people in photography - Articles - Zimbio

Kevin Connolly’s The Rolling Exhibition

Sun, 7 Apr 2008 19:01:45 GMT

posted by

I met Kevin when he came to volunteer for a film festival I created in Bozeman, Montana.

The fact that Kevin’s body ends at his torso is NOT what sets Kevin apart in a crowd. Visually, yes, I have no doubt that many eyes are drawn to Kevin’s outward differences.

But, what sets Kevin apart in a crowd is his self-confidence.

When talking with Kevin I was drawn to his ability to focus and with confidence, openly state why he was wanting to volunteer and what he wanted to take away. I liked that. He was honest and straightforward.

So, I was not surprised to learn that he took his talent, his confidence, and his focus on the road to very honestly capture the looks of those looking at him.

Kevin’s story is a story that in a way, involves each and every one of us.

Do yourself a favor…visit his website at www.kevinmichaelconnolly.com and then travel on over to his deeply insightful gallery at www.therollingexhibition.com.

Could you be one of those pictured?

National Front March - Margate

Wed, 8 May 2008 11:50:04 GMT

posted by strevellion

Images from the National front march along Margate seafront in June of 2000

In Memoriam: Philip Jones Griffiths 1936-2008

Thu, 4 Apr 2008 00:36:00 GMT

posted by billymacrae
In Memoriam: Philip Jones-Griffiths 1936-2008

It it saddens me to say this, especially as there have been other events in my life recently on a similar note (I will probably deal with these on this blog when I am able to) but the fantastic Welsh photographer Philip Jones-Griffiths passed away a week or so ago.

I thought I would say a few words about him because he was a truly great man and he took some fantastic photographs.

For those who don't know him or his work, Philip spent large amount of time in Vietnam, Cambodia, Northern Ireland and Sudan, covering the various wars, but also the peace-times, in a recognisably dramatic yet subtle and compassionate documentary style. A member of the Magnum agency since the 60's, he shot mostly in black and white and personified the famous (Magnum?) photographer's phrase on taking a great photograph perhaps more than anyone: simply "F8 and be there."

Among his most famous images are those of GI's and child-soldiers in Vietnam, which were acknowledged to be the inspiration for scenes in war films such as 'Apocalypse now'.

One of the defining aspects of his photography was his determination not to glorify the actions of 'The West' in the wars he covered. He refused to be 'embedded' with the US troops, amd instead fended for himself in a way that would be extraordinary today.

Apparently when the war in Vietnam was over a list of 'Western' journalists to be allowed back in to the country was drawn up.
At the top of the list: a certain Philip J Griffths.

I was lucky enough to meet him several times over the last six months or so, and was genuinely touched by what a lovely guy he was. They say you should never meet your heroes, but this was the exception. For someone whose images have graced timeless newspaper and magazine covers throughout the globe, he was grounded, generous in spirit and willing to joke and share memories with eager young photographers so massively junior to him. He was a softly-spoken, warm hearted guy, and he was extremely passionate about maintaining a standard of "photographs that mean something" in the UK today.

I feel really happy to have been able to chat with him a few times, and to tell him in person how much I admire his photographs.

I won't include any of Philip's images on this page - I know how concerned he was about photographers maintaining copyright control of their images, and his archive is now with Magnum.
However, if you would like to see some of his work please do have a look at his portfolio here:

http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1;=0&pid;=2K7O3R149GCO&nm;=Philip%20Jones%20Griffiths

B

Feisty Photog Fights Formidable Foe: Ron Diamond Challenges Devimco in Griffintown Development Dispute

Thu, 29 Feb 2008 13:21:49 GMT

posted by marysoderstrom
Ron Diamond is a feisty guy. A commercial photographer who only shoots digital photos “when the client insists,” he has high aesthetic standards and is unafraid to take on the powers that be. Earlier this week he dared Devimco, the development company that wants to redo the Griffintown area of Montreal, to buy out his lease in a building which Devimco wants to tear down. According to The Gazette, Ron wants $1 million, or he won’t budge.

He is quoted as saying he spent $10,000 renovating the space into a photographic studio, and he doesn’t want to be chased out.

That sounds like Ron. He’s the treasurer of the Electronic Rights Defence Committee, and each time we’ve talked lately he’s railed over the Griffintown plans. The development would be a disaster, he says, adding that he objects strongly to the way the city of Montreal appears to be encouraging it. On Tuesday at the hearings into the ERDC’s request for class action authorization, he mentioned that he was planning to make a protest at a “consultation” on Griffintown that night.

Good for him. If he had e-mail, I’d send him a note of congratulations. But just as he prefers taking pictures with film, he doesn’t truck with computers much. When the ERDC has an email exchange on some subject, I end up printing it out and mailing it to him. His pictures are great though, I think. That's his photo of me that I use for my blogspot.com profile, and it's better than any pix that's ever been taken of me.

The world needs more talented contrarians like him.

people in photography - Articles - Zimbio

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Kevin Connolly’s The Rolling Exhibition

National Front March - Margate

In Memoriam: Philip Jones Griffiths 1936-2008

Feisty Photog Fights Formidable Foe: Ron Diamond Challenges Devimco in Griffintown Development Dispute