Innocent Faces of War: Refugee Children from Afghanistan
Photos by AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen
In times of war, it's hard to think about the innocent lives of children that are forced to live in hostile and poverty stricken conditions. For decades, Pakistan has been refuge for hundreds of thousands of Afghans who fled from war and deprivation, and amongst these refugees are whole generations of children; children who have never received proper education and work harder jobs than many of us here in the US.
Although a good number of refugees have returned to Afghanistan, many can't fathom to return, creating tension with Pakistanis who note the negative toll this has taken on their country. In the midst of this displacement, AP Photographer Muhammed Muheisen captured these beautiful portraits of children living in what's known as one of the world's largest refugee communities. Check out the photos below and see more here.
[Via The Associated Press]
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]
"The Unseen": A Photographic Series Representing Duality
Photos by Lara Zankoul
In the current world of social media, it's easy to misconstrue reality with appearance. Lebanese photographer Lara Zankoul used this duality as a concept in her photographic series, "The Unseen", on exhibition from February 10th to March 30th, 2014 at Ayyam Gallery in Beirut.
In each photo, you'll see the subject above and underwater, demonstrating what's often hidden below the surface versus the perspective of what's most likely to be shown to the public. This is undoubtedly a concept inspired by the modern world of social media. As we scroll through our personal feeds, it's more common to see photos and news of the positive highlights of one's life rather than the harsh state of distorted truth.
To say the least, I think we can all relate to the idea behind Zankoul's photo set. Be sure to check out more here.
[Via The Photographer's Room]
Dreary Photos of Calcified Birds in African Lake
Photos by Nick Brandt
Imagine a lake so acidic that it will calcify your body at first touch. Lake Natron in Tanzania does just that at certain times of the year. This shallow, volcano surrounded lake creates high concentrations of salt, various minerals, and most importantly sodium carbonate (natron) leaving a seasonal and dangerously high evaporation rate. Science talk aside, it is nicknamed "The Lake of Death" because the environment is quite peculiar, unsafe, and scarce in wild life.
Photographer Nick Brandt found a rather ghastly scene off these shores when he captured the unfortunate demise of birds and bat that had been dried and calcified at the lake's touch. It's hard to even believe that these photos are of real animals rather than of statues or sculptures. Check out these dark yet beautifully captured images.
[Via Demilked, Amusing Planet]
2014 Fashion Trends in Limited Edition Splash Calendar
Photos by Tejal Patni
Floral prints, bold colors, eccentric patterns, and combining fabrics are all the trend in 2014, and this was made official when Splash released their latest limited edition calendar, titled "In Love With Fashion". Since 1993, Splash, a high-end fashion retailer based in Dubai, has been globally trend setting the industry. With the concept and photography by Tejal Patni and the styling of designer Furne Amato, the calender combines art and fashion brilliantly from month to month. To go even further, Splash has been steadily releasing video clips focusing on each month individually. So creative!
Here are some splendid behind-the-scene shots from Splash Calendar 2014, and take a look at the following photos in sequence, from January to December. What do you think the biggest trends of 2014 will be?
Tintype Photographs of Celebrities at Sundance
Photos by Victoria Will
It's that time of year again, when the Sundance Film Festival takes Park City, Utah by storm. Every year, the fest brings crowds of cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers, photographers, actors, and the like, and this year is no different. Photographer Victoria Will has been covering Sundance for a few years now, and she has never failed in creating great photos of celebrities who attend. This year, she went with a different approach by creating Tintype portraits, a challenging photographic process that dates back to the late 19th century.
With help from fellow photographer Josh Wool in the darkroom, she has graciously shared her images and they are nothing short of amazing. Take a look and see who you recognize. Then find more familiar faces from her set here.
[Via Esquire]
A Tale of Two Photos: Prize Vs Controversy
Photo by Paul Hansen
The image above is of Fabienne Cherisma, a 15-year-old female who was shot and killed by police after looting plastic chairs and framed artwork. It won 2011's Swedish Picture of The Year Awards for the being the best International News Image.
In 2010 , the most powerful earthquake to hit Haiti in a century struck at a 7.0 magnitude. The damage was catastrophic for a nation amongst some of the poorest in the world. The photo featured above, by Photojournalist Paul Hansen, is one of most widely discussed photos from the aftermath of this devastation, because of it's controversy in ethics. This dispute was brought to attention because of the following image, captured by photographer Nathan Weber:
In perspective, Weber's image is a behind-the-scenes look at a group of photojournalists crowding around to capture the same tragic scene in Hansen's prized photograph. Many of these photographers even continued to shoot after the grieving family arrived, as seen in Weber's video production of the tragedy. Sadly, these two photos depict a common scenario for photographers to either bring awareness to such situations, or to simply gain a sense of notoriety for their work. Photos such as these stir up debate in exploitation of privacy and in the morality of photographers. Without these images, however, would fewer resources be sent out to aid?
In the age of social media, matters of privacy and exploitation coincide with daily streams of news and trends around the world. More than ever before in history, war and natural disasters are visually documented and are easily accessible. How important do you think it is to broadcast these types of tragedies? Should photos such as these merit an award?
Think about it.
[Via Politica y Sociedad]
Kirsty Mitchell's fascinating Wonderland Series
Photos by Kirsty Mitchell
You are truly missing out if you haven't seen the creative and detailed work of UK photographer, Kirsty Mitchell. In November 2013, she stunned the art world with her photographic piece, Wonderland: Gaia, The Birth of an End. And if that wasn't enough, just before the year ended, she released Wonderland: She'll Wait For You In The Shadows of Summer.
In memory of her mother, Mitchell began her Wonderland series back in 2009 and it's been going strong since. Not only are these photos visually intriguing, but the process is just as beautiful. Each series takes from weeks to months to create, stemming from the handmade headdress, elaborate jewelry, clothing, and at last, the 5 hours of face painting and makeup that each models undergoes before shoot time. From beginning to end each series is a work of art, one so astounding that even behind-the-scene footage is fantastically captured.
Take a look at the following "Wonderland" photos, and allow yourself to get lost in Kirsty Mitchell's whimsical, fairy tale world. Afterwards, head over to read her fascinating diary of each series, and click here for limited edition prints.
[Via ThisIsColossal, Kirsty Mitchell]
