World Press Photo 2008
|There’s something about the immediacy of press photography, where the setting is rarely staged and the acts usually entirely spontaneous, that makes it so absorbing. A good photograph can often do more than the thousand word article it accompanies; can be so powerful as to render the writing background material. A photo is not so tainted by opinion, and therefore not always necessary to subject it to the same scrutiny that news or feature writing attracts. A camera can lie, no doubt about that, but certain images are so raw and so remorseless that surely no choreography could have been involved. This exhibition (now at the Royal Festival Hall, London) proves just that: amongst the jubilation of sporting achievements and natural wonder, there are certain images – particularly those in the war and conflict section – that leave you feeling very exposed and vulnerable, going some miniscule (but important) way towards bridging the gulf between viewer and subject.
Tagged: documentary photography
Also by FRANCIS ANDREWS
Remembering murdered Kent songwriter/busker Taigh
Over the years, this young guy became a very popular busker in my hometown of Canterbury, Kent. His voice would carry far down the high street, and he became a regular and welcome part of the furniture. Someone took his and a fellow busker’s life a couple of months ago. His younger brother released this song on iTunes and all the proceeds will go to Taigh’s infant daughter. It’s a powerful piece, and of course, the message takes on a new poignancy now.
Irina Werning’s Back to the Future photo series
Argentine photographer Irina Werning has complied this beautiful and poignant collection of portraits of adults re-enacting images of themselves as kids. From what I gather, she has asked people to submit photographs of themselves and then returned with them to these same spots at the same times in their lives. She’ll take this project round the world, from Baghdad to Eurodisney, and is looking for willing participants. Read more
Bug fighting in South East Asia
Of all the little idiosyncratic activities I’ve come across since living in Southeast Asia, this nears the favourite. The bug fights are held in a cemetery about half an hour outside of Chiang Mai late in the year when the stags are at their randiest. It pulls an impressive crowd who bet some hefty dollars on the winner, claimed by the beetle who throws its opponent off the revolving log and struts (or crawls) to victory. Read more
YOU'RE SAYING (1)
HAVE YOUR SAY
Titled You’re Far Taller and A Much Nicer Person Than I, this silkscreen print by Sydney-based artist Kate Banazi comes in an edition of 50 and ships rolled in a tube.
Autumn Whitehurst is one of my favourite illustrators. The Brooklyn-based artist’s work is clean yet sensual; the characters flawless but full of imperfection.
The Hatton hotel epitomises Melbourne cool. Those who value design, location, and luxury will find The Hatton the perfect Melbourne base. Read more
Our friends over at the street art and design site, Feed Me Cool Shit have a revealing interview up with UK artist Sickboy, who talks about his earliest days on the streets. Read more
I caught Austin band Watch Out For Rockets playing the other week at the Beauty Bar, a small smoky den on a bustling hipster strip. Although they hit the stage a few hours late, they still cranked out an awesome set of guitar-based power pop, though they left out my favorite track, Urgent Serpent Merchant (below).
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A classic and recent criminal shopping post of mine, Agent Provocateur has great stockings (insert photo here of me wearing them, which I want to take, wearing a men’s shirt reading the Wall Street Journal and wearing glasses). Read more
Want to win a whole boatload of awesomeness from our online store? OK, then. Enter our giveaway and you could be the lucky winner of a grab bag featuring some real shop favorites. Read more
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If you're in PR, you run a fashion label, or you just have an awesome product for us to feature, send it to us! We'll check it out. Heck, we may even introduce it to our 510,000 unique monthly visitors. Score. Right?
In 2008, graphic designer Becky Edgington and illustrator Sarah Beetson created two limited-edition packs of playing cards featuring images from Beetson’s exhibition, 50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts. The images were selected from almost 500 small artworks created on moleskine paper, inspired by vintage pornography and a trip to Japan. Read more
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Andy said | 28 November, 2008
Wow, this looks brilliant, I’ll definitely be checking it out on the weekend. Thanks for the heads up Francis!