As I embarked on the OneShot portraits project on 120 roll film, I also used my digital camera to make parallel portraits of my sitters. Despite the more methodical approach with shooting film, there is still the benefit of the instant review of the digital camera, and these are a few of the digital portraits done at the same time this week.
Popped by the National Portrait Gallery this evening to catch the 2014 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize whom I have been following since 2003. This year’s finalists again, are varied in their styles, and some are rather predictable. There are however some gems, like the above catalogue cover image titled Arvi by Sami Parkkinen. There are also a smattering of portraits of celebrities or persons of significance, like Steven McQueen, Silvio Berlusconi, and Lenny Henry. My pick of the show is Stella by Michele Aboud (below).
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This image above by Ian Atkinson was also a finalist entry in KL International Photoawards 2014 and was exhibited in Kuala Lumpur in August 2014. (Lewisham Chair of Council, Cllr, Obajimi Adefiranye, from series The London Borough Mayors 2013-2014)
The exhibition at the NPG runs till 22 February 2015.
Promenade de la Croisette, Cannes
In February 2007, I had the great pleasure of photographing this lovely lady for my book of Malaysian portraits. A Kelabit elder in the highlands of Bario in Sarawak, she goes by several names, as I discovered, the Kelabits have a tradition of having several names. Her full title I believe was Tepuq Na’am Ka’an @ Beken Ayuq @ Sineh Napung Aran @ Dayang Aran. She passed away on 16 April, 2014 at 105 years. She spent her time threading beads to make traditional hats and necklaces. Some of the glass beads are heirlooms and are highly values amongst the Kelabit.
Here is an article about her here and a tribute by David Lian Labang below :
“In memory of Tepuq Beken Ayuq best testimonial act after bed ridden for over a year of unbearable pain from a femoral head fracture and underwent a speedy recovery in less than 2 month after a Hemiarthroplasty surgery (Hip replacement surgery) ~ which stopped the pain and made her able her to stand up and walk again. (No one expected that she could walk once more but only the possibility of standing up)
Well, my admiration of this Tepuq Beken Ayuq that, she could withstand the unbearable pain and long hours of bedtimes alone in which, the state of depression and lost of hope and confidence in oneself can set in for more than 1 year without surgery and, I’ve come to understand this torturous depressive state ~ from personal experience for laying helplessly in bed for less then “2 hours long” waiting for someone to help me because I was totally immobilized and not able to move my legs and arms from a different illness last year.
Tepuq Beken was the Iron Lady of the Kelabit people. She surpassed all medical, mental, physical, philosophical, historical and underwent all childhood hardships of unfortunate circumstances and into the 21st century modernity and technological advances.
Well, i know that it wasn’t technology that made her walk but it was necessary as an assistance and improvement to minimise pain. What really made her overcome depressions, self-confidence and a true belief in knowing that she would be able to walk again was her faith in Christ Jesus and her belief in the promises in the word of God and the prayers of all family and visitors that came to visit her.
As I know that wisdom extends/prolongs life.. I for one would never let her mind be discouraged or let be lukewarm. No matter how stubborn and uncooperative she would have been to others, but one thing for sure.. she responds well to the truth as she hears it with humility and a humble heart and the re-assurances from the Gospel in which she agrees to and conforms her heart into.
Never in my life I would expect myself to be convincing an elderly wise person like my grandmother who taught and instructed me a lot over the years. And I’ve never envisioned myself to be preaching the word from the bible; correcting her, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and with careful instruction to her.
She humbled me greatly and with tears (as it reminded me of my late grandpa which his humbleness and wisdom has never in anytime in his life would ever leave,separated or divorce his wife in any circumstances made me understood what he truly meant (dropping him on the plane from Bario to Miri for a serious medical treatment of his swollen leg) when he said as reminder while he is away saying “don’t leave tepuq alone and try to treat her well. she may be difficult at times but don’t get angry at her. she has gone through a lot in a lifetime and she is genuinely good person actually”. I said “sure. I’ll take care of her”. (listening but didn’t understand how is it possible for me, a grandson can ever to deal with her myself)
Grandpa (Tepuq Wan Bala) recovered from his swollen leg after 1 month in hospital, 2 month with me taking care of him in Bario and passed away 1 month after returning home with his wife in they own house. At grandpa’s funeral, I was in tears frustrated at him for leaving me alone to handle her alone by myself. As if, he was treating me unfairly by putting all that responsibility unto me unbalanced because I was an assisting grandson to them both but pre-maturely became a role given by him to balance her instead.
Over the years, after grandpa left, I kept patient and diligently seek the way how grandpa managed to handle her and throughout the years, I learnt so much about history, cultural values and kelabit identity through the fellowship she and I discussed together and to confided in her wisdom and knowledge (in defining our Kelabit language, culture, values and heart).
As I learnt to understand that no one should be alone and especially someone of an elderly age that are wise, hardly speaks of needing company and being a Christian, sharing the gospel was a good time together and reminding each other the opportunity to keep transforming by renewing of the mind.
Ephesians 6:12-13 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Well, for all that has gone past and history as shed tears. In all things, good time or bad times, fortunate and unfortunate circumstances.. tepuq beken ayuq and I have learnt to rejoice, praising the Lord in thanksgiving and in all glory unto Him because His goodness and mercy endures forever.
