While this is about television photojournalism rather than photography, I think it's worthwhile to mention that the National Press Photographers Association awarded Travis Fox first and second place in the in-depth online photojournalism category of its Best of Television Photojournalism contest.
Readers of TTP will recall my earlier posts on multimedia features produced by Travis Fox for the Washington Post. One of these posts covered the excellent feature on Darfur and another on Islamic Numerology.
Al Thompkins on Poynter On Line has an interview with Travis Fox, and says this: "The Washington Post's Travis Fox has done it again. Travis is a backpack journalist who travels the world documenting stories with video for the Post's Web site. He is just home from Darfur, and the work he brought home with him may be his best yet."
Read the whole article here.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Anand Khokha: South & South East Asia
Not only is Anand a regular participant in my photo expeditions, but he is a peripatetic traveler for both business and leisure purposes. He accumulated an impressive inventory of travel photographs of India, Cambodia, Bhutan and Thailand on his delightful website, which I believe is a joint production with his creative son. His forte is people photography, capturing candid expressions, and registering human interactions. I have also seen his recent landscape photographs of Bhutan, and I can vouch that they are as good as his candid images.
Anand's keen eye and photographic flair are obvious, and his altruism in dedicating the proceeds from the sale of his photographs to St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Tamil Nadu, South India, a deserving charitable institution, also speaks for itself. Here's Anand Khokha's website.
Jehad Nga: The Faces of Africa
I have recently admired and commented on Jehad Nga's fabulous work which appeared on the pages of the New York Times. I posted in early February about his work on Ethiopia's Stone Churches, and today I bring his latest multimedia gallery Faces of Africa, in which you'll see images of Somali and Kenyan café patrons made in the dark, only a single ray of sun highlighting the individuals themselves; an arresting collection of images by a master photographer.
Here's Jehad Nga's New York Times gallery: The Faces of Africa. (you'll probably need to adjust the size of the window).
Friday, March 16, 2007
Jon Anderson: El Camino de los Negros
A superb photographer and photojournalist, a talented writer, a blogger of incisive intellect, a captivating storyteller, a graphic artist, a website designer and a multimedia artist, Jon divides his time between Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and New York City. He was recently awarded a fellowship by the Alicia Foundation to pursue his ongoing project documenting the plight and exploitation of braceros (gatherers and cutters) in the sugarcane plantations of the Dominican Republic.
He studied journalism at Columbia University, and initially joined the famed Black Star photo agency.
To showcase Jon's many talents, I chose his multimedia documentary El Camino de los Negros, which deals with religious rituals and some of the endangered traditions of the Dominican Republic. We all heard of santeria and voodoo practiced in parts of the Caribbean, but this is somewhat different.
Jon's enormous talents are in clear evidence here; the composition of his black and white photography, the intelligent juxtaposition of ritualistic music and songs with narration, the judicious use of the Ken Burns effect, combined with his narrative make this powerful documentary a mandatory stop for all of us who are entering the world of multimedia photography.
Jon's El Camino de los Negros
Jon's website "Dark Horse Images"
Jon's Blog: The Spark of Accident
Thursday, March 15, 2007
GMB Akash: Bangladesh
I'm pleased to see that GMB Akash, a photographer from Bangladesh, has been named as one of PDN's 30 New & Emerging Photographers for 2007. Since I started TTP blog, I've been introduced to the enormous talent coming from South Asia and Asia itself. This emerging talent is still under-represented in the international media and lacks the exposure it deserves, but it's getting there.
Akash (I don't really know what GMB stands for, so I'll use Akash rather than an acronym) is a brave photographer, documenting sides of society that are not pretty. His photographs are courageous, complex and make us think. His use of color, available light and sense of timing allows him to photograph what others may not.
I read that his photograph of the young boy in chains caused a furore in Bangladesh, and that Akash has had to seek temporary refuge, or was stranded, in Germany. I don't know if that is true or not, but he now seems to be back in his country, photographing as usual.
I've chosen his gallery of photographs on Muslim medresas to showcase here on TTP. While some of you will form an opinion on Muslim schools from these photographs (if you don't have one already), I'd like you to also consider that not all medresas shackle their students nor treat them badly. I don't know why this unfortunate boy was treated in such a barbaric and primitive way but for the sake of fairness and objectivity, here's a photograph I've taken in an Indonesian Muslim school in Bali (Indonesia). The photograph is from my Bali Canang gallery. I had just dropped in on the school where I was warmly welcomed, and invited to photograph as I pleased. You'll agree that the difference is striking.
