Through the Lens: Chloe Sells

 

Based on the earlier photo posted this morning, I was so intrigued by the type of photography done by Chloe Sells, I decided to share a few more that she took in various parts of Africa...

{Photos: Chloe Sells}

Through the Lens: Nyani Quarmyne

As part of the day-job, my head has been in "climate change" for quite some time so I was thrilled to come across this piece (it will probably help to read the article right about now) featuring the work of Ghanian photographer Nyani Quarmyne documenting the gradual erosion of an entire village in coastal Ghana. Looking at these homes, it is difficult to image that these houses were once 3 miles from the ocean!

While this type of erosion is certainly not new (see Helga Kohl's documentation of the same challenge taking place in Namibia or National Geographic's journey through The Sahel), Quarmyne adds a unique angle by photographing individuals in their sand-invaded homes. According to the artist:

“I tried to create images that look someone in the eye and through the connection that’s created — experience for a moment what they’re going through,” he said. “I was trying to humanize, to personalize, to individualize, rather than get away from the big picture, the common stereotypes that I see.”

I found myself very intrigued by the idea that by having a person in a picture, especially one in which the subject is looking directly into the camera, may "humanizes" an image. In this case, I personally found the structure of the images less personalized. When a person is posed, I tend to associate that more with the artist (in this case a photographer) creating a work of art in which his own version is included, rather than being a 100% caption of how that person is without the artist. I guess since I tend to look at more photojournalists images, I have come to associate their work with the realm of fully humanizing an experience. In addition, at times, the absence of a person can be just as powerful as I found to be the case with Helga Kohl's work and why I'm often so drawn to images of abandoned spaces.

Nevertheless, Quarmyne certainly captures a phenomenon in a distinct and beautiful way and makes me ponder the reality of the lives of those from this village as well as other areas whose lives are being uprooted by environmental changes beyond their control....

{Photos: Nyani Quarmyne via (including quote) The Lens}

Through the Lens: Back to Africa

In looking at the posts throughout this month, even I was shocked to see just how little I've posted in general, and specifically about Africa. Things, especially my travel schedule, has been beyond hectic, but I'm hoping to get back on board asap.

To start this week off, I'd like to share two wonderful pictures I came across on Lightbox.  The first picture is a reflection of people who died in the Rwandan Genocide and is being displayed in the Kigali Memorial Center. I always love memorials like this. Kind of reminds me of the District Six museum in Cape Town. The images are simple, but depict so life and allows for remembrance of the individuals and the collective at the same time.

The second image of a women's association in the Congo, is also intriguing, this time more for the actual photograph. In one way, the image feels sneaky like the photographer is spying in on a private meeting and the woman looking back at the window and catching the photographer in the act. Then you add in the tones of the image and everything just makes for a wonderful shot.

{Photos: Lightbox via here and here}

Through the Lens: J Quazi King

Hailing from Equatorial Guinea, Brooklyn-based J Quazi King certainly has a talent for capturing beauty! I love the diversity of the types of techniques he uses, each one seeming so perfect for each shot.

{Photos: J Quazi King via African Digital Art}

Through the Lens: Afro-Nicaraguans

Like most parts of the Americas, Nicaragua also got it's share of Africans during the slave trade. Today, descendants of these slaves continue to reside primarily on the Caribbean coast of the country. While I've heard about the very tough conditions these folks live in, I've also heard wonderful tales of their culture, language, food and especially the beauty of this side of the country. Sadly, I won't get to go to visit this side of the country on this trip meaning that these beautiful photographs by Nicaraguan photographer Antonio Diez Parra will have to tempt my imagination until I can see this part of the world with my own two eyes.

{Photo: Antonio Diez Parra}

Through the Lens: Benin

Let's start the week off with a lvisual journey to the tiny nation of Benin.


