Dysturb: Photojournalism Hits the Streets of Paris
Photos by Rafael Yagobzadeh
The internet has made it easier for photographers to showcase their work and get it out to the masses. However, it's because of this that your work can get lost in the mix with so much information floating around. When it comes to getting your stuff published in magazines, that becomes a whole other challenge... something that photojournalist Pierre Terdjam has faced time and time again. Due to the subject matter of his photography, he has found it almost impossible to get the photos he's taken published from his visits to Egypt, Georgia, and Afghanistan. He wants to share what he has seen in war-torn parts of the world and show people what is really going on.
In order to get his photos noticed, he and some friends created a project known as Dysturb, which involves wheat pasting their images that can get published all over the streets of Paris. Their photos are blown up to billboard-sized prints so the masses can get a glimpse of what life is like in places such as Ukraine and Egypt. The goal of this project is to raise awareness and tell the story of what is going on in parts of the world that many never see. The group hopes to inspire other photographers to think of different ways to get their work out into the world, and they plan on expanding into the U.S. You can check out some of their work in the gallery below.
[Via Time Lightbox]
Brutal DIY Weapons of the Ukrainian Revolution
Photos by Tom Jamieson
Ukraine has been in a state of political unrest for quite some time now, from protests, to the situation with Russia in Crimea. Meanwhile, photojournalists have been on the scene giving the world a glimpse of what's going on, and most of what we find are powerful images from the frontline. However, photographer Tom Jamieson went a different approach, instead of going after the frontline of battles that ensued, he became intrigued with what civilians were using. It was their homemade weapons that became subject to a series of portraits by Jamieson to show how determined these protesters were. Whether to fight or defend against government security forces, some fought with little more than sticks, bats and sledgehammers, and others were a bit more creative with their weaponry.
As Jamieson got a closer look, he noticed that some of these weapons were marked with names of home towns, messages for their intended targets, and some were decorated with religious symbols, or political cartoons. Each of these personalized tools of revolution were made with what he describes as a "DIY nature" that held a sense of pride among their owners, and each were detailed to tell its own story. In design, each were made with a specific and brutal purpose: "clubs and maces for bashing, slingshots and stones for hurling, and forked pikes for ripping the shields out of the hands of police."
In this photo series, the weapons are shown in the hands of their owners against a black backdrop, but far from a photo studio. Along with his assistant, Jamieson carried a black background cloth with them and they would set up outside in the square, in occupied buildings, or near the protesters’ tents, when they found a protester carrying an unique-looking weapon. Another interesting point of this series is that had to be shot specifically in the early morning or twilight hours to keep lighting consistent from one subject to the next.
Check out the following photos of the extraordinary weaponry found, and be sure to keep tabs on more of his work, as he sets out to visit Crimea, and separate trips to Eastern and Western Ukraine to shoot much more than weaponry.
[Via Wired]
Protests Intensify in Venezuela
Photos by Rodrigo Abd/AP/Corbis
In recent days, nationwide protests have intensified in Venezuela leaving fatalities and many injured. While demands of demonstrators vary from economic to social, much of this news is kept from international popular media. As much of the world stands curious on what's going on, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Rodrigo Abd managed to cover gripping scenes as steady controversy ensues.
Here's quick summary of what's happening in Venezuela: While rampant crime, shortages in consumer goods, and threatened freedom of speech has increased, the current government opposition is protesting the Tuesday detainment of their leader Leopoldo Lopez, who was targeted for conspiracy in organizing most of these protests. While federal officials point the blame on the United States for supposedly plotting to destabilize the government, many blame Venezuela's government, led by President Nicolas Maduro, for these social and economic problems.
Although Venezuela has had various protests by those either supporting and opposing government leadership in the past decade, violence has reached it's peak in the last few days. Check out the following images captured by Rodrigo Abd, who seems to be right in the mix of all the feud, and be sure stay informed as opposition increases. Also, be sure to check out more of his work here.
[Via The Washington Post, The Guardian]
Powerful Images from Ukraine Protests
Photos by Darko Vojinovic
In the midst of protest and political chaos in Ukraine emerges powerful images for the world to see. From what started in November 2013 after government officials opted to oppose a trade deal with the European Union, deepening their ties with Russia, demonstrators around the country began to protest this political decision. As I write these very words, thousands of protestors are battling riot police and fighting to seize municipal buildings, leaving the country in a pending state of emergency.
As news continues to spread on the ordeal, the images shot by Photojournalist Darko Vojinovic are some of which that stuck out the most to me. Take a look at the these powerful photos shot within the last couple of months as demonstrations continue to increasingly spur. For more of Vojinovic's work, click here.
[Via Washington Times]
TIME Names David Guttenfelder Instagram Photographer of the Year
Photos by David Guttenfelder
When it comes to Instagram, you will find photos of just about anything you can imagine. There are those that really push the boundaries of mobile photography; then there are those that document their lives to share with the world, as is the case with the Associated Press's Chief Asia Photographer, David Guttenfelder, who gives us a look at life in North Korea. He was recently titled the Instagram Photographer of the Year by TIME magazine for documenting his life in North Korea, giving us a glimpse into a country so many in the outside world have not seen. Here are a few images that he has captured, and if you'd like to see more of his journey, check out his Instagram account here.
[Via Time]
Empty Spaces: Gary, Indiana
Photography by Bobby Reys
A buddy of mine wanted to go out and shoot some photos, so we set out with no particular destination in mind. Next thing you know, we're in the birthplace of The Jackson 5, Gary to be exact. I tend to wander, especially when I have my camera in hand, and there were plenty of things to photograph. These are some of the images that were captured that day, and as I look at the photos, it's crazy to think that at one point in time people frequented these spots and even lived in them. Imagine if these walls could talk.
The Sewer People Of Bucharest
In New York, there are urban legends that gators live in the sewer systems and some kids believe that Ninja Turtles live there as well. Whether any of it has some truth to it remains to be seen, but who knows? I'm sure something lives in the sewers. If you live in Bucharest Romania there's something entirely different living in the city's sewer system. Photographer Jen Tse set out to photograph the sewer people of Bucharest... Yes, you read that right - sewer people.
They are actually a group of kids that have lived in the sewers since dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's reign was over back in 1989. Nicolae had this idea that if he outlawed contraception, abortion, and forced women to have at least four kids, it would "boost the country’s workforce and reverse low birth and fertility rates." This didn't work, leaving families unable to take care of their children, leaving many to fend for themselves on the streets. Many of these kids took refuge in the city's sewers and stayed there. Check out the photos of the life these people live. Head on over to Vice for the full story.
[Photos by Jen Tse] [Via Vice]
The Streets: East Side Austin,TX (10/16/13)
Photography by Virgil Solis
It had been raining for a few days and pretty much all day on the 16th. Once the rain died down, Bobby Reys and I grabbed our cameras and headed out. These are some of the photos I shot.
[Via VirgilSolis.com]
