Alafoto

OPA #28 – Ade by Hannan Saleh | ALAFOTO

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:15:41 -0400

"Decorate your monitor with new Halloween wallpapers. Also check this old post with some scary and..."

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:06:36 -0400

“Decorate your monitor with new Halloween wallpapers. Also check this old post with some scary and bloody wallpapers: Happy Halloween! 200 Horror Wallpapers See full Halloween Gallery Click to enlarge and save an image: Halloween Gallery”

- Have a BOOtiful Halloween! New Wallpapers

"Only necessary" Nude by Simon Bolz

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:48:01 -0500

“I shoot nude photo series for magazines and capture only what’s necessary not to overstimulate you.” - says nude photographer Simon Bols from Frankfurt, Germany.

His works recently were printed on: XXL Russia · stern.de · Men’s Health · TRIPmagazin.de · VIEW Stern · Penthouse Russia · PRINZ.de · WomenWeb · C-Heads Magazine · PHOTOGRAPHIE · fotoMagazin.de · VIEWspotlight · GQ-Magazin.de · Penthouse.de

NSFW

Simon Bolz website See Full Gallery

New surprises from Andrey Razoomovsky studio

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:32:11 -0500

Andrey Razoomovsky is one of the most popular authors here on Alafoto. His works are stunning and all of his projects a full of surprises and professionalism. Please check some new works. Also some shots from behind scene. If you like his photos visit his website razooma.net (in Russian), also see albums on Alafoto Galleries: Andrey Razoomovsky full size portfolio, Andrey Razoomovsky backstage gallery.

NSFW

BACKSTAGE

BEFORE AND AFTER

See more:

razooma.net

Andrey Razoomovsky full size portfolio

Andrey Razoomovsky backstage gallery

Cathleen Naundorf: Refined Fashion and Stylish Tales

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:06:00 -0500

Cathleen Naundorf was born in 1968 in Weißenfels an der Saale. In the late 1980s she graduated from photography studies in Munich.

She worked as a photo assistant in New York, Singapore and Paris in the following years, before she started traveling in 1993 to such destinations as Mongolia, Siberia, Gobi Desert and the Amazonas headwaters in Brazil. The results of these insightful pictures have been included in eight publications of renowned publishing houses.

As of 1997, she started photographing for the Süddeutsche Zeitung with a fashion page of her own, as well as for Glamour and Vogue, for which she was commissioned to take pictures backstage at the Paris fashion shows.

Since 2005, Cathleen Naundorf has worked on her haute couture series “Un rêve de mode” focusing on six couture houses: Chanel, Dior, Gaultier, Lacroix, Elie Saab and Valentino. Thanks to her outstanding pictures, Cathleen Naundorf got the privilege to choose gowns from the couturiers’ archives for her elaborate and cinematic productions. Part of her detailed set-up is also her free choice of models, locations and hair and make-up designers. All of these careful preparations are preceded by intensive research, which Cathleen Naundorf records in enchanting handmade journals in order to develop a storyboard: archive photos of couturiers, texts written by Naundorf and others as well as sketches of planned photo compositions. In addition, Cathleen Naundorf conducts personal interviews with the designers.

Cathleen Naundorf passionately uses large format cameras for her work (Deardorff or Plaubel). The expensive Polaroid films with the format 4 x 5 und 8 x 10 inches, many of which are out of production, are unique items the photographer uses as a homage to the exceptionality of the haute couture dresses.A publication of Cathleen Naundorf’s haute couture series is scheduled for spring 2012.

What is your personal background and what drew you to photography?

