Funny and Fashionable: Zoo Portraits by Yago Partal

March 29, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

Fashion has always been a way to tell the world who you are, or who you’d like to be. People even dress up their pets. Perhaps to make them look better or to turn their beloved ones into a fashion accessory. I’m not sure but this way of dressing up was one of the inspirations that made photographer Yago Partal create the Zoo Portraits series. This funny series shows us animals in clothes. A simple yet intriguing idea. And somehow the clothes really suits the animal. It immediately gives it a personality. Like how we tell the world what we are supposed to be. For me a striking example is the rhino in the leather jacket. I see him stepping on his Harley, right after the photo was taken, and drive back to his favorite biker bar. Just a funny series that reflects our own fashion sense in a subtle way.

Yago Partal’s website: www.yagopartal.com

The complete series can be found here: www.zooportraits.com. (also to order prints)

Kids Posing with Their Favorite Toys by Gabriele Galimberti

March 22, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

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We all had or still have them. The toys we’ve spent hours with. Creating different worlds while playing with that toy. Gabriele Galimerti visited many children in different countries to photograph them with their favorite toys. The series is called Toy Stories.

The story behind the photograph above:

Maudy was born in a hut in a small village close to Kalulushi, in Zambia. She grew up playing in the street with the other children in the village, who all attend the same school, where students ages 3 to 10 years old are in the same class. The village has no shops, restaurants or hotels, and just a few children are lucky enough to have toys. Maudy and her friends found a box full of sunglasses on the street, which quickly became their favorite toys.

A series showing that imagination is a big and important part of growing up. It also shows the world the child is growing up in. A glimpse in their personalities, economic statuses, interests and countries. Visit her website to see and learn more about this wonderful series.

Gabriele Galimberti’s website: www.gabrielegalimberti.com

A Strange but Wonderful World by Rodney Smith

March 15, 2013March 15, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

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“He can wear an ascot without appearing pretentious. He proclaims himself to be a closet optimist. He believes Modernism took a wrong turn at a wrong time. He thinks Freud saved his life. He graduated Yale. He lives in a wooded enclave in Snedens Landing, just close enough to Manhattan to meet an editor for lunch at a moments notice, but far enough away to mollify his distain for city living. He loves books. Paper. And printed matter. He wrestles with Big Ideas and references Wittgenstein and Plato as if he saw them just yesterday. He’s tweedy. Proud. Not loud. He’s a perfectionist. Workaholic.”

This is a short bio of photographer Rodney Smith. You can read the rest on his website. But more importantly you can see his wonderful work there as well. His photography is like that of another world or dimension. Strange but beautiful settings. Men wearing suits and hats, women wearing dresses. Each photographs with its own story, or so it seems. Visit his website and create yours.

Rodney Smith’s website: www.rodneysmith.com and his blog: rodneysmith.com/blog/

Beautiful Portraits of…Trees? by Myoung Ho Lee

March 6, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

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South Korean artist Myoung Ho Lee has created some very unusual photographs focussing on trees. Myoung Ho Lee photographed trees like it were a studio portrait. The idea is quite simple; get a white background behind the subject and take the picture. But doing this with trees is something totally different. He separates the tree from its natural habitat by using the large white background. It makes you look different at trees and their surroundings. He lifts them out of their comfort zone in a way and let tree speak for its self. Without the help of the rest of nature.

A Different take on Portraiture by Maurizio Galimberti

February 27, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

Italian photographer Maurizio Galimberti takes on portrait photography is quite unique. He uses multiple Polaroid images to construct a portrait. As if he tries to blend multiple dimensions into this flat, 2D, medium. A take on cubism perhaps. These famous faces are photographed multiple times from different angles. This way Maurizio creates wonderful collages that covers both time and space.

Maurizio Galimberti’s website: www.mauriziogalimberti.it

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Modern portraits of ancient crafts by Alessandro Venier

February 25, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

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All I can say is Wow! What an amazing set of portraits by Alessandro Venier. The series is called Modern portraits of ancient crafts. Portraits of men and women who manage to work with their hands in this modern-day and age. A series of photographs that reminds us of different times. Especially when technology has become so common in our daily lives. These men and woman stay true to their craft. Perhaps Alessandro Venier visit a dying generation of craftsmen. Time will tell.

Alessandro Venier’s website: www.alessandrovenier.com

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In the Styles of the Old Masters by Bill Gekas

February 14, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

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Many photographers will probably tell you that they are influenced by the works of great painters. I am one of them. The old masters of the 18th and 19th century. Bill Gekas is one of those photographers who has translated that influence into a very nice series. Using different models, including his five-year-old daughter, he created scenes as if they were painted by Vermeer or Rembrandt. Not only the light he used is spot on, also the complete feel of the 19th century is. By using the style of clothing of that age. Very nicely done. Vermeer and Rembrandt never really painted children in such a way. Perhaps to paint a child is even harder than to get them to sit still for a photograph.

Bill Gekas’ website: www.billgekas.com and blog: billgekas.blogspot.nl

Joey L’s Holy Men

December 21, 2012February 3, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

Above the video shot during a visit to India by Joey L and his crew. He visited India to continue his series Holy Men. A portrait series of the men that leave their ordinary and material lives behind and set out to find spirituality. A truly wonderful series. As they put it themselves, they photograph something that seems ancient but is non the less happening in the present. If I think of India, I think busy places, noises, all kinds of aromas. But the photographs by Joey shows a peacefulness. Perhaps the spiritual lives of these Holy Men resonates through the photography of Joey L.

Joey L’s website: www.joeyl.com

Cue the tune for Jaws

December 6, 2012February 4, 2013 marceleverts Leave a comment

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Los Angeles based photographer Michael Muller is a big fan of the outdoors. And being a photographer with a great knowledge of lighting techniques he shot some extraordinary photos. Timeless as he puts it. We’ve all seen photographs or footage of the great white shark. But all shot with available light. Michael Muller went out there to shoot this majestic animal with strobes. And the resulting images are just amazing. Visit his website to see more of the photos Michael took of sharks. And other wild life. Below you’ll also find an inspirational video of Michael Muller talking about his work at the Luminance 2012 conference.

Michael Muller’s website: www.mullerphoto.com