Streets Ahead – Thirty Sixth Edition – Mobile Street Photography
Welcome to the thirty sixth edition of “Streets Ahead,” a weekly column dedicated to women mobile street photographers. Each week we review and curate work that was submitted to our Flickr Group. In addition to creating a showcase video which features a sampling of submitted work, we also highlight a few images that caught our attention… offering some thoughtful commentary about technique, composition, and subject matter. If you are not a member of our Facebook group… we highly recommend that you join us! This is our space for sharing newsworthy information and conducting discussions (what, when, where, why and how) about Women Photographers/Artists and Street Photography, in general.
So, if you are a woman street photographer, please join our growing community… I’m sure that you will agree that we are a very enthusiastic and supportive group of women!!
Gina has done a superb job commenting on this weeks hand-picked images, it’s a real pleasure to read her thoughts and Cara has also once again put together an outstanding video showcase, that will leave you once again quite breathless – thank you both so much.
• Flickr Group (for weekly showcase submissions)
• Facebook Group (for information sharing/discussions)
Hope you enjoy this week’s showcase…
‘The Flag Bearer’ by Geri Centonze
Flickr link
This image is so intriguing, as the figure of the flag bearer is juxtaposed against a stark and brilliantly blank background – only the figure’s shadow interrupts the surrounding space. What is the unseen narrative here? Is he part of a celebration or demonstration? The viewer is left to wonder and try to understand the context and story. Great capture Geri.
‘Mirando al Tibidabo’ by Montse Abad
This image is both powerfully spooky and haunting as the viewer tries to make sense of what is going on here. The title of the photograph states that these figures are looking at Tibidabo – the mountain which looms over Barcelona. The dramatic vantage point and and orthogonal lines as they converge near the base of the mountain are emphasized by the repeating figures at the left of the composition and glass wall of windows as it reflects the city to the right. The choice of black and white further emphasizes the mysterious tone of the image. A great capture indeed Montse.
‘Forgotten Something?’ by Saskia Howard
I love the story here as Saskia has slyly captured this woman riding on the subway (hard to tell – it might be a van?) without her shoes. Where are they we ask? The narrative suggested here, by the tightly composed image, makes the viewer smile at the possibilities the story suggests. A charming slice of human nature at its best.
‘Not Abandoned’ by Tuba Koran
A lovely image, as Tuba captures this conversation with three boys through the broken glass of this demolished automobile. What are they talking about? Was the car victim of arson or violence? The title of the photograph is ‘Not Abandoned’ – does this refer to the car, the boys, or the ideals of the community they belong in? The narrative here is multi-layered as the viewer wants to know more. The off-to-the-side point of view Tuba has taken the shot from adds to this mystery.
‘Hope in the Darkest’ by Basak Aytek
The ability to capture a moving figure framed within a small shadow is very difficult. The formal quality of the shadow encircling this small girl juxtaposed by the darkness that fills the remainder of the frame creates a powerful effect. The quiet and almost still-life-like quality of the image sets it apart as something quite special – almost as if it is a moment on the hushed theater stage. Nice eye Basak.
Flickr Video Showcase
Cara Gallardo Weil and Gina Costa
Cara is a Graphic Designer and amateur photographer with a passion for mobile photography. Born in Hong Kong to Filipino parents who moved there in the early 60s to work in publishing, her early life was spent in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. She studied graphic design in London and spent more than 20 years here before returning to Hong Kong, where she currently resides. Cara brings to her street photography a wonderful international and cultural perspective. Currently living in Chicago, Gina Costa is a museum curator and lecturer on 20th century art and photography. She has worked at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC; The Art Institute of Chicago and has taught art history at a variety of universities. Gina is currently working on a publication and exhibition that explores the current discourse on the use of mobile technology and how it has changed the way one defines what a photograph can be.
2 Comments
Tracy Mitchell Griggs
Have missed the showcase the last few weeks.
Is it now being published randomly?
Enjoyed this week’s selection but would ask kindly that my name be spelled correctly in the artist listings (above) – I have become accustomed to my first name being misspelled but my middle name was also misspelled.
Thanks for the curation and congrats to those selected.
Tracy Mitchell Griggs
Also – I did not see a credit for the showcase music track – enjoyed the tune and would like to know the artist. Cheers!