Berenika (invited by abeku)

selfportrait

photo: B Berenika (see actual photo at altphotos.com)

The quality of Berenikas artwork strucked me instantly when I discovered her huge production of artwork at altphotos.com. Each and everyone of the pictures deserves the viewer's attention.

photo: B Berenika (see actual photo at altphotos.com)

To pick a few examples from her portfolio is a challenge. Overall there's a subtle evolution and various themes are seen. To me, there's a surrealistic landscape in pleasant shades of grey, and just like a Tarkovski movie there are scenes of colour that add to the context.

photo: B Berenika (see actual photo at altphotos.com)

The contemplative mood and silence strikes me when I walk around in her world. There's a strong feeling of being in a observer, watching things on few feet distance. I feel comfortable walking around in her world of mystery.

photo: B Berenika (see actual photo at altphotos.com)

I wish Berenika will compile some of her work at a dedicated site in her name. That would be an oasis to go back in order to find inspiration. Most of Berenikas photographic work is available for sale. To buy a print, please contact her at: abigaill@poczta.fm. Invited by Anders Blomqvist.

Guest: Helena Nilsson

The hours of the night are like rubber bands

Sometimes it hurts so bad

Golden locks

All pictures by Helena Nilsson
See more of her great work here

invited by ulf fågelhammar

Istanbul Puppet Maker

Photo: Christian Wettergren

Proud ambitions

Proud ambitions deserve good pictures. or is it the ambitions becoming visible?
Please look at this:

mvhogh/...(pera

.: Alligator Killer Qu'est-ce que c'est? Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa :.

- How's New York, Buddy?

(Who turned off the color telly, BTW?)

Artwork: Dalina P

All birds must land sometime

Photo: Mats Äleklint

The picture you didn´t intend to take

Paris 1962
Photographer: Christer Strömholm

"The picture you didn't intend to take is the one you later
are ecstatic about having taken.The two boys in Paris with
the handbags is an example of what I mean."
- Christer Strömholm

See all pictures from On verra bien on the
official homepage for Christer Strömholm.

The Walk - discussion

Regarding previous published picture.
J. S-g:
I think you overdid the vignetting here, in the sense that it would greatly benefit from more feathering. At least to me, that is.

C Wett:
Hi Joakim,
first of all, I appreciate your honesty, I really do.

Regarding the vignetting, it is interesting to discuss. You are quite right that it is "overdone", if I'm trying to "fake" the analogue equivalent of bad lenses.

Instead, I would say that to me, the effect I added, contributed to the atmosphere of the picture. It added the feeling of a strong winter sun in early springtime... that's it to me.

I have stopped worrying about whether my post processing looks "genuine" or not (i.e. analogue), it is not about that to me. Digital is my medium and my material.

You could see this as developing the copies in a too hot developer, or by having an unexpected elbow pointing in into the composition. Look at the lamps on The Rambler below, do they look genuine? Either it is a failed photo, since it doesn't work - or it makes the difference in positive terms.

Hail to the norm deconstruction. :-)
-C

This was 'about photography' as well. :)
Any more views, Dear F:ers?

Perfection

photo: Jeanne Wells

It's one of those things that fascinates me: perfection. As does beauty.
We Westerners think they have something to do with stasis, a state
of solidity. But. but but but -- aren't they more about catching things
appearing or disappearing? about imperfection, mistakes, things that
may never come together again?

So much of the difficulty and drag of typical photo sites is that folks
think it's about pointing out the flaws. . . . and that kind of thinking
which equates no flaws with perfection.

So much of any art is about seeing how the flaws bring their own life
to what we make.

This is a deeply flawed photograph, but. but but but . . .

Christer Strömholm

Gunilla Knape: What do you want to convey with your pictures?
Christer Strömholm: I make images and they are not necessarily photographic pictures. What's important to me is what the picture says. The impression of the picture is what matters. That is even more important than the truth - a photographic truth.

From Strömholms last interview. Autumn 2000.
(Published in the “La Caixa Catalogue” 2001)

Photograph: Jura 1949, Christer Strömholm
(by kind permission of Joakim Strömholm)

In autumn 2002 I went to see the exhibition Christer Strömholm 1918 – 2002. On verra bien at Färgfabriken in Stockholm. I was strongly impressed by seeing this great collection of Strömholms work. To me he is one of the true masters.

