New Photographers - Matthew Albanese

Matthew Albanese is not just a photographer he is also a model maker that produces fantastic looking scenes of waterfalls, tornados and space landscapes. He uses arrange of different materials that can be brought from your local super market or craft shops such as sugar, jelly and corn syrup to produce a realistic looking ice and snow scene; paprika, cinnamon, thyme, chilli powder and charcoal to create the red and brown landscapes of Mars; steel wool, cotton, ground parsley and moss for the scene of a tornado running though a field, all of these set ups take months of planning, making and timing to create these landscapes. Once he creates his scene he then lights it using studio lighting and shoots a few images from different angles. The final images are beautifully constructed, designed and lighted.

The one we have here is of a volcano erupting was made out of tile grout, cotton, phosphorous ink. To get the lighting effect the volcano was lifted off the ground and six 60 watt bulbs were put under it to light it in the way it is. This gives it a dark feel and makes it look very realistic. It is the most realistic model that Albanese has done so far. I am looking forward to see what his next project will be and what he will try and model and photography.

Favourite Photographers - Taryn Simon

The Photographers Gallery in London had an exhibition a few years back where I was introduced to Taryn Simon's work. Her work is a series of photographs on hidden and unexpected areas and items found in the United States. There is a Playboy Magazine for the blind, the nuclear waste dump that illuminates bright blue and can be seen for miles and miles at night. The photograph shown here is of a White Bengal Tiger, this seems fine but when you read into why Simon has taken the photograph you notice that it is to make a point about caged endangered animals. There are no White Tigers remaining in the wild and to get this "prized" beast took several attempts of inbreeding with two other White Bengal Tigers. This poor sod is going blind, has crippled feet and dodgy joints and much more wrong with him. When reading why Taryn Simon shot the photos she did you understand how hidden and mysterious things are in America.

Her work is beautiful to look at and hard hitting at the same time. If you ever get the chance to go and see her work it is well worth the visit as her work is stunning and impacting to look at. She also has a book out called An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar, which has the photographs and information about them which is worth looking at.

http://www.tarynsimon.com/

Favourite Artist - Banksy

Banksy is a very well known street artist whose work is on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics. It questions the viewer’s opinion on everything that is going on today and the series I like the most is when Banksy has taken old art pieces and adds modern items that have political and cultural meanings to them. Over all I really like Banksy's work as they are very risky and challenging.

If you get chance to buy his books then you should they are very inspirational and helps you understand what Banksy is trying to get you to see.

http://www.banksy.co.uk/