invited guest: Światosław Wojtkowiak

Światek "Nygus" Wojtkowiak doesn't like to say much about himself. He told me: I am 29 and I am wandering mainly through Africa. I earn for living by working for photo agency and as a tour guide.

The picture of course is not complete, you will find about Nygus much more when you look at his web site and see his excellent pictures made in all of the continents.

Few days ago National Geographic Poland announced the winner of the NG Grand Prix 2007 - it was our guest.

My, and I am sure whole of the F blog editors, best congratulations.

picture awarded by National Geographic Grand Prix 2007

invited by Marcin Górski

Travellers' checks and quinin pills

Mood Swings

Pictures by Jan Buse

I /own/ YOU!

Viva La Cats!

Matte/Husse/Jag

CPBG

Heartland

Picture by Edward Hahn

ITD - 1`st of March 1981. Number 9 - "Atmosphere"

I am writing BA thesis treating of the reportage in Polish weekly, student magazine ITD, which was published since 1960 till mid 80s. I am basing mainly on 1981 annual set of the magazine. The magazine crated something in a kind of "reportage school", which was most active since mid 70s till 1981, when the redaction was closed for the time of martial state in Poland. This stream based mainly on opposition to "success" propaganda of Edward Gierek. Photo-reporters focused on the grey life of People`s Republic of Poland. They were choosing the subject by themselves, and through the pictures were commenting surrounding reality. They were touching unspoken things, and forcing for many months publication of ready materials (we had censorship). Reportage presented below was published in no. 9 issued March 1st, 1981 - "Atmosphere". Pictures made by Andrzej Kiełbowicz and Mirosław Makowski. It`s worth to underline again, that it was the photographer who decided how should look the layout like. Pictures were occupying two pages, the space was larger then A3 format. Pictures shall be seen through the filterof early 1980s reality. It was time of political and economical destabilization. Everything you can see easily on the street.

"February 1981.

Mood of streets, meetings, atmosphere of daily life, different, like from completely other movie, which was played till now. Sequences were mixed, stage decorations changed, aside old actors, appeared new set of actors and stunts. New roles. New dramaturgy and situations. It wasn`t predicted by any scenario. "Impossible" occurs already so many times, this won`t happen, happens again and again, and it won`t be so bad, becomes reality so, as it appears, you may then easily get used to this atmosphere. It becomes usual, difficulties, euphorias, fears and bravery are toned. They are becoming daily reality. They are tiring, tiring more and more and at the same time determining and inuring. Flags, flags again. Moods swing. Morning papers, which are always late. TV news at 7.30 p.m. Another, new rhythm, nervous rhythm of the street, vibrating, pulsing. Difficult to register, disappearing, ambiguous and perhaps that`s why fascinating when registered.
D o c u m e n t."

Thank`s to Marcin Gorski for halping in intranslation.

Inside Out

invited guest: António Vieira

I believe many of us knows António (commonly recognised as deFocused) for years. More or less that long (after first anniversary of the F blog, I am authorised to say that :)) we talked about showing António's works at the F blog. I am happy that finally we are doing that. And more - it is not the last time...

Born in 1965 em Coimbra, Portugal, lives and works in Lisbon.
His work integrated several group exhibitions in Portugal, Spain and Norway; His work was published in magazines in Portugal, Spain and UK and on several online sites and magazines.
He is responsible for the sites: http://defocused.net and http://livinginabox.net.
The work presented here is a small part of a project called "one hundred polaroids" made availble in "printing-on-demand" book by Lulu.

invited by Marcin Górski

from the edge of the deep green sea

And so we watch the sun come up
From the edge of the deep green sea
And she listens like her head's on fire
Like she wants to believe in me
So i try
Put your hands in the sky
Surrender
Remember
We'll be here forever
And we'll never say goodbye...


- R. Smith

Digital Curves

What´s all this!

On Photography
- an interview with Cartier-Bresson by Charlie Rose

CR: Was your photography influenced by your early interest in art?
C-B: My photography is just an instant drawing.

CR: And you returned to drawing?
C-B: I never quit drawing, the camera is a way of drawing.

CR: Is that how you see the camera simply like a tool, like a brush?
C-B: Exactly.

CR: When you take the photograph, is their a moment for you when you
know to snap?
C-B: When the subject takes me. I´m receptive and I shoot, It´s just to
concentrate, in the silence, and you mustn´t want, you must be
receptive, don´t think even, the brains is a bit dangerous. Sensitivity,
the flavour… (sniffs in the air).

CR: Something must have made you want to be a photographer
C-B: I don´t consider my self (being) a photographer! I´m using the
camera, but there is millions of photographers. It´s what you see…

CR: So you see yourself simply as an artist?
C-B: Hmph! I´m just a human being! Anybody sensitive is an artist! Whats
all this!

See the full interview at You Tube:

provided by Jan Buse

Crowded

H is for Help, I can't do this

You and Me - Everyone else is a retard

"Art is the expression of imagination, not the reproduction of reality."

- Henry Moore

"Stop counting on that camera that hangs 'round your neck; because it won't ever remember what you choose to forget"

-Conor Oberst

the house hunt continues

Smells funny?

Have a look at this blog: "Film is not dead, it just smells funny."
Great pictures and texts. /urbano

"A place for photographers who are NOT using a digital camera.
35mm, 6x6, Polaroid, pinhole, holga, color or black and white, whatever,
as long it is not digitally shot."

limited only by photographers

ON PHOTOGRAPHY - The truth is that photography is limited only by photographers!

“To the vast majority of people a photograph is an image of something within their direct experience: a more-or-less factual reality. It is difficult for them to realize that the photograph can be the source of experience, as well as the reflection of spiritual awareness of the world and of self. The painters have done little to dispel the impression of their superiority in the creative graphic fields; they point with scorn (and often correctly) to the shallow “storytelling” aspects of photography, and they also disapprove of photographers who attempt superficial “abstract” or “non-objective” effects within the limits of the photographic processes. To a large majority a photograph bears the same relationship to a fine painting as a contractor-designed house does to a fine architectural creation. This situation would be ridiculous were it not so tragic. The truth is that photography is limited only by photographers!”
(Ansel Adams, “The profession of photography, Aperture vol. 1, no. 3, 1952)

- provided by Jan Buse.

Smog

invited guest: Michał Sita

This is a short story about Northern Kurdistan or, respectively, Southern Turkey. A place in a particular moment in history, when 30 years period of fighting for the name of this land - has ended. Kurdish guerilla war is burning out, leaving the coutry and it's people suspended. Photographs are not ment to comment on politics, but to reflect a kind of uncertainty. I rarely met people who would talk about the future with confidency. Revolution is gone, while nothing else came to replace it. Each idea seems too dangerous to treat it seriously.














Thank you for possibility of sharing those photos. It's a big pleasure for me to have this chance.

Michał Sita is a student of cultural anthropology on AMU in Poznań and photography on Silesian University in Opava. He lived in Turkey for six months in 2006, thanks to EU scholarship program.

Contact with Michał: michal.sita(at)gmail.com

Touching Rain

49W 6th Ave