London 2012: The Opening Ceremony – Best Photos

Thanks to The Atlantic for this roundup of images from the opening night of the London Olympics. These images are so much better than anything seen on tv, make sure you have a look at these fantastic pictures

Last night the 2012 Summer Olympics kicked off with a huge Opening Ceremony in London’s new Olympic Stadium, an event watched on television by an estimated 1 billion viewers. Performances paid tribute to British heritage and culture, from agrarian beginnings through pop culture successes like the Beatles and J.K. Rowling. Contingents from more than 200 nations marched in the athletes parade, and the evening was capped off by the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, a performance by Paul McCartney, and a huge fireworks display. Collected below is just a glimpse of last night’s ceremony, as the 2012 Olympics are now underway. [44 photos]

Newly “forged” Olympic rings light up the stadium in London, on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Britain’s flag bearer Chris Hoy holds the national flag as he leads the contingent in the athletes parade in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters)

Union Flags, commonly known as the Union Jack, are projected on the Palace of Westminster next to Big Ben on the bank of the River Thames, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Sergio Perez)

Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Britain’s David Beckham (center) drives a powerboat with the Olympic torch as fireworks are launched over Tower Bridge during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Eddie Keogh)

Actors portraying the Queen of England and James Bond arrive via parachute after jumping from a helicopter during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Murad Sezer)

A giant marionette of Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter books makes an appearance in the Opening Ceremony, on July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Fireworks on display at Tower Bridge on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

A wide-angle view of the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski)

 

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Tom Stoddart’s retrospective comes to London’s South Bank

In the BJP we read about a retrospective of the work of Tom Stoddart

A child plays with pigeons among the ruins of Bhachau, India, one of the worst hit towns after the earthquake of 2001 struck the region of Gujarat. Image © Tom Stoddart/Getty Images.

Perspectives, a retrospective of Tom Stoddart’s career, will be shown on the South Bank throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games, from 25 July to 11 September.

Eimear Kelly speaks to Stoddart

“I thought it was a really good opportunity to have an exhibition when lots and lots of people are visiting the capital, and the idea was to put it in a place where there would be a huge footfall of people,” Stoddart tells BJP.

 More London on the South Bank will display 78 of Stoddart’s black and white images, where his Eyewitness exhibition was held eight years ago.

Open 25 July – 11 September, throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Seventy-eight of Stoddart’s signature black and white pictures will form a free, open-air display at More London Riverside, between City Hall and HMS Belfast.During his distinguished career Stoddart has travelled to more than 50 countries and documented such historic events as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Siege of Sarajevo and the election of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first black president.His acclaimed in-depth work on the HIV/AIDS pandemic blighting sub-Saharan Africa won the POY World Understanding Award in 2003. In the same year his pictures of British Royal Marines in combat, during hostilities in Iraq, was awarded the Larry Burrows Award for Exceptional War Photography. A year later his book iWITNESS was honoured as the best photography book published in the USA.Now established as one of the world’s most respected photojournalists, Stoddart works closely with Getty Images to produce features on serious world issues.He said,

”The world’s nations will soon be joined together in a wonderful sporting festival whose motto is ‘swifter, higher, stronger’. I hope that people visiting the exhibition will leave with a greater determination to understand and help those with little access to clean water, food and medicines who, through no fault of their own, cannot run more swiftly, jump higher or be stronger”.

Tom Stoddart

Tom Stoddart

Tom Stoddart began his photographic career with a provincial newspaper in his native North East of England.

In 1978 he moved to London and, working freelance, started to regularly supply national newspapers and magazines. In the eighties he worked extensively for the Sunday Times newspaper.

Stoddart was in Beirut in 1982 when the Israeli forces bombed Yasser Arafat’s besieged PLO base and again in 1987 shooting a world exclusive on the horrific conditions inside the
Palestinian camp of Bourj el Barajneh, where Dr. Pauline Cutting was trapped.

Later he spent time aboard the Greenpeace ship ‘Rainbow Warrior’ where he shot a widely published story about the environmentalists’ efforts to stop the Canadian cull of baby seals in the Gulf of St Lawrence.

Stoddart has witnessed many international events including the Romanian Revolution and the massing of alliance troops in the Middle East for the Desert Storm conflict with Iraq. He has subsequently spent time with British Royal Marines on more recent operations in Iraq.

In July 1991, he travelled to Sarajevo to document the civil war that was engulfing Yugoslavia.

His work from there was published around the world. Returning a year later for The Sunday Times Magazine, he was seriously injured in heavy fighting around the Bosnian Parliament buildings.

