F.N.D | Film's not Dead.

Magnum 62 – Chris Beetles Fine Photographs

By Tori On April 6, 2012 · Add Comment

USA. California. Los Angeles. US actress Marilyn MONROE, studio sessions. 1960. Credit: Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos

24 April – 19 May 2012

Chris Beetles Fine Photographs
3-5 Swallow St
London
W1B 4DE

Admission: Free

For more information: 020 7434 4319

Magnum Photos is the world’s most famous and influential photographic agency, and its Members have been responsible for many of the most celebrated photographs of the last six decades.

Chris Beetles Fine Photographs Gallery will be presenting a unqiue exhibition featuring a single photograph by each of the agency’s 62 photographers. After the Second World War four photographers had a vision. Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, David Seymour and George Rodger understood the way that media would change over the coming years, and they wanted to change the way the magazines of their generation were monopolising the photographic industry. In 1947 they founded Magnum Photos, the world’s longest surviving artist co-operative, which forever changed intellectual property, copyright and the way the modern world received photography. During the Second World War, such photographs as those taken by Capa during the D-Day landings had made more impact on the public consciousness than words. The old saying that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ was about to be proven an understatement. With the increase in the amount of printed media, and simpler reproduction techniques, photography was about to completely change the way that journalism presented itself, and Magnum was to play a large part in the revolution.

Over the next 65 years, Magnum photographers have contributed thousands of images to the history of photography, writing the rulebook for photojournalism along the way. Combining innovative photography with integrity, and often bravery, Magnum’s photographers have covered many of the significant world events during the agency’s existence. Collectively they have provided fresh insight into international politics and culture, shown the reality of conflicts and disasters, harnessed the growing power of celebrity, and consistently influenced world-wide opinion.

Some of the world’s best-known images from this extraordinary archive will be on view, including:

Robert Capa’s image of US servicemen landing on the Normandy beaches during the D-Day landings, 1944 – one of the most important war photographs ever taken;

Rene Burri’s Che Guevera (1963) – the image of this most famous of revolutionaries;

Stuart Franklin’s Tiananman Square (1989) – a student’s bravery is captured as he blocks a line of Chinese tanks during protests, has become a legendary example of courage and defiance;

David Hurn’s iconic photograph of The Beatles while recording at Abbey Road Studios in 1964;

Martin Parr’s ‘Last Resort’ – taken from the famous British photographer’s seminal project made in New Brighton, Liverpool in the period 1983-5.

This is just a small selection of the 62 photographs included in this compelling exhibition, which will demonstrate the extraordinary contribution that Magnum photographers have made to both journalism and photography. Becoming a Member of Magnum has always been a rigorous process, taking at least four years, until one can become a member. It begins with a photographer submitting his or her portfolio to existing Members at Magnum’s Annual General Meeting. If a majority vote is passed then a preliminary ‘Nominee’ status, lasting two years, is awarded before the photographer submits a further, extended portfolio to become an ‘Associate’. A further two years later the photographer can apply for full membership, becoming a shareholder of the company and obtaining voting rights if successful.

NYC16133 USA. California. 1968. Venice Beach Rock Festival. Credit: Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos

Information provided by: Chris Beetles Fine Photographs.

England’s Largest Camera

By Tori On April 6, 2012 · Add Comment

A handmade, six foot high by seven foot camera, creates negatives that are 22″x26″ in size. This beautifully hand crafted beast of a camera was made by Tim Pearse a 3rd year BA photography student from Plymouth College of Art; it took him five months to build, where he spent long hours in the workshop to try to build it, from 9 in the morning until 4:30 Monday to Friday. He says, ‘The idea behind this project is a simple one; to assertain whether traditional craft skills once inherent to the practice of creating photographs can still be accessed and utilised within the modern, technologically progressive sphere of image making, and whether or not these skills are still relevant.’ We were able to get an interview with Tim where he explained to us further the concept behind this project and why he is doing it:

Nudes – The Little Black Gallery

By Tori On April 3, 2012 · Add Comment

Nudes – Patrick Lichfield

24 April 2012 – 26 May 2012

The Little Black Gallery
13A Park Walk
London
SW10 0AJ

For more information: 020 7349 9332/ info@thelittleblackgallery.com

“I don’t think old photographers retire …. they just go out of focus”

Renowned photographer Patrick Lichfield’s (Thomas Patrick John Anson) rarely seen but simply sublime Nude photographs will be going on display at The Little Black Gallery on the 24th of April for a month. Lichfield quickly gained predominance in the 1980s after he was selected as the official photographer for Prince and Princess of Wales’ wedding in 1981, and subsequently because of this became one of the UK’s best-known photographers. Ever since then he became a dedicated photographer for the Royal Family, capturing many Royal events such as the Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Bon Anniversaire Nadar

By Tori On April 1, 2012 · Add Comment

1 April 1820 – 23 March 1910

“The portrait I do best is of the person I know best.”

