Vintage camera collect Gregg Matthews caused a stir in the online community earlier today when he announced the latest model to join his grand collection, the ‘Trump Snappy.’
Made in the USA and seemingly a relic from a former business venture, Matthews had a few choice words to say about the fantastic piece of plastic: Continue reading
Back in the 1970s the photographic art world was experiencing a transformation of sorts. The rise of the celebrity photographer, especially in America set a precedent in the contemporary art market. Photographer’s work started selling for serious money. Mike Mandel, then a student of the San Francisco Art Institute noticed the change and put his mind to creating a body of work that would first satirise but later memorialise the celebrity photographer of the day.
In what would turn out to be an audacious undertaking, Mandel would spend the next Summer travelling the length and breadth of the United States on what he called a Continue reading
In a rare break of persona, the satirical photographer Missy Mwac has launched a scathing attack on a popular Facebook page that stole an image and allegedly removed her name as credit. A photo of her as a child in the arms of her doting father.
The picture posted earlier this year is a grainy black and white vernacular snap from the author’s yesteryear entitled with the caption “If you don’t think photos are important, wait until they are all you have left.” The message is especially poignant for Missy who lost her father early in life and helps carry weight to her ongoing cause of getting people to print more photos.
Missy, real name Lynn Cartia first found out about the posting made by ‘Smart Assy‘ this morning when one of her followers informed her of the social media faux-pas. In the video Continue reading
Have you seen this wonderful photograph circling various social media in the last 24 hours? It’s a picture of dwarf planet Pluto transiting the face of the Sun, revealing a beautiful hazy blue atmosphere. The minimalist, dark frame has been a hit with scientists, observers and artists alike, not just for the implications this atmosphere may hold for the former planet, but for its eerie, perfect beauty.
At the Phogotraphy office we pondered on how easy it would be for us to take this image ourselves. What type of rig we’d need, how much forward planning and at what expense? Turns out, it’s pretty simple actually. So ever the givers we’ve decided, exclusively, to share this easy 10-step-how-to-guide on photographing the atmosphere of Pluto. Continue reading
From the sublime, to the ridiculous to the absurd. The selfie stick has officially morphed into the Selfie Spoon courtesy of the pranksters at Cinnamon Toast Crunch. We took a look at the Youtube advert that delicately portrays their new invention, and in the fashion it deserves picked out numerous factual inaccuracies.
This is wholly incorrect. I have Continue reading
Did you know there’s a Guinness World Record for taking the most selfies in one hour? We didn’t until this morning, but apparently increasing imagery of yourself in an already duck-face saturated world is a thing now. At least so according to Bhanu Prakash of Hyperabad.
According to the Guinness’ the record is currently held by Patrick Peterson and NBC Sports of the USA and stands at a whopping Continue reading
The Daily Mash, a UK satirical site that specialises in making light hearted jibes of current affairs got it absolutely spot on with this headline:
The article is of course in reference to the photographs and videos that have been going viral on social media which show the lifeless body of a very young boy washed ashore on a European beach. The young boy, a refugee fleeing the atrocities happening in Syria in search of a safer home.
The satirical publication made the striking point as one commenter expressed in a Facebook post. “Today’s story is not making humour out of the photograph of a dead child, but our delayed response to an all too real disaster. It’s still funny, dark, but funny, and the joke is at our expense.”
The article is very short, intentionally without image and reminds us not only of our own inability to act without seeing photographs, but also how important they are to the world.
It has been confirmed that everyone kind of knew the thing was happening, but now they are very sad and angry because there is a photo of it.
Exactly.
To donate, Save The Children are campaigning to support child refugees here.
Related: Why Use a Doctored Image to Highlight Plight of Syrian Refugees.
First, let me invite you to look at Prince Harry’s Getty Images portfolio, freely available for anybody to peruse, however not linked in any one of the articles I will post below.
There are, in total, three images:
I’m glad the Prince of Wales had the artistic vision to turn these portraits monochrome. Why would one make use of the colour sensor in your digital camera when you can just flick a switch and avoid a distraction such as colour? – If Harry had used a film camera and a roll of HP5 then I may have been a little more forgiving.
Now let’s look at a few of the headlines:
The Daily Mail – Portrait of a Very Modern Prince
National Post – Prince Harry Shows off his Photography Skills
9News – Prince Harry Reveals Flair for Photography
IBT – Prince Harry Tries his Hand at Photography
AOL – Prince Charming Shares his Sweet Photo Diary
And the best one of all…
The Times – Prince Harry: Portrait Photography at its Finest.
Yes, you read that right. Photography masters, professionals, all of you who’ve spent many years perfecting your craft, step aside. Prince charming is here with three photos that are ‘Portrait Photography at its Finest.’
It’s unfair to judge so quickly, as one of the images isn’t actually all that bad. This striking portrait of an apparently young orphaned herder is well composed and he’s even managed to keep it in focus. After all, he’s shooting on a Fuji X100S in full auto, I should hope so.
That’s one third of his entire portfolio that can be considered excellent work.
Although, after seeing the gorgeous red walls in Chris Jackson‘s meta portrait, I’m once again saddened by the decision to flick the B&W switch on.
The other two images by Harry aren’t so good. They are, and a more seasoned photography critic will point this out in due course, tourist tat. If you wish to look at them in a larger size rather than the thumbnails above: Image 1, Image 2.
Even the Prince’s description of his images makes absolutely no sense at all:
‘I have always enjoyed photography and the challenges that come with trying to capture the perfect shot, although privately I don’t take many photos. The best photos I have are in my head’
It’s safe to assume Getty Images were ever so slightly starstruck after his visit to their Children of Lesotho exhibition last year. Perhaps that’s how his portfolio was approved so fast?
Phogotraphy 