Ideas = Photographs

Leica Portrait: Joel Meyerowitz from Leica Camera on Vimeo.

Photography is not just pictures, it's ideas...and does your pictures match those ideas.

Being Consumed

Photo from a road trip across America in 2010

I've been thinking a lot lately about how where I live shapes who I am. When I was abroad I didn't shop nearly as much, and didn't consume nearly as much. But I was so much happier. Instead, I invested in people, relationships, and weekend trips that created memories. Being back in America, all I can think about is earning more money and having the next best thing. I'm honestly afraid to live a country that thrives on this mentality! I don't think I'm strong enough to fight against it.

John Moore Speaks On His time Covering The Arab Uprisings

Photographer John Moore on 'Epic' Libya Battles, Arab World Revolutions from Mike Fritz on Vimeo.

Combat photography is something that is truly an art on it's own. War is a place where humanity rises and falls. Where death is a salty taste, and emotion is at is rawest form. The photographers that capture these moments are ordained with the most sacred stories one can ever cover.

In this video combat photographer John Moore speaks about his time covering the Arab Uprisings in the Middle East, specifically in Egypt, Bahrain, and Libya.

Amsterdam

A snowy and cold day in Amsterdam. Photo from My Life's A Trip.

Documentary on Photojournalists

This exposing short documentary on photojournalists gives an honest look at the challenging profession. While the focus of this film is a bit narrow, it still gives a slice of what life is like with a camera on the road.
Chimping from D Perez on Vimeo.

Dreary Day

Today is such a dreary day today in Philadelphia. Yesterday I was reminded of all the things that are keeping me from traveling abroad and accomplishing my dreams. I'm afraid of being dirt poor when I come back. This usually happens when I travel. I also realized that my "start" date is about to get pushed back about 6 months. Ahh reality.

NatGeo Photography

Randy Olson talks about what it takes to be a National Geographic photographer. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about doing something like this. His answers are surprising but challenging.

World Press Photo of the Year

Remember that amazing photo of the year that cause such controversy? It depicted a Yemen mother clothed head to feet in a black niqab holding her son injured from the riots. In this article the Spanish photographer travels back to Yemen to meet the subjects of his photograph.

Click here to read and see photos from the reunion.

Argentina

For now, I'd just really like to head to Argentina.
Photo first spotted here by Patricia de Solages

Antarctica

Most people think Antarctica is a little unconventional, but these photos prove its beauty and uniqueness. There is just n other place on earth like it.

First Photo by Sander Klaassen
Second Photo by Christian Wilkinson

Rainy London

A rainy day in London perfect captured by this talented blogger and photographer.

Icelandic Horses

In grade school I hate the choice to write a research paper on any country in the world. I chose Iceland. Why? I'm not sure. I've always been fascinated with snow and the cold, and Iceland has a lot to offer in this area. This photo was taken by Marketa Kalvachova and is of horses braving the chill in snowy Iceland. Found via NatGeo.

The Sahara Desert

Street artist M-E-S-A travelled to the Sahara Desert to see a stunning expression of speaking out in the peaceful form of art. Read more about this project and photography here.

First found on My Modern Met.

Dogsledding in Norway

Today I'd rather be dogsledding in Norway.

Vietnam

Love these photos of Vietnam from Kate Headley. In all my travels I have never been to a country in Asia before, and this is only fueling my interest.

Prague

Today I would rather been in Prague.

These photos are by Natasha.
First found here.

Stainless by Adam Magyar

Speeding into the subway station you miss a lot of the action. This is what it looks like when a train pulls in with everyone waiting to board. Can you see yourself there?

Also, note the little girls running in the background. Love that.

Michael Maher

My new travel photography crush is undoubtedly Michael Maher. He knows how to capture energy and motion perfectly.

He says, "Offering a subjective interpretation of cultural and social norms with an emphasis on personal expression."

China by Shen Wei

Come to think of it, China has never really made any "must go to list" of mine. Not for any particular reason or such, just never really thought of it. When I saw these photos from photography Shen Wei it opened my eyes to a whole different desire to experience Asian culture. I've done the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and more, but I've never been to an Asian country before. Just take a look at these photographs and you'll know what I mean. To Asia!

Women Photographers In The Middle East

As you know, I'm a photographer and I love the Middle East. It's a tough place to love according to other people's standards, but the moment I was there I was hooked. So when I found this interview with woman photographer Lynsey Addario (visit her blog here) I was inspired, encouraged and challenged. Here are some of my favorite quotes.

If a woman wants to be a war photographer, she should. It’s important. Women offer a different perspective. We have access to women on a different level than men have, just as male photographers have a different relationship with the men they’re covering.

Lynsey was often give access to places where her male colleges were not permitted because of the conservative culture.

In the Muslim world, most of my male colleagues can’t enter private homes. They can’t hang out with very conservative Muslim families. I have always been able to. It’s not easy to get the right to photograph in a house, but at least I have one foot in the door. I’ve always found it a great advantage, being a woman.

{ Lynsey is the female in the center of this picture }

 She goes on to say that photography is about relationships, and I couldn't agree more.

People think photography is about photographing. To me, it’s about relationships. And it’s about doing your homework and making people comfortable enough where they open their lives to you. People underestimate me because I’m always laughing and joking. That helps. They let their guard down.

About keeping a relationship at home while abroad:

There are many reasons. It takes a great toll on your personal life. It’s lonely. It’s physically demanding. You have to carry a lot of equipment. It’s emotionally taxing. You see and document things that take a lot to process, both mentally and physically. Most women, at some point, decide they want to put their personal lives first.

Most of my life, I had no personal life. I tried having relationships. But they were never successful because I was never home. That’s my fault. That was my decision. I would leave for an assignment and come back four months later. You can’t ask someone to be in a relationship with you if you’re not home. I think it’s a very good reason that a lot of women decide that they don’t want to do this.

About being detained in Libya and the affect on family at  home:

The hardest part about what happened to us in Libya, our having been detained, is what we put our loved ones through — more than what happened to us. The whole time we were detained, I think our main concern was that our families didn’t know we were alive. And we knew we would be hurting them. At times, it’s a very selfish profession. And it’s hard to put people through what we put them through. 

Click here to read the rest of the interview.
Click to read about her captivity.
Originally found at NatGeo.