invited guest: Chris Maluszynski

Migrants in a hospitality house run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in the town of Altar. In picture: Maximiliano Triche Reyes







The Mexican town Altar; 60 miles south of the border crossing in Sasabe is a transit point for migrants trying to get into the US. Approximately 3000-4500 migrants cross this border every day in high season.

In the central plaza in front of the Catholic church, each day from late winter through mid-summer, many buses arrive from the south, carrying people who intend to cross the border. They come from all over Mexico and parts of Central America.

The shops around the square sell backpacks and other necessities for the crossing.


Wall at the US-Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona



Border patrol at the US-Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona


Robin Hoover, a Disciples of Christ pastor and president of Humane Borders






Adri Leonel Perez Gonzalez has crossed the border many times, but has recently been deported from the US.


Chris Maluszynski was born 1975 in Warsaw, Poland. Moved to Sweden at age 7. Studied physics and electrical engineering, history of art, history of photography and visual communication (MA) at the University of Linköping, Sweden, and Sorbonne, Paris.

Began his professional career in 1995 and has since worked for most of the major swedish newspapers including staff positions at Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten. Also has professional experience as a picture editor.

Has been awarded numerous prizes in photography including first places in the Swedish Picture of The Year in 1999, 2001 and 2003. In 2005 he recieved an award in the Art and Worship World Prize in Iran, in 2006 he was awarded in the multimedia category of NPPA and in 2007 he recieved a prize in the celebrity portrait category in Best of Photojournalism. Maluszynski is based in New York since 2005.

In his book “Systrar” (published in 2003) Maluszynski documents the everyday life of 11 Brigittine sisters in the convent of Saint Birgitta in Vadstena, Sweden. Chris Maluszynski spent two years of photographing with the Brigittine sisters and the result is an impressive set of pictures, depicting the sisters of the convent, following the medieval rule.

Chris Maluszynski is one of eight members of a collectively owned agency for photojournalists called MOMENT. For more of Chris work visit the MOMENT site.

All photos presented here: ©Chris Maluszynski/MOMENT

invited by ulf fågelhammar

invited guest: G.M.B. Akash

Akash’s passion for photography began in 1996. He attended the World Press Photo seminar in Dhaka for 3 years and graduated with a BA in Photojournalism from Pathshala, Dhaka.

His work has been featured in over 45 major international publications including: Time, Newsweek, Geo, Stern, Der Spiegel, The Guardian, Marie Claire, The Economist, The New Internationalist, Kontinente, Amnesty Journal, Courier International, Modern Times, A Magazine, PDN, View, Earth Geo, Die Zeit, Days Japan, Literaturen, Der Ueberblick, Zenith, Free Lance, Art Asia Pacific, El Mundo, NRC Handelsblad, Cicero, Insight, Szene Hamburg, Himal-the South Asian Magazine, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Westdeutsche Allgemeneine, Berliner Journalisten, Frankfurter Rundschau, Das Parlament, Hinz & Kunzt, China Daily, Asia News, Hamburger Abendblatt, Hamburger Morgen Post, and Sunday Telegraph of London.

In 2002 he became the first Bangladeshi to be selected for the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass in the Netherlands. In 2004 he received the Young Reporters Award from the Scope Photo Festival in Paris, again being the first Bangladeshi to receive the honour. In 2005 he was awarded Best of Show at the Center for Fine Art Photography’s international competition in Colorado, USA. In 2006 he was awarded World Press Photo award and released his first book “First Light”.

In 2007 again he became the first Bangladeshi to be selected for the 30 Emerging Photographers (PDN 30) by Photo District News Magazine, USA.

more of Akash works you may find at his web site and here ->

invited by Marcin Górski

Frame

Face to face (124)

Photo: Paolo Saccheri

Fan

The political situation in Taiwan has been somewhat special for many decades. Taiwan is recognized as an independent nation by some countries and by others not. China reclaims the island as a part of its territory, but has until now not performed any hostile actions, that is to say: unless the island will proclaim its independence. Traditionally, the relation between China and Taiwan has been tense, especially concerning the question of independence.

The picture "Fan" was taken about a month ago, during the last meeting of the Kuomintang party before the victorious elections. After many years in opposition, Kuomintang has now won the island's leadership and there is a process of trying to improve relations with China.

Text and photo: Alberto Lizaralde

Spring is here

To The Moon (April 2004)

photo: Jeanne Wells

invited guest: Manuela Martin

I am not a pro photographer but simply love strolling around and seeing the world through my camera. Some say I'v got a very strict and geometrical way of taking pictures, some say it's very minimalistic and abstract - to be honest, I don't really think about that.

All I'm striving for is displaying what I see when looking at buildings, as modern architecture is my passion.

Needless to say that I am really glad if some people enjoy to look at my work!

photos and text by Manuela Martin

more works of Manuela you will find here ->

invited by Marcin Górski

Through the lens (close up)

Photo: Jan Bernhardtz

Through glass

Pictures by Darren Hepburn from the series Through Glass.

