Photographer Valerie Chiang

These gorgeous landscapes are the work of 18 year old photographer Valerie Chiang, born in Taiwan and now living in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Valerie's Flickr portfolio demonstrates a diverse range of styles and subjects as well as great composition in her photography. She has, "a passion for fine art and fashion photography" (below), but it's the mystical landscapes and nostalgic beach scenes that grabbed my attention the most (above). There's something very bewitching about them, maybe it's the bleakness of the scenes, but they all make me want to know more.

Big thanks Valerie for sending over your link.



Images copyright Valerie Chiang.

Greasy Christmas!

We're loving photographer Alan Powdrill's very seasonal new work. Greasy Christmas is a series of images showing the wonderful way our greasy spoon cafes trim-up for Christmas - no expense spared!

My favourite has to be the fairy lights decorating the plug socket, it's like looking at a scene from the start of Casualty.

Thanks for sharing Alan. I hope you didn't eat in any of those places - although that could be a whole other series!

Images copyright Alan Powdrill.

The Creative Works of Thomas C Calder

Brisbane photographer Thomas Calder has a great collection of images on his site - a winning combination of surrealism, darkness and wit.

"My works are highly conceptual: Surreal, dreamy visual images that attempt to provoke feelings and emotions".

For me though, it's his more cinematic shots that really stand out - the strong contrast and more unusual compositions just make them seem timeless.Thomas is also a creative film-maker and actor so it's not surprising he can nail this style.

To see more of Thomas Calder's work and for more information visit Calder Photography.

Images copyright Thomas Calder.

Preston Bus Station by Jonathan Kenyon

I was surprised to find these photographs of Preston Bus Station by Jonanthan Kenyon this morning on We Heart. I grew up in and around Preston and know this building very well. I've always loved it's bold architecture and unapologetic scale.

I was saddened earlier in the year to hear it's going to be knocked down as part of Preston's Tithebarn scheme (yet another urban regeneration programme) after it's application to become a listed building failed. It was designed in the late 60's by a Preston-based architect, Keith Ingham who worked at a local company, BDP (ironically the company now running the regeneration programme!) and when it first opened in 1969 it was hailed as the largest in the world.

There's no denying that the building could do with a bit of tlc, but Jonathan's images really capture the beauty of the building even in it's current state. Long live Preston Bus Station!

Images copyright Jonathan Kenyon.
Via Notcot.

Muhammad Ali: The Champ

Muhammad Ali: The Champ is a fantastic exhibition currently running at Proud Chelsea gallery until 3 October 2010. Taken by award-winning photographer, Michael Gaffney, the collection documents the public and private life of Muhammad Ali from 1977 to 1978 when he worked as Ali's personal photographer.

"the result of this phenomenal year will reveal Ali the fighter, the friend, the father and the inspiration through the eyes of a true confidant".

It's a rare opportunity to see natural images of such an iconic figure, but if you can't make it down there to see them in person don't despair, you can view the full exhibition online here.

Images copyright Michael Gaffney, taken from Proud Gallery website.

Lillian Bassman at The Wapping Project Bankside

Some work from the ionic fashion photographer, Lillian Bassman will be showing as part of 'Group Show' (a collection of work from all the artists represented since the award-winning gallery opened it's doors in October 2010) at The Wapping Project Bankside.

Lillian, now 93, is renowned for her stylised black and white fashion photography (above and below) that graced the pages of Harper's Bazaar during the 60's and early 70's.


During the 70's she left Harper's and fashion photography altogether, it was only when a stash of her images was found in the 90's that interest in her work grew and Lillian returned behind the camera after a 20 year break.

Her images are beautiful and feminine, yet strong and contrasty - a combination that works perfectly, they're exaclty the kind of images I love. The exhibition starts on the 17 August and runs until the 4 September. There isn't anything about it yet on their website, but I found more information here.

Images copyright Lillian Bassman.
Via Cool Hunting.

Jumpology!

How fantastic are these jumping photos by Philippe Halsman? I love them.

A Life photographer with over 101 cover shots to his name, a regular contributor to LOOK and the Saturday Evening Post, Halsman was often commissioned to shoot the rich, famous and influential people of the 50's. During this time he had the wonderful idea of Jump! - once the official shoots ended he would ask the stars (no matter how famous or important) to jump. The resulting images (above) are brilliant and show the celebs in such a natural, relaxed way.

"Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Salvador Dali, Weegee, Jack Dempsey and even the Duke and Duchess of Windsor agreed to take a leap of faith. In that era of live television along with the popularity of the big glossy magazines, one’s image was not nearly as protected and shaped by handlers as it is today. There was a feeling of innocence, a desire for spontaneity, and Halsman, with his playful and charming personality, knew he had to get almost everyone to oblige his demand: JUMP!"

Halsman called the series, 'Jumpology!' and for the first time they are being exhibited at the Laurence Miller Gallery in New York (exhibition runs until 28 May 2010). For those that can't make it over to NY there was a book of the images (below) published in 1986 which is still available here and here.

Images copyright of the artist, taken from Laurence Miller Gallery.
Via The Photography Post and Notcot.

Martin Parr: retrospective of photobooks

Martin Parr's images are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face - they're witty, colourful and superbly captured, so make sure you get down to the Rocket Gallery in fashionable Shoreditch before the 20th Feb and experience them first hand.

The Retrospective of photobooks will be Parr's 8th exhibition at the gallery and sounds fantastic, "Sixty photographic books by Martin Parr, dating from 1974 to 2009, will each be exhibited together with a group of iconic editioned photographs". Quick now, there's only 1 week left!

Images copyright Rocket Gallery.

Fernand Fonssagrives Exhibition

Studio couch, 1956 (light and shadow) © Fernand Fonssagrives
Silver gelatin print

I can't wait to see Fernand Fonssagrives at the Michael Hoppen Gallery. Fonssagrives was an iconic fashion photographer whose images have graced the pages of fashion magazines throughout the world.

His first wife and muse, ballerina turned model (and some say, the first super model) Lisa Fonssagrives, "helped to define the natural, effortless beauty that has become the mainstay of fashion photography as we now know it". His photos of Lisa embraced the mood of the 30's and 40's - the strikingly graphic silhouettes with a clean modernist feel and the dynamic, poses of her leaping through the air capturing the care-free attitude.

Taxi Cab New York 1945 © Estate of Fernand Fonssagrives courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery
Silver gelatin print

The Coat Hanger c.1940 © Estate of Fernand Fonssagrives courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery
Silver gelatin print

Elan 1935 © Estate of Fernand Fonssagrives courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery
Silver gelatin print

Fonssagrives died in 2003. Despite at one time being the highest paid photographer in the world and being a key figure in the New York School of avant-garde photography his work remained quite anonymous and rarely seen.

However from the 14 January to 6 March his wonderful images will be on show at the Michael Hoppen Gallery, London. I for one can't wait!