After a year of recovery, Stoddart threw himself back into photojournalism, producing a powerful feature on the aftermath of the Mississippi floods and, later that year, an award-winning photo-essay on the harsh regime for the training of Chinese Olympic Child Gymnasts.

In December 1993 he returned to Sarajevo to report on the hardship of life in the city during a freezing winter under siege. This trip confirmed his fascination with a place that he was to return to on a dozen different occasions up until the Dayton Peace Accord in 1995. Earlier this year he revisited the city, on the 20th Anniversary of the lifting of the siege.

In 1997 Tony Blair gave Tom Stoddart exclusive access for three months to document his election campaign as Labour swept to victory after 18 years of Conservative government. He was later give access to Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

Now established as one of the world’s most respected photojournalists, Tom Stoddart is represented by, and works closely with Getty Images, to produce campaigning photographic projects on the serious world issues of our time.

http://www.TomStoddart.com

Prix Pictet unveils 2012 shortlist

Olivier Laurent writes in the BJP

 

Prix Pictet

The global award in photography and sustainability

 

Twelve photographers are now in the running to win this year’s Prix Pictet award, which is worth more than £66,000.

 The prestigious shortlist was announced at the Rencontres d’Arles photography festival, three months before the overall winner is revealed in a ceremony in London.

The shortlisted photographers were selected for projects that deal with the theme of Power. They are: Robert Adams, who is nominated for his series Turning Back; Daniel Beltrá for Spill; Mohamed Bourouissa for Périphérique; Philippe Chancel for Fukushima: The Irresistible Power of Nature; Edmund Clark for Guantanamo: If the Light Goes Out; Carl De Keyzer for Moments Before the Flood; Luc Delahaye for various works shot between 2008 and 2011; Rena Effendi for Still Life in the Zone; Jacqueline Hassink for Arab Domains; An-My Lê for 29 Palms; Joel Sternfeld for When It Changed; and Guy Tillim for his series Congo Democratic.

The Prix Pictet was created to “use the power of photography to raise public awareness worldwide to the social and environmental challenges of the new millennium”.

Organised by the Geneva-based private bank Pictet & Cie, the Prix Pictet comes with a CHF 100,000 cash prize for the overall winner, as well as an assignment for one of the shortlisted photographers.

For more details, visit www.prixpictet.com.

Power Shortlist

Daniel Beltrá
Series: Spill
May 18, 2010, Gulf of Mexico

Power Shortlist

Mohamed Bourouissa
Series: Peripherique
2007-2008, Paris

Power Shortlist

Carl De Keyzer
Series: Moments Before the Flood
2009, England

Apulia comes to London

London celebrates with Apulia, throughout a week of exclusive events

Entitled “Home, my Place in the World”, the project organised by Accademia Apulia UK, is aimed at introducing the international community to the best expressions of culture, art, creativity and cuisine from one of the most beautiful and traditional regions in Italy, Puglia

The series of events will unfold between 16^th and 21^st of July 2012, across a number of exciting venues in central London, including La Galleria Pall Mall and the Italian Cultural Institute.

Taking centre stage will be the eponymous art exhibition ‘Home, My Place in the World’ hosted at La Galleria Pall Mall, which will be opened with a private viewing on 17^th July. 

Paying tribute to the concepts of identity, tribalism, and homelands the exhibition will include paintings, sculptures, photographs, and video-installations.

According to the International Organization for Migration, in 2010 the number of migrants at worldwide was estimated at 214 million – a figure likely to increase as the world faces economic strife, conflict and environmental shifts.

In this context, the concept of ‘home’ or ‘homeland’ takes on a whole new meaning. Whilst in the past homeland was represented by one’s place of birth, now it is the place where one feels at home. From this perspective,‘political’ barriers between states lose their meaning with everyone becoming citizens of the world.

This summer, when athletes and visitors from every corner of the planet converge on London to celebrate the achievements of mankind, the importance of the World’s rich heritage will be reaffirmed.

More details onApulia and ‘Home, My Place in the World’ can be found here

Photo by Nicola Vinci

Print auction launched to support London’s Festival of Photography

Olivier Laurent writes in The British Journal of Photography

Documentary and fine art photographers are coming together to help support the London Festival of Photography, donating prints for a special auction……

Led by Dr. Michael Pritchard of the Royal Photographic Society will be leading the special print auction designed to support next year’s edition of the London Festival of Photography.

“Many of the festival’s contributing photographers have donated prints so you will have the chance to own the best of the festival,” say the organisers. “Lively entertainment, refreshments and opportunities for industry mingling and prize-winning will ensure the evening is a night to remember. All proceeds will go towards ensuring the festival will be back in 2013.”