Found Tintypes

Face to Face (123): Kacper

Musikens hus

Rhonda Prince now becomes author on F-Blog

I love all kinds of cameras...I love pushing buttons, turning dials and looking through viewfinders. What is even more exciting to me is when a picture jumps out at me uninvited. It's just there staring me in the face, begging to be taken. Of course, sometimes I plan a picture by composing, calculating, agonizing over the light, etc...but I keep taking pictures for the interlopers who appear unannounced, challenging me to grab a camera fast enough to answer their call... Mostly photography is what keeps me sane and feeds my soul…

Available, 2007

Some of the well-known photographers who have influenced me are Walker Evans, Diane Arbus, Elliot Erwitt, Robert Frank, Robert Adams, William Eggleston…to name a few. The music/poetry of Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen inspires me as well.

115th dream, 2006

My favorite photography quote: “The thing that's important to know is that you never know. You're always sort of feeling your way.”

(Diane Arbus)

I have been feeling my way in photography since 2001 while living and working in Chattanooga, Tennessee as an exceptional education teacher. My true love is shooting film, color and b&w, in a variety of 35mm and medium-format cameras. Education in photography has been from books, trial and error and a myriad of talented photographers I’ve met on numerous photo sites.

Overturned, 2004

I don’t see a particular thematic pattern in my pictures though there may be one. I do know empty chairs and seats or all types seem to have a recurring role. I tend to take pictures of places and things more than people. Finding the beauty in inanimate objects is like hunting for treasure. The textures and patterns combined with light and shadow create a landscape of their own. I search for the story in a place or object, imagining what happened before I took the picture or maybe after. I often like to add words and titles to my pictures when the picture evokes an emotion. Recently I have started a blog with poems illustrated by photos or photos illuminated by poetry, whichever way you want to see it. So many times it may be the memory of the place or the circumstances of when I took the picture that makes the photo more meaningful to me than anyone else. Because of this fact, it is always exciting when others understand my vision and appreciate my photos.

Chasing Bubbles, 2008

I’ve experimented some with toy cameras and developing b&w film in the kitchen sink. No matter how many times I try it I find there is nothing like the feeling of pulling the film from the reel and seeing that a picture has actually developed there…magical!

Hard times, 2007

I have so much to learn…so many directions to follow…always hoping to propel myself forward. I feel honored to have this opportunity to be a part of F-Blog and all the fine photographers represented here. More of my pictures can be seen here on F-Blog , BlogSpot and altphotos

Northshore, 2005

ggf

invited guest: Tommi Pirnes

1. School morning. Kourseong, India 2006

2. Playing in the back streets of Jhunjhunu. Jhunjhunu, India 2006

I really don’t consider myself as a photographer as much as a traveller. I rarely pick up the camera in my hometown, but when I travel it’s all I do. From dawn till dusk and then after that. My trips are relatively short so I must make the best of the time I have. These photographs from India were taken during November 2006.

3. Under the bodhi tree. Bodhgaya, India 2006

4. Jaipur, India 2006

5. Adinath Jain Temple, Ranakpur India 2006

Why India? There are few places left in the world that still has that aura of mystique above it. For me India has always been one of those places that has had that something... So, the only way to try to make sense of it all was to go there and see that something myself.

Today India is in the midst of a massive change both ecomically and culturally. During the last 15 years it has been the second fastest-growing country in the world surpassed only by China. By 2040 it will be the the third largest economy in the world. You can see this change clearly in the outskirts of big cities such as Mumbai or Bangalore where new and shiny glass-walled towers rise next to the slums. India is still home to 40 percent of the world's poor. Mohandas Gandhi said 'You must be the change you wish to see in the world' and it seems that millions of Indians are becoming that change.

6. The rescue. Mumbai, India 2006

7. Just after sunset. Ranakpur, India 2006

8. Butterflies and the Mahabodhi Temple. Bodhgaya, India 2006

Many things have changed yet many things stay the same. The 1444 distinct marble pillars that carry the heavy roof of Adinath Jain Temple in Ranakpur will still stand centuries after we are gone. And every night bats leave their nearby cave with no knowledge of actions of men. India is not easily understood and it will get under your skin. Still. I can’t wait to go back…

Tommi Pirnes: "Born -78. My grandfather gave me my first camera. My father photographed. The library gave me books. And the streets keep me walking... I'm just naturally curious about almost anything new and of course when you travel many things are new. When I was 23 realised that I can take a decent picture so, I desided to buy a decent camera. After that my only travel companion has been my M6.

One thing also is a must for me. Film. Photos in media and especially the net have lost much their credibility after Photoshop etc. If I take photographs with a mechanical film camera and print it myself, the final print will hold some of that original photographic truth. Not saying that digital prints would not have that. But I guess you know what I mean? And yes you can debate about truth or photographic truth for eternity. But it's still the way I like to work. I need something I can touch. And believe."

Text and photos © Tommi Pirnes

invited by ulf fågelhammar