Friday 9 March 2012

My new blog is now over on http://thephotofoundry.wordpress.com/

Hope to see you there!

Friday 28 October 2011

Revealed – the true story behind the 'Afghan Mona Lisa'

Revealed – the true story behind the 'Afghan Mona Lisa'


Legendary photographer Steve McCurry revealed the true story behind his most famous photograph, Afghan Girl, during a rare visit to London last night. Speaking to Phaidon at the Chris Beetles Fine Photosgallery in Piccadilly where he was opening a new show, McCurry said he quickly realised he'd have to ignore 12-year-old Sharbat Gula in order to get the shot he wanted. The photo graced the cover of National Geographic in June 1985 and is generally regarded as one of the most viewed photographs in the world.

"When I walked into the classroom I was kind of convinced that she was really an amazing person but she was very shy," McCurry said. "So I started off by photographing the other students, because I thought if I approach her straight away and she says 'no' that would be a no for the rest of the day. So I photographed her classmates and got them involved in the process. I wanted her to feel that she was almost excluded so that she'd want to take part in it and, sure enough, it got to the point where she agreed.

"There's a real emotion and a real beauty in the picture. Her expression is ambiguous - she's obviously poor cos she has a rip in her shawl and her face is kind of dirty. But through that there's a dignity and there's a perseverance and a fortitude. There's a wide range of emotions. I think there’s a great depth to the picture."

McCurry actually travelled back to Afghanistan in 2002 on a National Geographic assignment to try and find Gula. Many women came forward to claim they were her and the search seemed hopeless.

"We didn't have her name or address or what tribe she belonged to. We trawled the refugee camps and eventually found one man who remembered her brother. It was a complete miracle that we found her. I expected her as she is in this photograph to walk through the door and I was shocked when this 30-year-old woman walked in. We're continually in contact with her today and we make sure she's taken care of and that she's been compensated for the picture – that’s been an ongoing process since 2002." Gula, who was orphaned during the Soviet bombing of Afghanistan, has since had four girls of her own, one of whom died in infancy.

The Chris Beetles show runs until September 24. We'll be posting a short video with highlights from it later this morning. Meanwhile though you can see more of Steve's incredible images in our gallery here.




Thursday 20 May 2010

Tina K Photography































Tina K Photography on facebook

In her album 'photoshoots' she manages to really capture
the spirit and personality of her sitters. I like the heavily
saturated colours, the stylised look and in particular the
crazy wide angles.

Monday 3 May 2010




http://blackbird17.blogspot.com/2006/11/wednesday.html

A blog exploring pictures of beautiful older women

Saturday 1 May 2010


http://elizabethangela.blogspot.com/

ELIZABETH JOHNSON (OXFORD, UK)

From fashion magazine shoots to gritty newspaper jobs, Elizabeth Johnson has found her own brand of dark and moody photography

Text by David Hellqvist | Published 20 April 2010

Elizabeth Johnson might enjoy shooting fashion, but it will never be in that glossy and commercial kind of way we're all so used to. There's an distinct eerie quality to Johnson's work, with serious, realistic and sometimes moody feelings to it. That can be explained by her earlier affiliation with newspaper photography for the likes of The Independent, Sunday Times and the BBC, all through a degree in Editorial Photography from Brighton University. Having also had work experience at more fashion focused publications, such as Vice, Amelia and Disappear Here, Johnson, 24, have found herself a unique style of photography, one that she is now busy pursuing in a freelance career. But there are other projects on the horizon as well: "Yes, I'm also working on a farm assisting with projects in animal welfare standards and will be returning to University to qualify as a veterinary surgeon. Which I am aware is not quite a normal career combination!"



Wednesday 10 March 2010




Shops Upfront - Liverpool Council



Shops Upfront is Culture Liverpool's new initiative that enables artists to access empty shops on the high street and the city centre for short term exhibitions, workshops and art events.

My Comment: This is something that could also be done in Mold and Wrexham. Keep this and contact the councils in the future after I have finished my degree.


Thursday 4 March 2010



http://www.artswales.org.uk


Registered on their websites. Gives details of events, community projects, galleries, etc in specific areas. Also details of funding.