Artwork of the Week: Personal Work

Personal Work by David Abrahams

(though I have a feeling that's not actually the title of the piece)

The first official day of fall this year isn't until September 22, but now that Labor Day has come and gone, summer feels over for me mentally. Physically I'm still at the beach and it's still hot as ever. Actually TOO hot to go down to the shore today if you can believe it. So we're spending our morning indoors, eating melon and watching our fourth episode of Curious George. Oh yeah. 

You can see more work by London-based fashion photographer David Abrahams on www.mbklondon.com

- Cathleen 

[via trendland.com]

TW Searby- 19th Century Photographer

Over the last few years I have built a pretty legit and detailed family tree including Grace and my family lines.  I have traced nearly every ancestor back to when they arrived in the US (and beyond) and have found some cool stuff.  I have also found that our families have both been in the states a lot longer than previously thought.

One fun fact about my Searby heritage was finding out that my great-great grandfather (Thomas W. Searby) was a photographer/artist in Philadelphia (and later Brooklyn) between 1850-1880.  Being a photographer myself, it was very cool to find that my ancestor was at the very beginning of this technology and art.  He specialized in portraiture before, during and after the Civil War.  What's even cooler is that I was able to find copies of some of his Ambrotypes and here they are....

He used the same chair prop in all three of these final photos and it looks like the same chair the lady in the first photo is sitting on.  There is no way to know but one of these could be TW Searby himself.

-Brian

Shadows by Andre Kertesz, 1931

Shadows- Andre Kertesz 1931

Andre Kertesz was a Hungarian photographer who was known for his experimentation with angles and development. A lot of his work is very surreal and this particular shot is one of my favorites.   

-Brian

Artwork of the Week: Lawnmower Man

Since yesterday was Father's Day, I thought I'd share one of my favorite photographs that I've snapped of these two in a while. Micky taking care of business while Graham looks out at his dad, totally amazed. I really love watching these two together. Graham so obviously thinks his dad is the funnest funniest guy in the world. Hearing him say DA DEE is one of my favorite sounds. And Micky so obviously loves being this little guy's dad. It seems like he's made it his personal mission to make his son laugh every single minute they are together. Seriously, I have warned him more than once: "Watch out! Graham just ate! You don't want him to spew all over you!"

Happy Father's Day to all the fun dads out there!

- Cathleen 

Low Risk Exploration of Mt. Everest

Overall View

I found this a couple years ago and forgot about it until recently when I heard about the deaths of several Sherpas and climbers during an avalanche at Mount Everest.  Climbing any mountain is a risky endeavor, but Everest is an especially dangerous one and claims many lives, due to the fact that so many damn people attempt to make it to the summit every year.  I am not a climber, but if I did decide to risk my life in order to reach the top of one, it wouldn't be at a site that is essentially a tourist attraction constantly packed with long lines of people.  It's like the perfect British climbing experience...just wait in the queue and you will get your turn at glory.

Visit this site: http://www.npr.org/2012/12/20/167621313/a-billion-pixel-tour-of-mount-everest

It is a 3.8 Billion Pixel image of the entire mountain and base camp.  From this main image it actually doesn't look all that impressive, but zoom into the lower section and you can see the base camp. Hundreds and hundreds of tents that are tiny.

 You can also zoom in and follow the path up the mountain finding climbers as they ascend. It's very cool.

I circled the guy but see if you can find him yourself in the main photo.....not easy

Here is another link to something similar but if you are into a more urban setting to explore.

http://www.sevilla111.com/default.htm

This is 111 Gigapixel though.  They are not playing.

Sevilla

-Brian

Artwork of the Week: Snail Hand

Snail Hand by Robert Langham

platinum print, 1994

Robert Langham is a photographer from Tyler, Texas whose work is mostly comprised of stark East Texas and Western landscapes. This shot is by far my most favorite of his photos. Those snails. They get me every time. 

You can see more of Langham's work and process on his blog: robertlangham.blogspot.com

- Cathleen 

[Image via ghoulnextdoor.tumblr.com]

Happy Birthday, Brian Searby!

Happy Birthday, Brian Searby! 

I am so glad you joined the Swings and Arrows team! Your posts are always fresh and insightful --- I love the piping hot cups of man-flavored inspiration you bring to the table each week. 

I hope you have a great day full of hearty breakfasts, smart flannel shirts, and rugged outdoor living.

Because I know you love photography, boxing, wood, and camping, I somehow found this incredible synthesis of all four in one vintage postcard circa 1910. If we bought gifts for each other, this is what I would give you today!  

