Ralf-Graebner-b.jpg

 "Change" is a series of photographs of American quarter-dollars that Ralf Graebner found on the streets of New York City, intrigued by "the metamorphosis of these quarters from looking identical when they were minted to looking distinctly unique after they had been exposed to various harsh environments over time." 

View the full screen magazine photo feature then come back and learn how he does it!

He creates these graphic depictions by combining thousands of thin image slices made with a macro lens to produce a "three-dimensionally stitched image." Hard to reckon so here's the full monty on his method:
"I am using a technique called "focus stacking" to overcome two limitations of conventional photography, namely, extremely limited depth of field in macro photography at open aperture, and loss of detail through diffraction when the aperture is stopped down.
In other words, in conventional single-shot macro photography you either have to accept shallow depth of field but good detail where in focus, or more depth of field but overall soft images due to the detail-robbing effects of diffraction when you close the aperture.
What I do instead is take pictures with extreme shallow depth of field (around 1/100 of a millimeter!) but with the highest image quality where the image is in focus, and between each exposure I move the camera in increments of 1/100mm towards the subject. In order to capture a subject that requires 1 millimeter of depth of field with this technique I need to make 100 exposures. These 100 shots are then analyzed by a software that determines what's in focus and what's not, and merges everything into one image with complete depth of field, discarding what's out of focus."
Phew! Not enough for you?
"I repeat this process 30-40 times, photographing small sections of the coin, until all of the subject is captured. These 30-40 focus-stacked images are then stitched together to become the final image. With this technique I capture so much detail that I could create 10' x 10' prints that are tack-sharp. The limitations are merely the maximum width of chromogenic paper available, as well as portability of the prints: more than 7 feet, and I would run into problems getting the prints through regular-sized door frames."
See some that did make it through the door, at Fuchs Projects, 56 Bogart Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206 during Bushwick Open Studios, September 30 to October 2, 2016. 

Did you know? A quarter costs 11 cents to produce. 

JA-Mortram-blog.jpg
© J A Mortram

 Through his ongoing commitment to Small Town Inertia, Jim Mortram is dedicated to showing what life is like for people living in the margins of society. Basing his experiences solely around the area in which he lives, we see how the system is failing his neighbours and by extension the disadvantaged across the UK.

"Witnessing Tilney1's battle with Paranoid Schizophrenia over the course of the past 12 months, his medication changes, his endurance in isolation, his fight to exist and to navigate existence with and often without the regular support and contact with professional care teams, has been both terrifying and illuminating."

"It was as though watching a man drowning beneath the ice. I see him hitching for breath, chest heaving, eyes wild, fingers whipping at the indifferent, almost invisible, wall above.
I can do nothing but witness." J A Mortram, 2016







Film about Jim by Neale James
"This short film documentary introduces one of photography's more altruistic photographers and the people for whom his pictures have made real life impact."

Blaise-Djilo-Dane_Oumi4_Web1_Def.jpg

Being on the receiving end of all sorts of submissions each day is a privilege I do not take for granted. Blaise Djilo is a photographer in the Cameroon who sent over an email upon discovering aCurator. Here is a small sample of his photographs of the everyday. You should also check out his photographs of Japanese dance Butoh performed in Africa.

Blais-Djilo-Baigneuse2.jpg

Blaise-Djilo-Latrrines_Guinness.jpg

Blaise-Djilo-Cavaliers_Fantasia24.jpg


Leland-Bobbe-times-sq.12crop.jpg
© Leland Bobbé

Marvelous news in from Leland Bobbé that 18 of his photographs from 1970s New York City have been acquired by the savvy curators and collectors at the Museum of the City of New York. Congratulations and well deserved.

Leland-Bobbe-bowery-hookers2.jpg

Leland-Bobbe-hydrant008.jpg
All images © Leland Bobbé

FilipWolak-MCNY-UptownBounce-3403[1].jpg
© Filip Wolak Courtesy MCNY

Our pals at the Museum of the City of New York and El Museo del Barrio announce this year's line up for their outdoor Wednesday parties celebrating summer and uptown NYC! Don't miss the tribute to Prince!

Wednesday, August 3
 The Museum of the City of New York | A Tribute to Prince
- Joey Carvello and DJ Woof spinning the Purple One's grooves
- Carlos Neto teaching street jazz dance moves

El Museo del Barrio | Bling it On
- DJ Oscar Nñ spins a blend of urban and virtual club sounds with latinx undertones
- Design your own fashion accessories
- Curator led tour of ANTONIO LOPEZ: Future Funk Fashion

FilipWolak-MCNY-UptownBounce-2692[1].jpg
© Filip Wolak Courtesy MCNY

Wednesday, August 10
The Museum of the City of New York | NYC's Greatest Hits
- Misbehaviour of Mobile Mondays! spins the Big Apple's most memorable songs
- Karen NG's dance troupe performs with trumpeter Omar Akil Little
- Book launch of Alan Bortman's Uptown & Downtown: Old Skool Paintings on NYC Subway Maps with an all-star crew of graffiti writers - get your copy signed!
 