The festival will be offering prints from artists that include Edward Burtynsky, Simon Roberts, Chris Steele-Perkins, Martin Parr, Olivia Arthur, Steve Bloom, Zed Nelson, Kurt Tong, John Angerson, Wasma Mansour, Andre Penteado, Alejandro Cartagena, Toby Smith, Arnhel de Serra and Frederick Wilfred among others.

The festival will also propose a silent auction on signed books and cameras.

Entry to the auction, which takes place on 19 July at the Dog Eared Gallery, is £15.

For more details, visit the London Festival of Photography website.

Jeddah Diary © Olivia Arthur.

Hackney © Zed Nelson / Institute.

Image © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos.

Shipbreaking © Edward Burtysnky.

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2191090/print-auction-launched-to-support-londons-festival-of-photography#ixzz20PVylA7E
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The Rolling Stones at 50

From The Guardian we get an interactive piece: The Rolling Stones are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first-ever live performance, which took place at the Marquee Club in London on 12 July 1962. To mark the occasion, here are 50 images of the band with links to videos and stories in the Guardian and Observer – showing you how we’ve covered their tumultuous history Go here for  full interaction

Giving their opinion on records for Juke Box Jury at the BBC in London, 27 June 1964. Charlie Watts: ‘I hated doing that show’

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards at the Feathers pub on Fleet Street, London, 30 June 1967, after both had just been released from prison on bail

Richards at Redlands, his home in West Sussex, on 31 July 1973. ‘I’ve had two or three houses burn down. Redlands burned down once … It was a terrible thing to happen to such a beautiful place. Parts of it date back to the 12th century’

For more pictures, video, music and comment go here

BJP’s 2012 International Photography Award is open

You could win a framed, printed exhibition at London’s Foto8 Gallery by entering BJP’s 2012 International Photography Award writes  Diane Smyth in the BJP

Chloe Dewe Mathews won the 2011 International Photography Award (series category) for a project called Caspian, which included this shot of two sisters running down to the underground mosque in Beket-Ata, Kazakhstan. Image © Chloe Dewe Mathews/Panos Pictures.

…What do Chloe Dewe Mathews, Edmund Clark and Peter di Campo have in common? They’ve all won London exhibitions in BJP’s International Photography Award. Enter now and you could win a framed, printed show at Foto8 this November. …….

Photographers may enter projects on any topic, and there are two categories to choose from: one awarding the best series of images, and the other the best single image. Both winners will be exhibited at Foto8 for two weeks and will be able to keep their print or prints after the show. 

The IPA has been running since 2005, and previous winners include Edmund Clark, whose series Guantanamo: If the lights go out went on to be published by Dewi Lewis; and Peter di Campo, who won the series prize in 2010 with a project on Life Without Lights in Ghana. Facundo Arrizabalaga won the single image prize last year with a shot from the student protests of November 2010, and Walter Astrada picked up the single image award in 2008 with an image depicting a victim of matricide in Guatemala.

The IPA is judged by a rolling panel of photography experts, which last year included Alexia Singh, editor-in-charge of the Wider Image Desk at Thomson Reuters, and Monica Allende, picture editor of the Sunday Times Magazine. The prize is generously supported by Spectrum Photographic, one of the leading photography labs in Europe, and by Foto8 Gallery in East London. 

The closing date this year is 15 September 2012. For more information, and to enter online, visit www.bjp-online.com/ipa. 

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2185843/bjps-2012-international-photography-award#ixzz1z0tWCgVE
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Renaissance Photography Competition 2012

I am really sorry not to have known about this before and to have failed to alert you to the exhibition at The Mall Galleries, London SW1 that closes today. If you are in London and have the time go and have a look, it is always so much better to see photographs as prints than viewed on a screen.

The Renaissance Photography Competition is in support of young women with breast cancer, a very worthy cause and one to give your time to. Set up in 2007 by Fiona Gifford, an amateur photographer who survived cancer after being diagnosed in 2006.

Many photography competitions in support of causes seem to attract rather dull images, nothing to shout about, that is definitely not the case with Renaissance. As soon as I saw some of the winning images I was struck but how intelligent and mature the art of photography was being used by the entrants. The website has all the winning entries for you to see and buy as prints and your love of photography would have to be a moribund husk not to find something that you would want to own.

Exhibition

100 photographs selected by judges Monica Allende, Michael Hoppen, Brigitte Lardinois, Mary McCartney and Brett Rogers will be exhibited in the Mall Galleries, Pall Mall, London.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 11 June to 16 June 2012 (admission free).