Still reflecting on the boy in chains...is it to keep him from running away, and joining street kids...and is it therefore for his own good? He looks well-fed, clean and healthy. Is there a story behind the photograph, and was it that which caused the furore in Bangadesh? There must be a reason why this child is treated this way and not the rest of the medresa's children. I'm certainly not condoning this treatment (which I deem barbaric) but questions must be asked and hopefully answered, and I -for one- will not take the photograph at its face value.
Akash's website has many other galleries, most of which deal with issues related to certain facets of non-mainstream South Asian society, so go ahead...explore a world many of us do not know.
GMB Akash's Muslim Schools
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Books: William Dalrymple
The Last Mughal is the most recent book by one of my favorite authors, William Dalrymple. I bought this book in London, and read a few chapters during my flight back. It's a massive book, and a must for any Indiaphile. It presents a brilliant narrative of last days of the Mughal empire, its capital and its final destruction. Dalrymple lives in Delhi, and rearched this book by minutely combing through the Indian National Archives. I was struck -even by the initial chapters that I read so far- that the Great Mutiny which brought about the downfall of Emperor Bahadur Shah, the last Mughal, by the British, parallels contemporary events. For instance, the Indian rebels (sepoys) raised the flag of 'jihad', and called themselves 'mujaheddin' to legitimize their conflict. A fascinating read, which only proves 'plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose'.
Candace Feit: Darfur
I hesitate to describe Candace Feit as an emerging photojournalist, since her remarkably striking photographs are as powerful as those I've seen from many more experienced photojournalists.
I read that she only took up photography seriously 2-3 years ago, and took the opportunity of traveling to Dakar in the Senegal to photograph its streets on a daily basis. She then hooked up with a couple of photo agencies, and suddenly was covering the Darfur conflict, Togo, Liberia and Ghana. Her photographs appeared in the The New York Times, Le Monde, Le Figaro, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and Time magazine, among others.
For this post, I've chosen one of her striking photographs in which the contrast between the starkness of the landscape, the darkening sky, and the colors of the woman's clothes (just look at her flip-flops!) is testament to Candace's skill for composition and her color sense.
Except for countries of Northern Africa, the Sudan and Ethiopia, I haven't traveled in Africa...and it's talented photography like Candace's which tells me if it's high time to start. In the meantime, keep an eye out for Candace Feit...she'll keep impressing us.
Candace Feit
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Dinesh Khanna: Living Faith
Dinesh Khanna is an Indian photographer, who specializes in travel photography, and showcases his love for color in his two books, Bazaar and Living Faith. I'm impressed by the perfectionism of his imagery...but let me also make the important distinction that he is more of a 'commercial' travel photographer than a documentary travel photographer. His images are stylized and beautiful, and his color sense among the best I've recently seen. Reaffirming his style, he describes some of his successful photographs as being staged. You'll see in one of his gallery an image of camels wading through the Yamuna river behind the Taj Mahal. While obviously color-enhanced, this image was used very successfully in advertisements for India Tourism.
Here are excerpts of what Dinesh says about color:
" Color is almost a language in India. It's in food, clothes, on walls, in architecture. Color is such an integral part of life that to take it away would be killing a part of the story. As a photographer, I find color challenging. Black-and-white photography is easier because it makes the image alien to the way the mind sees things. Color is always around us. To transcend that, to show reality the way it is, and yet, have an interesting composition or an interesting moment is far more challenging.
Absolutely! Color is a language in India...it's a way to communicate, influence and swamp the senses. Color is what pulls many photographers to this wonderful country. For me, India has three irresistible magnetic fields: its people, its art of devotion and its language of color. Language of color...yes, I'm grateful to Dinesh to have shared this expression.
Dinesh's website is here. I recommend his galleries which are titled Staged Street and Books.
POV: Semantics?