El Museo del Barrio | Sew What
- DJ Riobamba returns with Digital Diaspora tunes!
- Weave your own textile using synthetic materials
- Live fashion illustrations by Steven Broadway and friends
 
Wednesday, August 17 | THE FINALE
The Museum of the City of New York | 80'S Dance Party
- Misbehaviour & DJ Boogie Blind of Mobile Mondays! spin Hip-Hop, Pop, and New Wave!
- Uko Snowbunny teaches Hip-Hop dance
 
El Museo del Barrio | Revista Fashionista
- DJ Oscar Nñ closes out Uptown Bounce
- Create your own fashion zine
- Curator led tour of ANTONIO LOPEZ: Future Funk Fashion

FilipWolak-MCNY-UptownBounce-3186[1].jpg
© Filip Wolak Courtesy MCNY

Jamel-Shabazz-BITD_COLORING-1.jpg
© Jamel Shabazz from "Back in the Days" coloring book, published by powerHouse Books

The press release tells you all you need to know about this brilliant new publication (August, 2016, powerHouse Books). If you aren't familiar with the wonderful archive of Jamel Shabazz, get busy. This book is a real treat, and affordable enough to get one for everyone on your holiday list. It's fun for ages 1 - 100! I asked the publicist for enough to fill mine but she not unreasonably sent me only one. 

Jamel-Shabazz-BITD_COLORING-10.jpg

"Straight from the old-school streets of NYC at the dawn of the hip-hop scene comes Back in the Days Coloring Book. Here is your chance to redraw the birth of old-school hip-hop fashion: hangin' in Harlem, kickin' it in Queens, and cold chillin' in Brooklyn. Based on the legendary and original street-style book, Back in the Days by Jamel Shabazz."

Jamel-Shabazz-BITD_COLORING-7.jpg


"Style with an attitude not seen in fashion for another 20 years to come, Shabazz's subjects strike poses that put supermodels to shame--showing off Kangol caps and Cazal glasses, shell-top Adidas and suede Pumas with fat laces, shearling coats and leather jackets, gold dookie chains, door-knocker earrings, name belts, boom boxes, and other 80s designer finery. Featuring 30 original drawings, now it's your turn to get in on the action. Pull out your Crayolas and markers and help everyone look their best by adding your own vibrant colors to these fly outfits."

What a brilliant and accessible way to keep your images out there!

Jamel-Shabazz-BITD_COLORING-4.jpg

Jamel-Shabazz-BITD_COLORING-8.jpg

Jamel-Shabazz-BITD_COLORING-6.jpg

Jamel-Shabazz-BITD_COLORING-9.jpg
All images © Jamel Shabazz from "Back in the Days" coloring book, published by powerHouse Books

Karsh_Mars-Forest-E.jpg
Forrest Mars Jr. 1985 © Yousuf Karsh

Forrest Mars Jr. of Mars, as in Mars Bars, has died aged 84. Mars Jr. and his siblings maintained chocolate independence, so Mars is not owned by a petrochemical company. How refreshing.

I wish I were a "chocolate billionaire". Is it too late?

Martin-Adolfsson-Navajo--1.jpg

This series and story from Martin Adolfsson had me sitting up straight! I know Martin through having worked on the "Photography and Architecture" blog a couple of years ago, and he keeps in touch with fab new work. 
 
Here he talks about this project. "In the middle of the Utah desert, lays America's largest nation for American natives (Navajo Nation). During the last decade in this otherwise windblown and red-stoned area there has been a total change. Out of the sand, silhouettes of beautiful architect-designed houses will undoubtedly catch your eye in the wild sunsets."

Martin-Adolfsson-Navajo-4.jpg

"Every year a team of architectural students from the University of Utah take their pencils and move down to the nearby village Bluff, where they choose a family of four, or maybe a married couple or a single poet, native Americans who will receive an environmentally friendly house of their dreams."

Martin-Adolfsson-Navajo-3.jpg

"The architects become the builders in this unique experience of architectural innovation. At the same time, Utah is a state that wants to eliminate homelsessness, and Design Build Bluff intends to make one house for every family on the reservation."

See more of these fabulous homes at Design Build Bluff.

Martin-Adolfsson-Navajo-2.jpg
All photos © Martin Adolfsson

John_Mireles-04-ChicanoPark-1274-Edit-X3.jpg
Chicano Park, San Diego, California © J Raymond Mireles  

aCurator contributing photographer* John Mireles recently embarked upon a journey to begin capturing the current face of America in intimate portraits. John has now completed the West Coast and will soon set off on a three-month cross-country road trip to complete the project.

In the meantime, Mireles brought the portraits live and large to his own neighborhood - check out the dedicated Neighbors website and you can watch Mireles talk about the series in his home town of San Diego in "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors"


John_Mireles-Neighbors_01_Western_US.jpg
Taylor Shellfish Farms, Shelton, Washington

John_Mireles-Culture_Runners-03-2016-1721_1-X3.jpg
Lost Horse Saloon, Marfa, Texas

John_Mireles-East__02_Coast2016-1155-Edit.jpg
Capitol Hill, Washington DC

John_Mireles-NeighborsNewOrleans-01.jpg
AllWays Lounge, New Orleans, Louisiana All images © John Mireles

Baron-Wolman-Animal-Friends.jpg
A man holds a pro-vegetarian poster amongst the crowd, Woodstock Festival, August 1969 © Baron Wolman/ Iconic Images

You bought the book, now go see a new exhibition! "Woodstock by Baron Wolman" is at Proud Gallery in Camden, London, from July 28 to September 11, 2016. 

You can join us on opening night when you share this blog post and comment on my Facebook and Twitter, or Proud's. Just mention aCurator. See you there! 
#flares

Baron_Wolman_Woodstock-new.jpg
Crowd lying on the grass, August 1969 © Baron Wolman/ Iconic Images

Read about Baron's experiences photographing the crowds as well as the bands at Woodstock in The Guardian. "People had no idea what they were buying a ticket for. Now you know - you go to Glastonbury, and everything is planned, no question. The barriers, the tickets, everything that's typical of big modern festivals. At Woodstock, nobody knew how to plan a festival of this size, so things evolved organically. I saw it happening and it was magic... There was a spirit in the air, man. There was a spirit that was communicated, without stating it, that this thing was to be peaceful."

Recent Entries

Categories

Links