-urbano

Official homepage of CHrister Strömholm
Anders Marners article: "Christer Strömholm and First-Person Surrealism (PDF)

The Walk

Photo: Christian Wettergren

Guest: Rhonda Prince

Running in place

chairs: the ultimate in function and utility...ergonomically designed for dignified or common use...gateway to reflection...task or easy, hard or soft... offering relaxation and repose, a place to escape, a seat in time and space...where we sit and wait for life to unfold ...or when we can wait no longer it is where we spring to action from...

Photographer: Rhonda Prince
More pictures by Rhonda
invited by ulf fågelhammar

September

The sun shines high above

The sounds of laughter

The birds swoop down upon

The crosses of old grey churches

We say that we're in love

While secretly wishing for rain

Sipping coke and playing games

September's here again

Lyrics: David Sylvian

Photo: Abeku

Photographs from FSA

We will now and then publish a few pictures from
the Farm Security Administration. The Library of
Congress have digitalized more than 160 000 photos
of great interest created by many excellent photographers.

When asking the Library about permission to publish
pictures we received this answer.

As a public institution, the Library does not require
that you receive its permission before using an image,
so the only permission you would need is what may
be required from the copyright owner or donor,
independently of the Library. You will just need to
check the item record for the specific photo of interest
to be certain there are no restrictions listed.
That would be a rare situation for this US government
sponsored collection.

I hope this information is helpful.

Best wishes,
Digital Reference Team
The Library of Congress
kp

We will do some research on every photo that is
published here just to make sure that there are no
restrictions involved.

Here is more about copywrite concerning the collections.

Bingo!

"Bingo." Sarasota trailer park, Sarasota, Florida.
photo: Marion Post Wolcott
Created/published 1941 Jan.
See more from Farm Security Administration

Sörmans - the movie

Living above Sörman's Herrmode, I have turned my camera
towards it many times. I put together a small retrospective
slideshow at YouTube, take a look. (Sörman - the movie)

-C

Guest: Karin Bengtsson

Stairs by Karin Bengtsson, 2005
Holga

See more magic from Karin here
invited by ulf fågelhammar

When At seven

Photo: Per-Arne Andersson

A rather stiff audience

This guy sat alone in a room at Västgöta Nation in Uppsala and played his cello.

photo: markus andersson

Polaroids

Photo: Jeanette Hägglund Polaroidlift-1996

Anxiety

Frail and fragile, we are.
False alarm.
(I knew it the whole time anyway.)
Phew.

Photo and post-processing: Christian Wettergren

Farm Security Administration

Many of the photographers of this huge project aiming at documenting American life during the Great Depression became famous. Today you can find a treasure of more than 160 000 photographs at the Library of Congress American Memory

The picture above is "The Arnold children and mother on their newly fenced and newly cleared land. Note strawberry plants. Western Washington, Thurston County, Michigan Hill"

Photographer: Dorothea Lange, created/published aug 1939

sheepspotting x2

They are not only sweet and fluffy...they sometimes attack from the behind too...

Photo in the run by: Christofer Grandin

Only the sky is the limit

Photo: Mats Äleklint

the essence of

I found this symbol on a wall in Lisbon a few years ago.

photo: markus

Guest: Branko Jeric

A great shot about man and geometry.

Photo: Branko Jeric
More
invited by ulf fågelhammar

Sad girl by the chocolate fountain

I noticed this girl at a cafe in Dublin. She looked so sad.

photo: Markus Andersson

Chess

Photo: Per-Arne Andersson
This morning it was like a game of chess!

Crossroad

Photo: Mats Äleklint

Most of the time he's the lord of the jungle
Everyone grins while he gripes,
Usually he's found just loungin around
In his Stripes.

His tiger lady's a super fine feline
Just What his Highness deserves,
Sweet purring pussycat
Proud of her pussycat curves.

He's a Tiger in the Rain,
It's the thunder and Lightning he can't explain
The tiger in the Rain, that's frightened.

Caught in the storm,
He came searching for shelter,
Right up to me and my spouse
We both stroked his chin and invited him
in to our house.

(Mikael Franks, Tiger in the Rain)
Photo: Christian Wettergren