Snapped Shot

Memo to Fayaz Kabli and Dar Yasin

Peace movement FAIL.

This is a protest. It is performed by protesters.

Your photos, on the other hand, illustrate a riot. Its participants are rioters. Thugs. Insurrectionists, who wave the flag of an enemy nation—which in this case is Pakistan.

Protest.

Riot.

Please learn the difference ASAP.

A Kashmiri masked protester hits a burning government vehicle [Ed.:—Gee, it started burning all by itself?] with a piece of wood in Barthana on the outskirts of Srinagar August 4, 2010. Kashmiri separatist leaders have appealed for calm in the biggest anti-India protests in two years that have killed dozens of people and raised fears that anger at New Delhi was spinning out of control. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli (INDIAN-ADMINISTERD KASHMIR)

[ Daylife Link ]

The Future of Photojournalism

The pros seem to be up in arms about how citizen journalists are killing photojournalism, which has been a debate that's been going on for decades now, so it's not really all that new. But that's not to say that their concerns are unfounded.

"Professional" photojournalists in Cuba have for years viewed it as their duty to report on only what the Cuban government dictates they cover, not what's actually happening in Cuba.

Which isn't really "journalism" at all, is it?

With that in mind, allow me to introduce you to Luis Felipe Rojas, who is a citizen of Cuba that is actually doing journalism, by every definition of the word. He covers the protests suppressed by Cuban thugs. He even documents who the Cuban thugs are. His stories give readers a sense of what life in Communist Cuba is really all about—None of which you can find by reading Reuters or the Associated Press.

This, my friends, is photojournalism, whether the old hands want to admit it or not. By bringing the truth to the public, amateurs have truly become the new professional.

Kevin Frayer Film Noir

The use of black and white in these portraits is stunning by its own right, but when combined with the fact that Kevin Frayer strips all of these men from any context, save weaponry—And the series becomes pure genius.

Whether you view it as a group, as in the above shot, or choose to look at them individually, this composition highlights the tough humanity of these soldiers remarkably well.

[ Daylife Link; Series 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ]

This combination photograph shows portraits of Afghan National Army soldiers following a patrol made on Sunday, July 11, 2010, at the United States Army's Combat Outpost Ware, in the volatile Arghandab Valley, near Kandahar City, southern Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

The Happy Little Mosque... of Rage

Holy fire.

It's Friday in Tehran, and there's one thing that's certain: Once again we will be treated to the wonders of technology as the Western media pipes a regular stream of images into our news feeds yet again.

And yet, when one steps back and looks at the longer term, things become ever more clear:—The Western press in Iran has become nothing more than a repeater, echoing words and ideas straight from the Iranian regime without thought, without contemplation.

The meme unfolds in photos of Tehran University's weekly Friday sermons, illustrating a society completely aligned with its dictatorial regime.

Which, coincidentally, is exactly what the regime wants you to see.

So to expose this regular stream of propaganda, I've put together a little illustration of the bit players that help make it possible. Please follow along beyond the fold as I take you on a tour of the epicenter... of rage.

Continue Reading »

Photographers Roughed Up in Hebron

Source: Facebook

Nasser Shiyoukhi/AP and Abed Omar Qusini/REUTERS are both reporting on Facebook that they've been injured by the Israeli Defense Forces in Hebron today. While Shiyouki appears to have just scuffled a little bit (pictured above), Qusini is reporting that he has checked into the hospital in Hebron, as he appears to have been floored.

I'm trying to find out the story behind the incident, but as of yet, there's no official word from the IDF Spokesperson. Expect updates to this post once I find out what happened there.

"D" is for Diss

President Obama met recently with Peruvian president Alan Garcia Perez, which was dutifully covered by the White House Press Office.

In a move that is becoming less surprising over time, the White House Press Office selects a photo showing the men preparing for the event as a highlight, illustrating their "honored" guest in a highly unflattering light (especially when compared to the stoic Obama, which you can see at the Flickr link below). But that pales in comparison with the fact that the full-resolution photograph captures an almost completely readable version of President Perez's talking points for the meeting at hand!

What kind of host treats an esteemed guest like this? Would it really be that hard to show the two men in a more formal pose, or actually attending to the business at hand as equals?

Or is this White House so interested in puffing up the Placeholder-in-Chief that they don't see anyone else as being "equal?"

Once again, I'm left disgusted by the actions of this amateur White House and its inconsiderate Staff Photographer.

[ Flickr Link / Hi-Res ]

President Barack Obama talks with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs during a meeting with President Alan Garcia Perez of Peru, seated left, in the Oval Office, June 1, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Reuters Finds a Dreamboat

I'm not one to suggest that Kevin Lamarque wants to have Captain Wonderful's babies or anything.

But—well, actually that's exactly what I'm trying to say!

In fact, I am fairly confident that Kevin framed this photograph with nothing in mind other than late nights in Obama's service, IYKWIMAITYD (NTTAWWT).

Now, coming from an art photographer (or a hack propagandist), that's not to say that there's anything wrong with framing a photograph of Wonder McFlufferbubbles in deep pose, with the nation's greatest leader poised ever-so-carefully in the background. I wouldn't exactly be one to be interested in schlock like that, but I would understand it, given the context that surrounds it.

This, on the other hand, is a wire service photograph—Intended for consumption as a news item. One which seems to be pushing a pretty heavy message, in direct contradiction with the supposedly-impartial nature of the quote-unquote "news" industry, I'd say.

If Kevin and his buddies over at Reuters are so wildly enthusiastic about the überleader's Volksadminiskampf, why should I believe them when they say they're mere impartial observers, on a rambling life journey to tell the truth—"Whatever that might be, maaan!"

They present glorifying photos like this, which might (MIGHT!) belong in the Editorial page of some tawdry left-wing rag, but I'm not sure it fits the purpose for which a respectable news agency is supposed to serve.

Though, given how closely news agencies resemble The World's Oldest Profession these days, perhaps it's not exactly a surprise.

All I'm asking is that they leave their dirty little fantasies to themselves for once.

[ Daylife Link ]

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the U.N. Security Council vote to impose sanctions against Iran from the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington June 9, 2010. A painting of George Washington is seen in the background. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES)

Patronization Illustrated

There could not possibly be a more apt example of how tone-deaf this Administration is than the photograph above. Rather than releasing a photograph showing a more cordial scene, the White House Press Office chooses this atrocity, in which Jan Brewer's apparent appeasement is combined with Barack Obama's traditional condescending lecture from his self-exalted position.

It goes without saying that a Republican president would have been hounded for publishing such an insulting picture—but coming from this White House, it's mere par for the course.

Is it really too much for the White House to publish photos that compliment their guests, as we often do in polite society?

Apparently, the answer is "yes, peon."

[ Flickr Link ]

President Barack Obama meets with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer in the Oval Office, June 3, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Bubblehead

Is this rather unusual composition intended to insult the Afghan president—whom, based on the company he keeps, appears to deserve such scorn?

Or, when compared to the rest of the series, is it more likely that Ahmad Masood meant no foul in taking this shot?

I'll leave the discussion up to the usual chorus of crickets, as always.

[ Daylife Link ]

Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks at Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) in Kabul April 1, 2010. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: POLITICS)

Gone Beggin'

Tim Kaine—formerly Governor of Virginia, and currently head of the Democratic National Committee—pictured in a meeting with Barack Obama at the White House.

Far be it from me to point out that this is perhaps one of the most desperate "Gimme a Job" faces I've ever seen.

[ Flickr Link ]

President Barack Obama has lunch with Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine in the Oval Office Private Dining Room, March 16, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)