© Jason Andrew

I was introduced to Jason Andrew‘s work by a friend of mine and really enjoyed the social documentary stories he produces. Andrew, after studying documentary and photojournalism at the International Center of Photography, has created some interesting projects you can find on his website including this one shown here titled Abkhazia : 15 years of de-facto independence from Georgia.

Abkhazia is located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and for a long time has been subject to political instability and wars. I’m not certain of the exact year Andrew’s shot this series in but deciphering from his title and the brief history that I read, this series seems to record the celebration of the Abkhazia’s independence from Georgia and Russia formally recognizing their Independence since 2008. The series has some really strong imagery with vibrant colours, where the images capture glimpses of the everyday, the landscape and the celebration of a parade. (Thanks Iva)

© Jason Andrew

© Jason Andrew

© Joakim Eskildsen - Family in Szent Miklos, Haranglab

Today while visiting a friend, he asked if I knew Joakim Eskildsen and I responded sorry I don’t. This proceeded with going to the website and then gawking at the beautiful imagery and both of us being blown away by the work. How did Eskildsen and his impressive body of work of The Roma Journeys slip through my internet “roamings”? Thanks Peter for enlightening my visual library today!

The Roma Journeys took Eskildsen 6 years to produce. Between 2000 and 2006 he and writer Cia Rienne traveled through Hungary, India, Greece, Romania, France, Russia and Finland to document the life of the Roma people. Also considered as gypsies, the Roma people are an ethnic group of Europe displaced across the continent. The photographer/writer team set out to learn more about the people and if possible stayed with families to photograph them.

These images are saturated with colour and with emotion. This remarkable series pulls you into another world, probably one that is far, for most of us, to ever imagine.

© Joakim Eskildsen - Sandstorm, Barmer

© Joakim Eskildsen - St. Denis V, Paris

© Rafal Milach

I came across Polish photographer Rafal Milach’s newer work via Vanessa Winships‘ blog and also from an email from Adam. Not at the least bit disappointed. Black Sea of Concrete is a stark series with amazing use of colour and light. The series captures the Ukrainian Black Sea coast through industrial landscapes and the relationship between the people and the sea. A balance that seems not to have been established yet.

© Rafal Milach

If you are a fan of World Press Photo, you might remember seeing Milach’s work Disappearing Circus. It won 1st prize in the Arts and Entertainment, stories.

© Rafal Milach

©Christophe Agou

I came across Christophe Agou’s work a few months back and I have been a fan of his work ever since. Yesterday, I went to visit his site and saw that there was an entirely new one up. Agou’s new web site has bigger images and I believe more work than what was on his previous site.

The image above is part of his series Face au silence, work that was awarded an honorable mention for the Prix Kodak 2009. The work focuses on farmers in the Forez region in France and Agou delivers really stunning imagery. Check out this series but also be sure to check out all the great work on his site.

Public swimming pool, June 2003 ©David McMillan

In the book, The World Without Us, journalist Alan Weisman imagines a planet suddenly freed of all people.  He deftly navigates the hypothetical human-less landscape asking how Mother Nature might react to the burden suddenly lifted.  Left to her own natural devices of reclamation, how long would it take for the planet to reach its natural equilibrium again?  Among other things he asks what would become of our built environments- our cities- as time goes by.  In reading this book I am reminded of David McMillan’s work surrounding the Chernobyl exclusion zone.  His fascinating pictures begin to offer some graphic answers to Weisman’s queries.

On his website he writes:
“I soon realized that the city of Pripyat, where the employees of the nuclear power plant and their families once lived, was where my real interests lay. The Atomic City, as it was once known, was considered one of the finest places to live in the former  Soviet Union. The first apartments were built in the mid-seventies, when the power plant was under construction, and at the time of the accident, it was home to 45,000 people. There were all the amenities of a modern Soviet city, with many schools, stores, hospitals, and recreational and cultural facilities. It is now uninhabitable and will never be lived in again.”

Hotel room, October 2004 ©David McMillan

Since 1994 McMillan has made numerous trips, often revisiting the same scenes, but years apart.   In adding the dimension of time to the photographs, he effectively reveals the impressive resilience of nature and the surprising fleetingness of what was once “one of the finest places to live in the former Soviet Union.”

While many photographers have addressed the current human struggle of those living around Chernobyl and the reactor’s ongoing tragic legacy, McMillan’s work seems to make an equally thoughtful statement about our collective impermanence.

View of Pripyat, October1994 ©David McMillan

Public swimming pool, October 1996 ©David McMillan

©Andrew Querner

Andrew Querner is a documentary photographer currently residing in Canmore, Alberta. Andrew’s work can be viewed on his website. He also maintains a personal blog.

©Donald Weber

This year’s Contact festival in Toronto is shaping up to be a good one. One of the featured exhibits is that of award winning photographer Donald Weber. Donald’s work is extremely captivating, gutsy and sentimental all in the same image. The series exhibited will be The Drunken Bride, Russia Unveiled. If I can make it to Toronto in May, this is one that I will most definitely catch.

©Denis Dailleux

I found Denis Dailleux’s work posted on Mrs. Deane a couple of days ago. After spending quite a bit of time on his site, I was really overwhelmed with his style of documenting. The way Denis approaches his subject matter feels like he is really part of the image, like he is a participant of the event, he’s not just being the photographer. Maybe it’s because he shoots in a square format that it alters the typical documentary style and therefore altering the linear thinking process of a horizontal or vertical 35mm format. What also struck me with Denis’ work is his incredible use of light and colours.

Well photographer Paolo Picones has seen the dances and has created a wonderful essay. Paolo is based in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and his series Dancing for Discipline is awesome. When I first saw the You Tube video I was astounded to see all of these men dressed in orange doing such an elaborate dance. So when I discovered Paolo’s work, I was so excited to see images and an essay going in depth on the subject. Check out more work on his website.

©Paolo Picones

©Andrew Querner

I found Andrew Querner via twitter. He started following Slightly Lucid’s tweets, so I automatically went to check out his stuff. And WOW! This rarely happens but it’s always nice when it does.

This image is from his series Newfoundland. It’s a great series depicting the peoples hardships in such a beautiful land.

©Brent Foster

I found Brent Foster’s work via Burn Magazine. His essay Half Widow, looks at Kashmir women who’s husbands have disappeared but have not been proven dead. The series is wonderfully put together and deeply touching.