Link Of The Day . . .

[Sisyphus]

So, for those of you who are interested, I will post a link of the day, although it may not be everyday that I will be able to post.

Some of you might be familiar with the photographers work that I will choose to share, but I will do my best to present less familiar photographers or their work.

Also, an important note, my preference is primarily towards photojournalism and documentary photography, however, I wll also do my best to post links that honor the spirit of photography in general.

Please, if you do not like the work, please do not post unwarranated negative comments unless you happen to be James Nacthwey or Josef Koudelka. In other words, I can do without the trolls. However, I would welcome an honest and open discussion, and I also understand that not evryone's work appeals to everyone, I also understand that each person is entitled to their opinion, however, I think it can be stated that there is a difference between constructive and destructive criticism.

Here is today's link:

http://www.noorimages.com/index.php?id=home

This is a photo agency called noor images. the photographer's work i would really like to highlight from this group is Pep Bonet, and here is another link to his website:

http://www.pepbonet.com/

Again, I believe this group of photographers is amazing, and especially Pep Bonet.

With all of that, I will leave you with this as your point of departure for today,

Hope all is well in your part of the world,

:s:

 

[Belle]

Thanks for the link. Impressive photographers.

 

[Pablito]

Thank you. The Noor group is a very interesting cast of characters!

 

[Phantomas]

Most excellent!

 

[Pablito]

They are all tremendously talented. This NOOR bunch seem to share a certain hardness though, a certain impenetrable toughness that leaves me a bit cold sometimes. Whereas the work of the VII or Magnum folks seems to have more compassion, a bit more humanity to it. These are generalities of course, and there are always exceptions, but it's my overall feeling.

In any case, Sisyphus, you are doing a service to RFF by posing these links.

 

[Sisyphus]

Pablito,

Thanks for your comments; I agree that these images or they way these photographers choose to photograph can leave feeling a bit cold, where the magnum group do, at times portray more of warmth depsite the chaos.

It makes think that, in general, there is quite more of a cros section between age and people from different cultures as well as a few more women then noor. Also, The noor photographers tend to be about in their Late 30's, early 40's except for Stanley Greene.

So you do you think this a generational thing; a sign of the times, meaning the today's world as opposed to the world of HCB and when Magnum first started, that in essence, we still seemed to be more innocent compared to today's standards; that the world we live in today is hasher; or do you think it is just more of a trend where journalism seems to be, especially with younger journalists, more sensational, or purposely composing their images to for them to be more dynamic thiking this is what creates a more striking end result, of the subjects they are photographing?

Intersting thoughts . . .

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

They are all tremendously talented. This NOOR bunch seem to share a certain hardness though, a certain impenetrable toughness that leaves me a bit cold sometimes. Whereas the work of the VII or Magnum folks seems to have more compassion, a bit more humanity to it. These are generalities of course, and there are always exceptions, but it's my overall feeling.

In any case, Sisyphus, you are doing a service to RFF by posing these links.

That's because the photos are all heavily manipulated in photoshop. Unlike Magnum's photographers, who are journalists, these photographers are artists. That means they can produce work that is less literal and more conceptual. The Pep Bonet portfolio shows Trans-sexual men in Honduras, a country where people generally have a much more traditionalist view of sexuality. They are also all HIV positive, and they are sex-workers (prostitutes?) according to the info on the site, so these men are triple-damned as far as their fellow Hondurans are concerned. The manipulations that give the images such a hard, cold, look are an attempt to show the place these men occupy in a society that sees trans-sexuals as freaks, gays and prostitutes as immoral, and HIV as something to fear (as indeed it is, give that the men pictured seem to be continuing their work despite carrying a deadly sexually transmitted disease). The men pictured are outcasts and objects of hate and fear, and the look the photographer has given the pictures makes us feel that.

 

[Pablito]

So you do you think this a generational thing; a sign of the times, meaning the today's world as opposed to the world of HCB and when Magnum first started, that in essence, we still seemed to be more innocent compared to today's standards; that the world we live in today is hasher; or do you think it is just more of a trend where journalism seems to be, especially with younger journalists, more sensational, or purposely composing their images to for them to be more dynamic thiking this is what creates a more striking end result, of the subjects they are photographing?

Intersting thoughts . . .

I don't think it's either or.... I think all those factors contribute...

That's because the photos are all heavily manipulated in photoshop. Unlike Magnum's photographers, who are journalists, these photographers are artists.

Ah, so the Magnum folks are not artists? 😕
Because they do not heavily manipulate in photoshop? 😕😕
And a photojournalist cannot be an artist?😕😕😕
Look more carefully, both at NOOR & Magnum.

The men pictured are outcasts and objects of hate and fear, and the look the photographer has given the pictures makes us feel that.

I have photographed extensively on assignment all over Honduras and I don't believe the "look" that Bonet has given these photos makes us feel the subjects are objects of hate and fear. Yes, most folks are very traditional-minded when it comes to sexuality and they may be disgusted by the idea of transsexual, HIV infected male prostitutes. But these images are nevertheless erotic and sensual, pictorialist in a sense. They have beauty and sentiment, almost a glamour aesthetic - yet they are also harsh and provocative. They have "roots" in European / Victorian "naughty" photography... (in addition to other sources) These images are effective because they present a series of visual and emotional paradoxes. Doesn't mean I like them but they are far more complex than your analysis suggests.

 

[photo4ls]

Sisyphus, thanks for sharing. Good stuff!!!
Nelson

 

[Sisyphus]

Chris,

I respect your opinion, however, I disagree with some of your comments. First, their photographs are not heavily manipulated, second, it is a fallacy to state that magnum photographers are photojournalists while noor agency photographers are artist. If anything I would state the opposite. Josef Koudelka, Alex Webb, Martin Parr, to name a few are definitely not photojournalists in even the truest sense, where these guys are photographing intense situations, like Darfur. I also completely disagree with you sentiment about the Honduran series. He is also raising awareness that some of these male, transgender, prostitutes are as young as 12 or 14 years old, and are caught up in this because of their extreme poverty; in some cases it is the only way to support themselves. I truly appreciate your commentary though.

In reference to the Honduran series, I think Pablito says it best.

I am curious if Pep Will take part in the discussion, so he can give us more discourse about his own work. I will email him and ask him if he is willing to comment as well, which I think would rather interesting.

Thanks

:s: