LEI FENG

I came across this news from a photographic magazine. Dai Xiang, a Chinese photographer, has made this photo album with a 1/6 Lei Feng figure and his superb photo editing skills. I think he has done an amazing work and I would like to share here. Lei Feng was a soldier of the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China. He was characterised as a selfless and modest person who was devoted to Chairman Mao Zedong and the people of China. In the posthumous "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng" campaign, begun by Mao in 1963, the youth of the country were indoctrinated to follow his example.
The photo series by Dai Xiang has an interesting interpretation of this legendary Chinese PLA hero.

http://www.beijingtoday.com.cn/tag/dai-xiang

PENN

 Irving Penn, one of the 20th century’s most prolific and influential photographers of fashion and the famous, whose signature blend of classical elegance and cool minimalism. His style remained remarkably constant. Imbued with calm and decorum, his photographs often seemed intent on defying fashion. His models and portrait subjects were never seen leaping or running or turning themselves into blurs.

http://www.irvingpenn.com/

BENCH STORIES

Gilles Sabrie is a French photographer based in China. I discovered his work when a friend send me his blog link. Gilles Sabrie’s series "The Bench of Tianmen" is a photographic work about people sleeping, waiting or living on the famous square benches. I really like the idea, and I specially like the pictures. It’s weird but I have the feelings that they were shot in a studio even if I’m sure they weren’t. On Gille’s website, you can also look at his others great stories.

http://www.gsabrie.com/#/intro

UPON THE SAME BED

Shi Xiaofan’s statement:

In the same hospital, upon the same bed, different people die in their different ways.

In my experience, hospitals, which have always determined life and death, are a symbol of power and violence, when people are born in this place, and when they die, they seem to be so insignificant and powerless.

In this series, I wanted to use a surrealist technique and a precise pictorial composition to depict what happens at the death of normal people in a country fixated by heroism; the relationship between a few ordinary people and the state as i understood it.

http://www.benoitcezard.com/blog/?tag=quentin-shih

COLOUR BIZARRE

Sayaka Maruyama, 1983, Japan, is an artist that uses various techniques in her artwork. She draws, paints, designs and edits films, but most of all she photographs. She often works together with hair and head prop artist Tomihiro Kono, also in the series Japan Avant Garde, which is based on her feelings as a Japanese living abroad. The images of Sayaka are often dark, mysterious but do sometimes contain bizarre colours.

http://500photographers.blogspot.com/2010/12/photographer-182-sayaka-maruyama.html

MAPPLETHORPE VS. SCISSOR SISTERS

Night Work, an impressive exhibition of work by Robert Mapplethorpe curated by the Scissor Sisters takes place this spring at the Alison Jacques Gallery. I visitied London for a week and hopped in to take a peek. Named after the band's latest album release, the show features a selection of works from the renowned American artist that were used as part of the artwork for the Night Works album.

exhibition: NightWork, Robert Mapplethorpe curated by the Scissor Sisters

SALT PRINT PROCESS

This new edition to the series looks at one of today’s most innovative artists.  Working exclusively in 19th century processes, Dan Estabrook produces intimate, yet compelling photographs that illustrate the beauty of long forgotten methods.  In the documentary portion, he talks about his influences, techniques and the impetus behind everything he creates, while writer and critic Lyle Rexer and others comment on his exceptional talent.  In the Photo Commentary, Estabrook provides insight to many of his photographs, and in the Bonus Feature, he demonstrates the salt print process.

http://danestabrook.com/