{Photos: New York Times}

Through the Lens: Hereros

Whenever I visit a new-to-me African country, I'm always surprised and interested in the strong links that continue to remain between that country and the country that colonized them. The English, French, and Portuguese cultural influence on the continent continue the exemplify the depths of a colonialist past. Yet, the influence of the Germans in Namibia easily goes under the radar until one come across amazing projects like Hereros by photographer Jim Naughten.

Upon settling in Namibia in the late 19th century, German missionaries quickly got down to the business of converting the various tribesmen. This conversion including the provision of Victorian clothes worn by the Germans of that era. As war broke out between the Herero and Germans, the Hereros would take the clothes of slain Germans and wear it to prove their victory over the enemy. The dresses could a little horn-head wear to reflect the important of cattle to the Herero.

Today, these clothes continue to be worn during important events as a sign of reflect for ancestors. While the paradox of the whole scenario continues to reverberate through my head, one cannot deny the power that the Herero clearly gained from the appropriation of these clothes. That Naughten has so brilliantly documented this history is also something I find very profound.

{Photos: Jim Naughten via Creative Roots}

Through the Lens: Diego Arroyo

Positively obsessed with the photography of Diego Arroyo, these shots taken in Kenya.

{Photos: Diego Arroyo}

Through the Lens: Mwanzo Millinga

I never tire of photos depicting the lives of albinos throughout Africa, and Tanzanian photographer Mwanzo Milinga has done a remarkable job at this task. I saw these images prior to reading the text about the photographer and instantly found myself drawn to the use of the frames within the shots.  I later learned that Milinga give the frames to the subjects as a representation of the restrictions they often face in life. The subjects were allowed to hold the frame in whichever way they wanted and clearly some of these poses are amazing! I love that even something as simple as holding up a frame allows the subject to insert a bit of their own personality and creativity into the image.

{Photos: Photoquai}

Through the Lens: Alberto Cassani

Ok - let's talk about Alberto Cassani's collection of amazing photographs, especially his work taken in Zanzibar! These images not only make me want to head right back to Zanzibar (because it really is as amazing as the picture portray), it also makes me wish I had every piece of textile being worn by every woman in these images! Drool, Drool!

You can see more of Alberto's amazing work here and here!


{Photos: Alberto Cassani}

Through the Lens: Siphiwe Sibeko

Aren't these two shots by South Africa, Reuters photographer Siphiwe Sibeko amazing?!? I've had my eye on his work for a little while and shots like these make me excited to see what this photographer will come up with next. In the first shot, I love the geometry of the setting and the complete balance to the shot that the Swazi girl brings with all her curves. I love the various layers portrayed in the second shot with the boys all looking in slightly different directions, but clearly all part of the same experience.

{Photos: Time and Siphiwe Sibeko}

Through the Lens: Jackie Nickerson

I always love learning the story behind a great photograph or collection of photography and the one of Jackie Nickerson's Farm is so calm and beautiful, it makes me appreciate the shots even more. While I will let you read the full details here, the fact that Nickerson committed 4 years to this project, traveled across the back roads of multiple southern African countries and took the time out to talk to farmer after farmer is all just a thing of beauty. I think making this type of commitment to a project like this is very special and something so rare in our fast-paced world these days....

{Photos: Jackie Nickerson}

Through the Lens: James Mollison

Do you remember the room you slept in as a kid? Personally, anything prior to 10 years old is a blur to me, but I can still remember details of the various dorm rooms I lived in upon moving to the U.S.

In this amazing collection of photographs entitled Where Children Sleep, James Mollison takes viewers on a world tour of the spaces where children sleep. From Manhattan penthouses to Brazilian Amazonia, Japanese princess rooms to theWest Bank and Nepal to Kenya - Mollison's images highlights some of the stark differences in the lives of children around the world while highlighting the similarities that can be found, especially depending on the economic background of the child.

While these images are just of the homes in Africa, the collection holds so much more to explore, as does Mollison's entire portfolio (he even has a very cool collection about Pablo Escobar)!

Photos: James Mollison; 1&4 via the Lens}