Lastly, peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”
Cathy Newman, Presenter, Channel 4 News. Trafalgar Square, 6th December 2013
Similar to this image
Siberius and owner
Bendy Bendini from the Cambridge Community Circus
Spent the day up in Cambridge at the Norfolk Street Community Street Party organised by a friend. These are a couple of portraits I did when I encountered some interesting people.
Man Ray, Lee Miller, 1930
Lee Miller Archives © Man Ray Trust
I caught the Man Ray Portraits exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery last week, and wow, stunning is the only word I can describe it. This is quite a small exhibition but what was displayed was some of his most known portraits of Paris avant-garde artists of the 1930s, Hollywood actors and of course his muse, lover and student Lee Miller. It was Man Ray and Miller that gave the process of solarisation it’s artistic expression, (apparently, if you watch the video,
it was a rat that caused it). His studio portraits are not as dramatic or polished as as say Karsh or Klein’s but the surrealistic tendencies show through in some. You will see portraits of Marcel Duchamp, Catherine Deneuve, Picasso, Kiki,
Berenice Abbott, Matisse, Virginia Woolf, Henry Miller, several self portraits of himself, amongst many others, including Blanche et Noire study of Kiki (below)
Salvador Dali, 1929
Le Violon d’Ingres, 1924
Man Ray in some respects have been more well known for his photogram images which we are all familiar with and have at some stage in our photographic development, have experimented or copied during our dakroom days, so seeing his signature portraits, like these, including Lee Miller’s studies is so satisfying up close in real prints. Sadly his Glass Tears photograph isn’t on show, as are some of his Surreal and Dada favourites. As a portrait exhibition purely, this is not to be missed. The exhibition set out portraits from his early New York stint, and then when he moved to Paris in the early 1920s, through to his studies with Miller and Kiki, and other Hollywood artists.
Most of the portraits are printed to 11″ x 14″ or smaller, matted and framed in black wooden frames, and is starkly in contrast to modern day prints on aluminium or some fancy medium. This is studio and experimental portrait at it’s simplest form, true to the period of the 2o and 30s. There are some stunning miniature colour prints of Hollywood stars also, his later work.
Seeing one of the most respected and studied masters of photography in a great setting will be a treat. Runs till 27th May, National Portrait Gallery, London.
As we approach the end of 2012, at the cusp of a new year, I always look back through the months to review the images that I have taken to see what has transpired photographically for me, personally. I have selected 20 instead of 15 in 2011, having taken more images this year. I am currently working on a series which I will announce perhaps in the new year, but still lacking in numbers for now, so it is shelved until Spring comes round. Commonscapes, a series of landscapes photographed in close by Wimbledon Common was started when I discovered that I actually like walking, (and contemplating) with dog in tow. I can see myself shooting MF not too long. If only there was a digital square medium format camera to use which doesn’t cost the Earth and more.
Photography today more than ever, takes on a new meaning for me. I still like shooting street images, but because I have seen so many street images that lack intent and story lately, I focus now more on humour and irony rather than drama and contrasts. I go through phases in my photography, like reading books. I am into crime novels at the moment.
2012 has been a challenge in many respects, what, with the rise in prominence of Instagram and smartphone images to a new level, and the slow death of DSLRs caused by the onslaught of compact interchangeable lens formats, will surely be an interesting story to follow. Now that more and more photographers are composing through LCD screens rather than viewfinders, it would be worthwhile to examine if there are any compositional differences that may be gauged collectively in the kind and style of images that are produced throughout the world.
Here are my Top 20 for 2012 :
1. Chinese tourists on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral, London
2. Height of Summer, Hyde Park, London
3. Orang Asli mother and her children, ‘Magick River’, Perak, Malaysia
4. By ‘Magick River’, Perak, Malaysia
5. Butcher, ‘Little Burma’, Kuala Lumpur
6. Cult revelers, Notting Hill Carnival, London
7. Street pose, Notting Hill Carnival, London
8. Christmas display, Kuala Lumpur
9. Waiters waiting, San Marco, Venice
10. Sami, Tunisian, Venice from series Merchants of Venice
11. Wheatfield, Burgundy, France
12. Tourists, Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy
13. Fairground boy, Wimbledon Common
14. Wild flowers, Tuscany, Italy
15. Dinosaur Coast, Brook Chine, Isle of Wight
16. Wimbledon Common pond, from series Commonscapes
17. Untitled 1 from series Commonscapes
18. Veteran and his medals, Remembrance Sunday, London
19. Winter walkers, Wimbledon Common
20. Volunteer harvester, Bothy Vineyard, Oxford
See my 2011 Review here
Volunteer harvester, Bothy Vineyard, Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire
Sian and Richard Liwicki runs Bothy Vineyard in the Oxfordshire countryside, a small specialist vineyard producing a variety of award winning wines from five and a half acres. I had the opportunity to visit a harvest this weekend and photograph some volunteers and friends picking the ripe fruit from the vine straight to press. The morning was cold, dank and foggy, just nice for saturated colours of the vine leaves, and no shadow. The misty sky became a large softbox.
Marylebone Summer Fayre, London W1, June 17th
explorenation.net ~ photography posts, workshops, writings and thoughts by Steven V-L Lee 
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