I come from a family of painters and musicians so it was already in my blood. I grew up in this environment. I had different studios and I did a lot of painting, which is what you see in my photos – the decorations, lighting, poses… In the beginning, I attended many different art schools in Munich and ended up doing graphic design, among other things. There was also a class on photography. The professors found my style interesting, especially in photography. They encouraged me to continue down this path. I’m not a very patient person and painting requires that you work alone in a studio before having a real artistic result; that didn’t interest me. I prefer to live, travel, take pleasure in my work and do things as quick as possible. I also chose a career in photography for these reasons. I always loved traveling, I think partly because I come from East Germany, which I was able to leave before the wall fell. Living under that government didn’t allow me to travel freely and I felt the need to discover the world. So, I dove into photojournalism and started by interning with various photographers, as is done all over the place. I began working for the ‘Knaur Verlag’ editions and right away I appreciated being able to travel around the world. I took part in a project about Mongolia and stayed there three months. I prepared for this trip for three months with in depth research. I saw professors of ethnology and learned the ethnic languages. I worked with many different editors until the day that a well known editor asked me to do a project on Russia. No body wanted to travel to Russia, but at that point in time, I still spoke fluent Russian, since I had lived in the GDR. So I took advantage of the opportunity. I left and worked on a book about the Siberian summer and winter. I really enjoyed doing the preparatory research and I learned about the people’s lives and about other perspectives. Early on, I incorporated the notion of travel into my work. After that, I went to Greenland, Iceland, the Amazon, Australia and Malaysia. I was very interested in the liberty of people in ethnic groups, specifically the nomads. I was never interested in artificial things like large cities but I was fascinated by people, and groups of people, that could live in the capitalist world and keep their own identity and even their pureness. I did eight books on these subjects for various editors. Every once in a while, I would get a request from a newspaper to do a fashion photo, but it didn’t really strike a cord in me. I need time to prepare my subjects and requests like that impose a rhythm that didn’t allow me to take my time.

How did this beginning impact your personal work with fashion?

I don’t respond to an order in my personal projects. I kept an aspect of “travel” and I never chose the clichéd beautiful blond for my photos. Instead, I prefer women of ethnic descent, or of mixed race – someone with something extra. Agencies often refuse to work with these women but I like them. Before we begin shooting, I like to meet the person. She needs to know who I am and I need to know a little about her. If there isn’t that “something special” between us, then I can’t make the photo.

So there really is an exchange between you and the model?

Yes, there’s a real exchange. It’s one of the reasons that I often work with the same women. Even if the agencies send me 100 books per day, I can’t do anything. I want to ask them “Why”? That’s not good for me or the model. I have this exchange with women like Julia or Maggie, with whom I work regularly and thanks to them, I have the same feeling as when I travel. Do you think that travel, as a way to expand one’s world-view, is a necessary element or experience for all photographers? No, I don’t believe so. There are famous photographers that never traveled. During travel you take a photo of a situation that you find yourself in. You must adapt to the environment. With studio photography, for example, you can create everything, like lighting, but to create the universe, that is a whole other story. There are good studio photographers that never travel. It’s rare actually for photographers to be talented in both the studio and in a travel setting. The only one I know in Irving Penn. He was incredible at everything.

Did meeting Horst P. Horst change your photographic outlook?

He was my mentor. He was also someone that I really admired and someone who gave me a lot of advice. Since our first meeting, he influenced my work. I met him after nine years of travel, right when I was wanting to do something else and to have a little more calm in my life. He was very welcoming the first time we met in New York – we do share the same origins after all. I was fascinated by this man and his work, consequently, I learned a lot from him about lighting and poses. Thanks to this meeting, I had the desire to work with fashion. His style wasn’t just about fashion though, it was the great fashion photography. At the time, I didn’t know that that existed, but I knew right away that it was what I wanted to do. I felt that is was possible to make strong images in the fashion world.

How do you explain this new interest in fashion?

It was a desire stemming from research. I was ready to slowly make the transition, to suffer through the mixing of genres. After all that travel, I moved into the backstage in “fashion travel” for ten years. It was only after 2004 that I started to use fashion in my personal art with a Polaroid. Today, I feel like I found my place with this kind of photography. In some ways, I feel like I’ve come back to painting. I didn’t go looking for this though - it just came naturally. Life is like a circle, one day everything fits together.

What characterizes your style and makes us think of a connection to paintings?

I don’t know – that is for you to say! One shouldn’t over-explain the photo. You need to see that photo and each person feel what they will. Evidently, the lighting and the pose count for a lot, but you have to let the photograph speak for itself. The images that stay in our mind are the ones that have something special in them, much like in a painting. It isn’t the technique that counts.

What methods do you use to achieve these wonderfully worn looking effects?