Gaspard Félix Tournachon known to the photography world as Nadar who was a colourful writer, a caricaturist, a balloonist, a part-time political activist, a photographer, and a friend of the painters, writers, and intellectuals in Paris during the time of Napoleon III. Remembered as a master of photography, for his timeless portraits that he made of his great contemporaries. Nadar’s name derived from his nickname (“tourne a dard”) meaning “bitter sting”, which he earned for his caricatures.

Born into a family of printer tradespeople, young Nadar became interested in many of the era’s most daring ideas in politics, literature, and science. After an ordinary middle-class education and a brief attempt at medical school, he turned to journalism, first writing theater reviews and then literary pieces. Although a career in literature seemed assured, he gave up writing in 1848 to enlist in a movement to free Poland from foreign oppressors, an adventure that ended suddenly when he was captured and returned to Paris.

This was followed with a period of involvement with graphic journalisms during which he created cartoons and caricatures of well-known political and cultural figures for the satirical press. Only mildly successful financially, it made Nadar an immediate celebrity; more importantly, this introduced him to photography.

In 1853, Nadar set his brother Adrien, as a photographer and took lessons himself, apparently with the intention of joining him in the enterprise. Together they where able to set up their own portrait studio based in the Rue St. Lazare, Paris. However, despite the evident sensitivity of Adrien’s portrait of the sculptor Emile Blavier, his lack of discipline is believed to have caused Nadar to open a studio on his own, moving eventually to the Boulevard des Capucines. This misbehaving was due to Adrien using Félix’s name at Universal Exhibition of 1855 where he had won a gold medal for his work. This prompted a lawsuit which Félix finally won in 1857.

Continuing his bohemian lifestyle, he filled the studio with curiosities and objets d’art and entertaining personalities in the arts and literature, but despite this flamboyant personal style he remained a serious artist, his intent being on creating images that were both life-enhancing and distinguished. Ever open to new ideas, Nadar was the first in France to make photographs underground with artificial light and the first to photograph Paris from the basket of an ascendant balloon! Combining his interest in balloon flying, in 1858 he received a patent for this, and became the first to take pictures from the air. His balloon was enormous, had a two-story gondola, capable of carrying up to fifty men. The balloon had its own darkroom, the process at the time requiring exposure and development whilst the plate was still wet.

Nonetheless, he was instrumental in setting up the balloon postal service that made it possible for the French government to communicate with those in Paris during the German blockade in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Ruined financially by this brief but devastating conflict, Nadar continued to write and photograph, running an establishment with his son Paul that turned out slick commercial work. Constantly one for breaking the mould, at one point he lent the photo studio to a group of painters who wished to bypass the Salon in order to exhibit their work, thus making possible the first exhibition of the Impressionists in April, 1874.

Although he was to operate still another studio in Marseilles during the 1880′s and 90′s, Nadar’s last photographic idea of significance was a series of exposures made by his son in 1886 as he interviewed chemist Eugene Chevreul on his forth birthday, thus foreshadowing the direction that picture journalism was to take.

During his last years he continued to think of himself as “a daredevil, always on the lookout for currents to swim against.” At his death, just before the age of ninety, he had managed to create an outstanding body of work that can still be analysed and admired today. Nadar being one of the people who paved the way for photography, breaking the rules and regulations for at the time this new medium, leaving behind a bold and inspiring legacy. Happy Birthday Nadar!

Information: Master of Photography

William Klein receives Outstanding Contribution Photography Award

By Tori On March 27, 2012 · Add Comment

The World Photography Organisation has announced that legendary photographer William Klein will receive the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards. William Klein will be receiving the award at a ceremony in London on the 26th of April, as well as a retrospective of his work will be going on show at Somerset House from the 27th of April until the 20th of May.

“A prodigious, giant of film, photography and graphic publications, William Klein is one of the true great forces of the 20th and 21st century,” says Marcus Bury from the HackelBury gallery, Klein’s gallerist in London. “William’s work has blasted a trail of innovation and has had a major influence on the many artists who have followed in his wake. His is a career most worthy of celebration. Klein’s documentaries, his films of satire, political commentary and anarchy, his studies of cities and icons of fashion all continue to inspire artists, graphic designers, filmmakers and photographers to this day. Never one to steer clear of controversy or confrontation, William Klein is a true master of the creative arts.”