Portrait of a banker.
I toned this photograph to show the overall mood of the interviewee, which I found to be quite… gray. Not a classical corporate portrait, and it might not appear as the next Ekonom:east magazine interview opener, but at least I got my creative cells occupied. And that’s good.
Here’s a five years old portrait of one of my closest friends, Martha. It’s really interesting to stumble upon one of those old shots and compare them with your current work. Despite the purely classical lighting and a couple of details that would probably go through some retouching now, the overall effectivness and graphical language is something I guess I just don’t do anymore.
Good or bad, tough to say. Probably neither.
Still, I’m glad I’ve found this.
(original @ sonjalekovic)
Couple of months ago I photographed Dirk-Jan Visser, news and documentary photographer from Netherlands. He was in Belgrade, leading the World Press Photo workshop.
This year he was selected to be one of 12 photographers (chosen from 179 pre-selected nominees) participating in Joop Swart Masterclass, held each year by the World Press Photo. The aim of the Masterclass is to “bring together some of the most experienced individuals in photojournalism with 12 young, promising photographers so that they can share and pass on their knowledge and experience.”
You can see all photographers here, and Dirk-Jan’s page here.
It’s interesting that, due to very short time we had to produce the picture, we ended up retouching it in a bar at main square in Belgrade! Cool!
Roma kids project about to begin…
Last couple of days I was trying to figure out exactly how to start that Roma-kids project I mentioned a while ago. Some conceptual issues are still bugging me, while I try to collect all the equipment I need. Not to mention their settlement under the Gazella bridge will be dislocated (read: buldozed) in next few days! I must react quickly.
I have definitely decided to go for slide film, medium format—6x7 cm (bye-bye money savings!). Apart from the kids dressed in their best outfits, I’ll try to portrait their parents too, and possibly get that “displacement” context with the different backgrounds. At first there’s bridge in the back, and all the hand-made carton “houses” (their current living space), then stuff being moved / crushed in the back (possibly with their angry/sad faces), and then the new metal containers (new, “sterile” homes).
I hope this will all work out.
Or maybe I shouldn’t tell you all this stuff? :-)
Marija of Abonos band, portrait with a guitar. I think I should forward this to the guitar manufecturer, they might like it. Oh, who wouldn’t? *innocent*