One colloquialism describing a photographer that I personally find particularly irksome is the word "snapper". It's mainly used in Britain, and it's irritating that even some of the broadsheets and dailies use it. Even worse is to hear it spoken. I know....I know...some photographers freely use it to describe themselves, but I still cringe when I hear it. Another word commonly used is 'shoot'...as in 'he is shooting in afghanistan' when describing the whereabouts of a photojournalist. I don't think that pressing the shutter of a camera is akin to shooting of a gun. I must admit culpability in using the equally grating term of 'photo shoot'.
However, this is not what I'm going to vent about today. No, today's about the difference between 'making' a photograph and 'taking' a photograph. Generally, the action is described as 'taking' a photograph (or taking a picture) but, to me, here's the difference:
Taking a photograph is when I photograph a spontaneous scene or portrait. There's no prior preparation, and I just see a scene that makes visual sense to me, and I take its photograph. But making a photograph is different, because making implies a degree on personal involvement. In other words, when I spend time with a subject and direct him or her to stand in a certain way, then I'm 'making' a photograph. Some people use 'create a photograph', but I find it rather pompous sounding.
While photographs that are made or taken are equal, they require different skills...interpersonal skills, pre-visualisation skills, and predictive skills. Taking a photograph requires predictive skills, while making a photograph requires interpersonal skills....that's my personal take.
Having said all that, I leave you with this: is it a photograph, a picture or an image?
Monday, March 12, 2007
Darvis: Burma
Darvis (he seems to use one name only) has been a freelance photographer for over twenty years. He traveled extensively and is keen to document our disappearing civilization. He shoots his pictures then reinterprets the original images through the media of toning and water colour.
This creates a finished image which is a blend of photography and painting. This was originally an option used by traditional artists to make a portrait affordable. Only the rich could commission an original painting.
Darvis says "Although it is already too late to turn back the wheels of industrialism and technology to a simpler age of handcrafting I hope that by documenting and photographing our disappearing civilizations with their time honored methods of worship, ritual and festival that we can begin to nurture a compassionate affinity with the ways of our ancestors."
His website showcases a number of galleries; Burma, Laos, Thailand, etc, but navigating it is rather annoying. I was disappointed in his Indonesia gallery, but thought his images of Burma were really artistic. I wonder whether my preferring the Burma gallery is because the country's isolation give more 'credence' to his hand-tinted photographs with the retro look to them. I don't know...maybe.
All in all, it's too bad that that his website's navigation doesn't do any justice to his craft.
Darvis Photography
Compact Flash Cards on eBay?
For those of you tempted to buy Sandisk Compact Flash and/or SD cards from eBay, be cautious. It seems there are many eBayers who have already been deceived by inferior quality, unpopular cheap CF disguised as SanDisk Extreme III as more than 95% of all 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB CF listed on eBay are counterfeit items and many have fake capacities.
Here's the link to the eBay webpage: Fake CF Cards
Here's the link to the eBay webpage: Fake CF Cards
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Beyond The Frame: Semana Santa
In an early anticipation of Easter, this week's Beyond The Frame deals with the colorful and immensely significant Semana Santa in the lovely town of Antigua, a couple of hours from Guatemala City. The Semana Santa in Antigua is considered by many as the most beautiful religious celebration in the Americas, and the largest Holy Week observance in the Western Hemisphere. Beginning on Palm Sunday and continuing through Easter Sunday, it is best known for its colorful religious processions.
I recall the tremendous fervor expressed by the Guatemalans who participate in the processions and its preparations, creating an extraordinary outpouring of Christian faith and devotion. I found it quite easy to photograph in Antigua during the Semana Santa, as there are ample accommodations, the routes of the processions are planned in advance and no one minds photographers. Just be aware that pickpockets prefer to operate in crowds!
The processions in Antigua feature feature huge platforms, called andas, on which religious statues are mounted. The first platform, holding a figure of Christ with a cross, is carried by 60 to 100 men, called cucuruchos, dressed in purple biblical clothing. This is followed by a platform with the Virgin Mary, borne by women wearing black mourning.
Hundreds of parishioners will work overnight to create carpets, called alfombras, that display detailed pictorial and geometric designs made of flower petals, pine needles, dyed sawdust and colored sand.These will run for several blocks long in front of a church or along a procession route. In addition, people who live along a route create their own alfombras on the street in front of their homes. Antigua’s best processions take place on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
Oh, and the best capuccino I've ever had was in Antigua. Sadly, I forgot the name of the place, but it's there!
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