Twins, from the series "LET US NOT FALL ASLEEP WHILE WALKING". David Denil
I just found my new favorite photographer. David Denil’s series “LET US NOT FALL ASLEEP WHILE WALKING” is everything I aspire to become someday. In this series he documents the Euromaiden Revolution in Ukraine that is still going on today, 5 years after its start in 2014. His style of documenting is mystifying, cinematic, and filled with meaning. My passion project would be going to these types of places and making my surreal art with the people there that tell their story. It is so encouraging and surprising to see someone creating in the way that I dream of.
Please click here and check out more of David Denil’s work.
#39
Alex Vasyliev
Buildings in Yakutsk are constructed on stilts because of the permafrost. Stilts are needed to prevent the house’s heat from melting the permafrost. Alex Vasyliev
Alex Vasilyev lives in the Sakha Republic in western Russia. This region is largely unexplored and gets, you guessed it, extremely cold. The cold winters do balance out with warm summers, and Vasilyev’s work aims to show both sides. The extreme winter months that leave the population inside for most of their time, and summers when things liven up. I can relate to Vasilyev’s desire to express himself through his photography while he feels isolated in a sparsely populated region.
Alex Vasilyev’s website can be found here.
#38
Julia Fullerton
Tower Bridge. Julia Fullerton-Batten
Julia Fullerton’s work is breathtaking. In her latest series “Old Father Thames” she creates cinematic scenes that depict historical events, stories and lore that surround the Thames River in London. I appreciate the historical accuracy, whimsy, and wonder that Fullerton employs in this set of photos and one can see it throughout all her bodies of work.
Check out more of Julia Fullerton’s fantastical imagery here.
#37
Tong Lam
A lone migrant worker playing with his mobile device. Tong Lam
One of my favorite things about photography is it’s ability to relate foreign places and problems to any viewer. Tong Lam’s series “Where There Is No Room For Fiction” depicts the crumbling urbanized village of Xiam surrounded by the sprawling city of Guangzhou in China. Guangzhou is rapidly expanding in technology, size, and influence and is illegally demolishing and encroaching in upon Xiam. Tong’s photos show a resilient community of land owners and migrant workers who’s way of life is being threatened by growing infrastructure.
More of Tong Lam’s work can be found here.
#36
Sayuri Ichida
Sayuri Ichida
I’ve always admired photos of dancers as they know how to move their bodies in the most elegant ways. Their complete control of every part of their body allows for beautiful compositions and their artistic inclination allows them to portray emotion in ways others can’t. In Sayuri Ichida’s series “Mayu” she uses fellow Japanese immigrant Mayu as a means of conveying the surprising and jolting experiences that they both found on their respective journeys to America.
Click here for more of Sayuri Ichida’s work.
#35
Matjaz Krivic
Winter Testing of EVs. Matjaz Krivic
Lithium is an element used in all electronics and is one of the most in demand metals of our day and age. Matjaz Krivic captures what the process of mining this important metal, it’s affects on technology, and how our need for it is shaping our world.
Dive into more of Matjaz Krivic’s work here.
#34
Andrew O’Carroll
Mostafa. From the series "Take me to my home." Andrew O'Carroll
Andrew O’Carroll’s series “Take Me To My Home” documents the Hotel City Plaza, a place of refuge for squatters in Greece. O’Carroll’s photographs share a closer look at a group of displaced people, asking them to write cards on how they were feeling or what they were thinking as they were living in this run down place. The raw emotion that is portrayed throughout this series is stunning, and sheds light on a population of people who would otherwise remain voiceless.
Check out more of Andrew O’Carroll’s work here.
#33
Marc Ohrem-Leclef
“Jugaad: Of Intimacy and Love” by Marc Ohrem-Leclef is one of the most moving projects I’ve seen. Documenting and interviewing same-sex couples in India, he shows a side of Indian people that they must hide from the world. Reading the stories and seeing the portraits of these people really puts into perspective the saying that “love is love” and that true, deep, passionate love can be found in many different places. One man wrote that gay men in Indian feel most themselves at dusk (when they cruise in public without worry of humiliation) and that at this time is when he told his mother that he was gay. In his language they don’t even have a word for ‘gay’ and in telling her he had to explain that he was ‘in love with a man’. We take for granted the acceptance we have here in America, and seeing these people and their stories side by side really puts that in perspective.
To see more of Marc Ohrem-Leclef’s work please click here.
#32
Rafael Soldi
From the series “Sentiment.” Rafael Soldi
“Sentiment” by Rafael Soldi addresses the photographer’s own experiences of childhood playground hazing and how that lead to his understanding of his sexuality and ultimately his differences from other kids. I think this topic is one that is extremely relevant to anyone within the LGBTQ+ community, and his portrayal of intimacy among men is different than others I’ve seen. There’s a tenderness, reservation, and whim to Soldi’s work that I believe paints a clear picture of his past and his message. Soldi addresses his identity and what makes him him in this work. Something we could all work towards honing in on.
More of Rafael Soldi’s work can be found here.
#31
Yoshiki Hase
Ena 035. Yoshiki Hase
Seclusion can manifest many different outcomes but most often the people that live this was are eccentric. Yoshiki Hase mystifies the viewer with his series “Ena”, by highlighting the quirkiness of the inhabitants of this rural town in the Japanese countryside. By showing the personalities of it’s residents, Hase creates a world understood by no one, but also one that intrigues every viewer.
More of Yoshiki Hase’s work can be found here.