I don’t really like to talk about technique. It’s instinct and being able to capture a moment that give a photograph that something special – that is why I use Polaroid, large format like 4×5 or 8×10. It is opposite of travelling – you need to use a tripod and you must take your time working with this material. When I set up a photo shoot, I begin by talking with the model. We have to prepare the shoot and know exactly what we will do. Then, all that is left is just to capture the perfect moment and make a beautiful image. I don’t take very many photos at each shoot: maybe 20, but sometimes just 5 or 6, and thus, the models are really concentrated and they put a lot into the image.

What motivates you to physically manipulate your image?

I don’t work the photo over. It’s actually a kind of Polaroid transfer that does it all, but it also requires a certain technique that takes years to learn. The colors found in Polaroid film are reminiscent of painting. I work a lot with shadows; I like somber things. Sometimes, the colors are different from one roll to the next. You can’t control everything. All of this attracts me to this technique. The boarders around each photo come from the original Polaroid. They are each different and none of them are perfect. This method gives a certain charm to the photos. During an age where everything is uniform, controlled, verified, retouched, and genetic, I think we should let our images live with their mistakes.

You say that you tell a story with your images. How do you use this idea during a photo shoot?

For the costumes, I work with my assistant, stylist Laurent Seguin. We make a familial team. If I have an idea about making a photo that deals with plaster, or white dust, I put together a storyboard and sketches. If we have to work on a particular subject, like we recently did for the Dolce Vita, then I give everyone a DVD so they can watch or re-watch the Fellini film. Sometimes we will even go to exhibits to become inspired. Everyone has access to the storyboard before the shoot. We bring all the ideas together. It really is teamwork. For the shoots, Laurent gives me advice, or finds the actual locations. I adore the sort of unknown or hidden parts of Paris. I really like the environment of trade workers, who do great work. I also like visiting antique shops, or plaster stores (there is only one left in Paris and it dates from the 18th century), or visiting Jean-Paul Gautier’s place – he really likes my work. I like to share in this world and it’s the same for the models – I try to give them a maximum amount of respect. It is my liberty that gives energy to bring the world together.

How did you establish your relationship with the top fashion designers who lend you their clothes?

In the beginning, I asked Jean-Paul Gautier if he would lend me one or two dresses so that I could photograph them. I went to his studio, showed them a few of my Polaroids and they didn’t say a word…I was a little worried and tried to make a quit exit, but then he finally said: “It’s magnificent. Give her access to all the collections.” The manager pulled me aside and told me that they didn’t do this for just anybody… Since that visit five years ago, I have been photographing Gautier’s collection. For two years now, I’ve been photographing the Chanel collections. I recently gained access to Dior creations and I worked with Valentino until the line stopped, but I’m still in contact with their new designers. I have also been elated to work with Lacroix for two years. Their collections are really vast, inspirational, and their dresses are very beautiful. Philippe Tracy also loans me some of his marvelous hats and I’ve photographed the most recent Ungaro collection. These designers love my work so much that they never ask for anything. They just let me do what I want. It is luck but it’s also a sign of confidence. Valentino recently sent me two dresses from Rome because I needed exactly those two dresses, even though they were already being fitted for a client. It is wonderful working with people who are passionate and professional. Laurent Seguin: Cathleen knows how to connect places, designers and environments. There is an energy devoted to the esthetic and a “savoir faire” both French and world-wide.

Do you choose the designers according to your personal taste? In other words, would you do a project with a designer whose work you didn’t like?

I’m interested the most in the haute couture and the luxurious “ready to wear” category. I began by working with the very talented, less known designers and now I work with the biggest names out there. And so I can work with whom I choose. I’ll continue this project until 2010 and then in 2011 I will release a book with all my haute couture photos. I really like photography when it is printed in a book format. It leaves something behind for the future and that is important to me. It will be a compilation of six years of work and of my ten year presence in the fashion world. Needless to say, 2010 will be a very busy year for me. Galleries, designers and hotels are already interested in this project. Finally, I’m happy with my life because I do what I want to do. I have total artistic liberty. I can fully express myself. Getting to this point wasn’t easy. Photography is a hard professional, but it is good for me. Now I can start some new projects and be less restricted by a budget.

Is there any designer with whom you’d like to work with, but haven’t as of yet?

Even if Yves Saint Laurent is no longer alive, what exists of his work is truly beautiful. I’m in contact with his house and our initial exchanges seem promising. Besides the big names, I would also be interested in working with an up incoming designer that makes magnificent creations.