Photographs will be available for purchase.

Anastasia Taylor-Lind (United Kingdom)

disorientation
Digital
From The Series The National Womb: Baby Boom In Nagorno Karabakh

Julieta Sans (United Kingdom)

expression
Film
Untitled

Dom Agius (United Kingdom)

disorientation
Digital
Matthew: Under My Umbrella

Tom Hatton (United Kingdom)

environment
Film
Madaba

Mimi Mollica (United Kingdom)

expression
Film
Untitled

Mattia Vacca (Italy)

memory
Digital
Srebrenica. Requiem For A Dream

Alessandro Falco (Italy)

perspective
Digital
Vengeance N° 1

The following images were shortlisted for awards.

Mustafah Abdulaziz (Germany)

memory
Film
November, 2010.

Philip Cheung (Canada)

expression
Digital
Soldiers’ Angels – U.s. Mortuary Affairs In Afghanistan

Cristina De Middel (United Kingdom)

memory
Digital
Bongo

Régis Defurnaux (Belgium)

perspective
Digital
Contemporary Identities

Salomon Fargeon (France)

memory
Digital
Seventy Years Later

Colin Hutton (United Kingdom)

expression
Digital
That Royal Wedding

Florence Iff (Switzerland)

environment
Digital
Post Arcadia 1

Simon Impey (United Kingdom)

perspective
Digital
My Point Of View

Alvaro Laiz (Spain)

environment
Digital
Transmongolian

Cynthia O’Dell (United States)

memory
Digital
Tullig Village, Kilrush, Co. Clare, 2006/1849

Istvan Prem (United Kingdom)

disorientation
Digital
Tin Foil Dream

Greta & Manu Schnetzler (United States)

perspective
Film
Wow

Luke Smith (United Kingdom)

environment
Film
Isolation

Catrine Val (Germany)

disorientation
Digital
Fem!nist#4

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Photo week begins at Free Range in east London, showcasing the work of final-year students

Simon Bainbridge reports in the BJP about the start of student final year exhibitions. Free Range is involved and on their website list many of the Final Year Exhibitions around the country at different colleges.

“Free Range returns this summer, providing its annual showcase for this year’s arts graduates and, perhaps, the opportunity to be discovered by some influential art director or curator.

Founded by Tamsin O’Hanlon in 2001, Free Range is now Europe’s largest graduate art and design exhibition. Showing at Old Truman Brewery complex off Brick Lane in east London, it’s talent-spotting made easy, with each week of its two-month run devoted to a particular art form.

Contrast that to more than a decade ago, when degree shows were largely held locally, and graduates from outside London remained disconnected from many of the most important people in their market. In an attempt to attract a more influential audience that could help kick start their students’ careers, some colleges began hiring spaces to promote their degree shows in the capital. But that depended on the largely unfounded assumption that galleries and image buyers were prepared to schlep round dozens of venues. Some colleges still do, using venues such as Foto8 or the Candid Arts Trust, but Free Range provides the cluster effect that allows satellite events to thrive……MORE

Dave Alexander is one of the graduates starring in this year’s Free Range shows of graduate talent at Old Truman Brewery in east London.

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2183644/photo-begins-free-range-east-london-showcasing-final-photography-students#ixzz1xlH95ALv
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Photographers and curators wanted for MargatePhotoFest

Ed Thompson exhibited a series of images called Totnes Transition Town at last year’s MargatePhotoFest, which looked at a community-lead charity strengthening the area’s economy. This image is from a new body of work on Occupy London. The 2012 MargatePhotoFest is now open for submissions and looking for projects on political and social issues. Image © Ed Thompson.

Curator Charlotte Cotton, photographer Trish Morrissey, Hyeres curator Raphaelle Stopin and BJP‘s Diane Smyth are judging entries for this year’s MargatePhotoFest.

The festival, which returns for the third year from 10-12 August, is looking for photographers shooting social and political issues and will select three for exhibition..…MORE

MPF promotes socially engaged photography.

We are building a community of artists/curators/educators/ activists to explore photography’s role as an active force for change within contemporary society. The aim is to showcase exciting and innovative approaches to social art and develop programs with a real impact.

To this end projects selected will deal with social/political issues affecting contemporary society, work with communities, social projects (and audience participation) or some mix thereof. Projects involving mixed media, talks or workshops are not only allowed but actively encouraged.

Dates:10th-12th August 2012

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2174263/photographers-curators#ixzz1xWXnjlH2
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