Press Review
The Websites
Paul Melcher
Sometimes going to the source is the best option. This is what we did this week as we handpicked a few note-worthy websites in a ocean of very worthy ones. This is not an exhaustive list but just the start of many, many other revelation of great photographers’ websites. Take a look and judge by yourself.
1. Matt Stuart
Probably one of the most talented active street photographer, Matt Stuart shoots people. Spiritual son of Henri Cartier-Bresson, he is blessed with the same magical shutter finger than his master. Stuart loves to play with shadows and has a keen sense of humor, which is an essential attribute for a street photographer. He is not only comfortable with the people that he crosses in the street but does not hesitate, a la Elliot Erwitt, to pay some attention to our lovely pets.
There is a little bit of everything in Stuart’s image : a little bit of social commentary, a little bit of cynicism and a little bit of humor. What there is a lot of is talent.
2. Roman Vishniac
Born at the end of the 19th century, Roman Vishniac is one of these photographers that should be much, much better known. Unfortunately for him and for us, most of his images, particularly his early work, has never been published. The ICP is changing that.
Vishniac was commissioned in 1935 by the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to photographs Jewish life in Central Europe. What he didn’t know is that he was capturing the end of a whole community about to be annihilated. First captured and then forced to leave Europe, he landed in New York in 1941. It took a while for his images to reach him in the new continent. While he did some exhibits and had lectures, most of his images were never widely seen.
The International Center of Photography ( ICP ) in New York has taken upon themselves to restore and publicize those images. While it is on ongoing task, already some of his images can be seen in their website for our delight.
http://museum.icp.org/vishniac/gallery/index.html
3. Phillip Toledano
Born in London from a French moroccan mother and a American father, photographer Phillip Toledano loves absence. You might have seen some his images in Vanity Fair or in Le Monde ( his phone sex worker series is famous) but you owe it to yourself to see the rest of his work on his website.
What is captivating with Toledo’s images is how he makes what is not there as important as what he photographs. In his essay on bankruptcy, done much before the world economy collapse ( how did he know?), you can hear the people who used to work there, you just do not see them. In his Gamers series, it’s the games you do not see. But you certainly feel them.
A lot of his work carries the same approach, what he calls the unfinished sentence, with beautiful result.
4. Zach Gold
There is movement in Zach Gold‘s images. Lots of movement. And it’s capture with brilliance by his camera. Gold loves to play with action, capture it in a frame that freezes more than the movement. Because Zach Gold love to play with liquid elements, like milk, feathers or sand. His portraits take another dimension as his models violently interact with fluid elements with which they interact with reserved violence.
The result are captivating images who have a surreal dimension that only a still camera could capture, in the hands of a very talented and creative photographer.
5. Michael Muller
You could get lost in Michael Muller’s website. It is as various and eclectic as his talent. From adventure photography, to music, entertainment, sports and advertising, there seems there is nothing this photographer cannot do. It also seems that he might be one of the busiest photographer on the planet.
You might know him for his Spiderman photography or you might have seen one of his famous celebrity portraits. Did you see is adventure photography or his sport portrait. They are as creative and amazing as his most famous images. It might take an hour or so to browse to all the images Muller has made available on his site but it would be one of the most rewarding hour of your life.
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