticket Holder cannot be used for any purpose other than for private and domestic purposes and a Ticket Holder may not license, broadcast or publish video and/or sound recordings, including on social networking websites and the internet more generally, and may not exploit images, video and/or sound recordings for commercial purposes under any circumstances, whether on the internet or otherwise, or make them available to third parties for commercial purposes."

See section 19.6.3 here: http://www.tickets.london2012.com/purchaseterms.html

This banning of taking pictures and sharing them on social networking sites seems to be the most absurd and ridiculous thing i've ever heard in all my years of following photographic news. How can one event committee want to stop everyone from sharing images. in this 21st century world, we have come to the comfortable realisation that taking photographs and sharing them with our friends and family is the complete norm, be it photo's in a coffee shop or when a father takes his son to the FA cup final, it is completely normal and companies, organisations and events have come to the understanding that it's almost impossible to claim full copyright on all images taken at their events when numerous amounts of the public attend.

Another thing is, how on earth are they going to police this motion. Are they going to confiscate everyone's phones as soon as they enter the grounds of the Olympic stadiums?
I can quite clearly foresee 90% of people not being hassled at the olympics for taking photographs, but instead there will be a tiny minority of people who will get pestered and hounded to feel like criminals.
I guarantee that it will be the old granny taking a photograph of her young grandchildren at this once in a life-time event that will get stopped and harassed. This will then become headline news, worldwide fury will be voiced at the London Olympics, resulting in a dark cloud being cast over the entire event.
This is if this absurd motion is put into action.

In the summer, prior to the Olympics I have access to the entire Olympic Park to photograph it as part of my Internship for Siemens. I will probably be escorted around by various security guards (because after all, we're all terrorists, right?) and some HR department snob. So i will aim to quiz these people and get back to you on what they have to say, exciting times!

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Glimpses of World War 2 Seen Through Photos of Modern Day Europe

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Here are some fascinating "re-photograph" images, taken in the location of famous World War 2 photographs. By combining both of the images together into one file allows us to come to the compelling and shocking realisation that these scenes we can see in old pictures of the war are actually real places. It adds a stark amount of reality to what we see, giving this emotional attachment to past events that we have become all too familiar with.

http://sergey-larenkov.livejournal.com/

(All rights to these images are reserved and are the property of Sergey Larenkov)




(Image sourced from http://sergey-larenkov.livejournal.com/) 


(Image sourced from http://sergey-larenkov.livejournal.com/) 


(Image sourced from http://sergey-larenkov.livejournal.com/) 


(Image sourced from http://sergey-larenkov.livejournal.com/) 


(Image sourced from http://sergey-larenkov.livejournal.com/) 

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Descriptive camera developed by student Matt Richardson

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17853523

I was on my way to the darkroom this morning when I read this article on the BBC News application on my phone. 
This is a device which sends a data file of a photograph to an online site, which will then be described by users and then sent back to the device and printed within minutes. This has been developed by Matt Richardson, an Interactive Communications graduate student at New York University.
He's hoping to build upon the endless amounts of Meta-data which camera's compile and often remain unused and lost in cyberspace. 


This is such a fascinating idea, when we look at photographs we think and see endless possibilities of words to describe the images. They do say that a photo tells a thousand words, and this puts into reality exactly that. It also uses social networks and communications to build upon the device, giving it an endless scope of possibilities. 

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Duncan Holley Photography

By | Published 20 April 2012

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanholley/


Todays artist that i want you all to have a look at is Duncan Holley, he has a fascinating collection of work on Flickr, varying from documenting the everyday to some very dramatic sprocket 35mm images.
Concentrating on working with film Duncan has been able to keep the revival of film alive with some beautiful images taken on Holga's, Medium format, pinhole's, you name it, he's done it. And this method of working gives his portfolio a very refreshing feel of innovative creativity.

My favourite set of images are the one's Duncan has produced by attending various scooter rallies. By absorbing himself in the event he has been able to produce some uniquely intimate images which perfectly depict these events. This method of documentation is exactly what i strive for and see as a great template to take inspiration from, documentation should involve immersing one's self in what they're photographing, not just becoming a passive voyeur.
I'm really excited by this body of work and hope to see some great things come out of these images, he has been able to get himself in a very unique position of trust and comfort with these people, something which should result in more fascinating documentation of these events.

To top that all off, he's a top bloke, so give his work a look and let me know what you think.

(All rights to these images are reserved and are the property of Duncan Holley)


(All images sourced from http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanholley/) 















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Professional Instagram Photographers

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So yeah, i posted a huge rant a few days ago on why we should appreciate Instagram and not slate every person using it.
I've just watched this video on youtube, it was mildly funny, however this patronising man has thus heightened my argument as it reaffirms that it's none of our business to hate upon people who use Instagram, we're all photographers, EMBRACE IT!!

Just a little side note to keep the discussion rolling, if you haven't already read my article on Instagram, you can access it here http://galleriesandexhibitions.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/facebook-buys-instagram-and-why-we.html

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Wandering Bears

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Fascinating blog from New York, Wandering Bears offers more of a platform to other practitioners, in a manor which is both interesting and fresh. Along side this are various different posts about current affairs in the photographic world, one of my favourites being a rant about the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2011.

Wandering Bears - http://www.wanderingbears.co.uk/

NPG rant - http://www.wanderingbears.co.uk/2011/11/npg-taylor-wessing-review/


(All rights to these images are reserved and are the property of Petrina Hicks)


(All images sourced from http://www.wanderingbears.co.uk/)

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