(If anyone actually wants to purchase this snapshot, 

it is available from NiepceGallery on Etsy.)

- Cathleen 

Hold Fast- Money Maker Camera Strap

Hold Fast Money Maker

Photographers spend a whole lot of money on equipment and camera accessories....too much.  I make do with what I have, buy what I really need and rent when the job demands.  I don't concern myself with looking stylish when I am working but this camera strap is both highly functional and cool looking.  Most people don't need to carry multiple cameras but if you need a solid strap or bag for your SLR this company has high quality leather products.  I hope to get this particular strap at some point but since I am mostly a studio photographer it's not an absolute necessity.
They are Hold Fast and they even have a pretty sweet logo-

Here is he link and more images of the Money Maker.
https://hold-fast.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/money-maker-luxury-leather-multi-camera-strap

-Brian

The Beauty of Sports

Ali vs Cleveland Williams

For some time now I have collected digital copies of sports photographs and saved them in a folder on my work computer.  I never really had a plan for the images and didn't use them for desktop wallpaper or a screensaver. I didn't Pin them or post them onto other social media sites.  I just wanted to keep them because they were stunning and I never wanted to forget they existed.  Now that I post on S&A and the Olympics and the Superbowl are fast approaching, I thought I may as well share some of them.

Very recently I noticed many of the shots I saved were boxing photographs.  There are endless images from all of sports that are breath-taking, but there is something about boxing that stands above the rest, in my mind.  Capturing action, in any form, can be beautiful and sporting events give photographers the chance to be close to the action with little to no obstacles.  You can see several different sports in the photographs below, but boxing always takes the cake. There are a few reason why, I think, this sport always offers the most beautiful images.  First, boxing is vicious and a physical battle between two opponents that closely resembles the natural battles between animals in the wild. Second, unlike most sports, boxing is confined to a very small area and photographers are able to be extremely close to the action.  This not only helps with close ups but you can shoot with a wide angle and still keep the action close. Third, because the fighters are on a raised platform, photographers need to shoot from a low angle looking upward. This makes for some amazing angles.

Excuse the length of this post but I wanted to show images from as many sports as I could.  I tried to have images that were both beautiful and important sports moments since this type of photography is both artistic and photo journalistic.

Could be one of my favorites and don't know who it is

No helmets. Crowd is great.

Lots of Jordan shots that are absolutely stunning.

Dr. J

As if it were rehearsed. 

Lighting is awesome

The Classic

A battle

Miracle

Saddest yet greatest baseball speech

millimeters

-Brian

Artwork of the Week: Permanent Sparkler

Permanent Sparkler by Alwin Lay 2012 

2012, 82 x 62 cm, C-Print, ed. 5

This coming weekend we will be celebrating Graham's first birthday. It's not going to be anything big---only a few family members will be in attendance. And we've decided to keep things simple since there's pretty much no point in going all out on an elaborate party theme or piles of thoughtfully chosen gifts because he won't remember any of it. But I have found myself getting super excited to make him a little cake and maybe hang a festive garland or two. If I can pull it off (and remember to use the camera), I'll share some photos next week. I know it's a total cliche, but I really can't believe it's been almost a year since this little guy arrived. In some ways it feels as if it's been barely any time at all, and in others, like it's been forever already (sheesh!). 

You can see more work by Alwin Lay at www.nataliahug.com

- Cathleen

[Image courtesy of Natalia Hug Gallery]

Artwork of the Week: Skaters

Skaters, 1953 by Mario De Biasi

I like these moments of stillness caught among the chaos. Groups huddled together on the ice, obviously discussing things of great importance, while their more frenetic friends cut through the crowds, weaving their way in and out of the conversation. 

I went ice skating once. It was for my 20th birthday. I convinced everyone it would be a fun activity to engage in on a cold December night in Boston Commons. Despite the fact that many of my friends gamely came together to celebrate Cathleen on Ice, I hated every minute of it. 

- Cathleen 

Before They Pass Away

I recently found this and was totally blown away: www.beforethey.com

It is one of the most beautiful photo series I have ever found. Before They Pass Away was shot by photographer, Jimmy Nelson, and documents cultures around the globe whose way of life could be on the verge of extinction.  I am not going to write about it all too much because these exquisite images will speak for themselves.  One thing that makes it quite unique is how it feels like you are staring at images from the past through a modern lens.  There are a lot of images on this post but many more at the beforethey site.

-Brian