Interview by LG & RD, translated from the french by LG lesphotographes

Check some amazing works of Cathleen Naundorf:

Cathleen Naundorf website

Cathleen Naundorf Gallery

Pirelli Calendar 2012 by Mario Sorrenti

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:40:36 -0500

The Pirelli Calendar has become one of fashions most interesting traditions, each year a major photographer goes off and captures models and muses who pose nude for the calendar.

A picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to the Pirelli Calendars, though, the pictures are worth far more. For more than 40 years, the Pirelli Calendars have shown that you can apply the same formula – feminine beauty, art nudes and amazing locations — in infinite ways. Every year, the Pirelli Company chooses a photographer that can glorify its brand by producing an avant-garde high fashion calendar.

Since its inception in 1964, the Pirelli Calendar has been one of the most sought-after collections of nude photographs shot by the most world-renowned fashion photographers.

The first Pirelli Calendar edition was released in 1964. It was photographed by Robert Freeman, the photographer known for shooting various Beatles album covers, including “With The Beatles,” “Help” and more. The photoshoot took place in Majorca, Spain. The elegant, semi-erotic, extraordinary pictures of the first Pirelli Calender set forth in motion what has since become an industry phenomenon. Since Robert Freeman’s classic first shoot, many well-known photographers have participated in the Pirelli Calendar. Annie Leibovich (2000), Mario Testino (2001), Patrick Demarchelier (2005, 2008) and Karl Lagerfeld (2011) are just few of the great photographers who have made their mark on the iconic series. While Pirelli Calendars generally need to strike a mix of art nudes shot in exotic locations, each year’s calendar is entirely distinct. The 2012 Pirelli Calendar was presented by the world media, international guests and collectors at “The Armory”, the 19th century New York City military landmark. The 39^th issue of ‘The Cal™’ is the work of Mario Sorrenti, the first Italian photographer in the history of a calendar that has become a cult. Neapolitan by birth and New Yorker by adoption, Sorrenti chose the island of Corsica and its rugged landscape to create his ‘swoon’: ecstasy captured by images. Mario Sorrenti and Mary Frey PIRELLI Group CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera with model Isabeli Fontana Sorrenti is a former model and has first-hand experience of the intimacy required - especially for nude portraiture - between subject and photographer to capture something revealing, what Henri Cartier-Bresson called “the decisive moment.” This shoot reminded Sorrenti “how much more special it is when it’s just you and your subject…When I was modelling I did a lot of nudes. I associate that with the closest thing to artistic expression that I could have achieved intellectually at that period.” Charlotte Cotton, Curator of Photographs at the V&A, introduced Sorrenti to the audience (mostly Italian press, who were reminded in an announcement smoking is forbidden inside public spaces in New York), calling him “one of a mere handful of image makers who visually define this era.” She celebrated his “exceptional sense of real emotion” captured through a lense. Milla Jovovich put it more succinctly. In a taped interview she said “Mario is pretty much the only person I would take my clothes off for.” “The intense relationship between a photographer and his Muse is the very essence of the creation of a strong aesthetic dialogue which leads to the sublimation of natural beauty.

In making “The Cal™”, I approached the subjects of my pictures by building a straightforward, intimate and real relationship which made it possible for me to instill the images with purity. In “swoon”, I put the bodies in direct contact with Nature, which harbors them as if they were its extension, in a set of images where rocks, land, tree trunks, sky and sea are all turned into a backdrop for the bodies”, says Mario Sorrenti, an artist whose fame was built on his extraordinary skill with nudes. “You know, originally I thought I was going to do very sexy pictures, and when we got there I realized that I didn’t want the pictures to be sexy at all,” Sorrenti said at the time of the shoot. The 25 pictures of the 2012 “Calendario Pirelli” eighteen black and white and seven colour – are presented in a refined, canvas-lined portfolio, a format that has never been used before. The 2012 Calendar features 12 protagonists, nine models and three actresses.

The models include the Brazilian Isabeli Fontana (2003 Cal by Bruce Weber, 2005 by Patrick Demarchelier, 2009 by Peter Beard and 2011 by Karl Lagerfeld), the Russian Natasha Poly (2011 Pirelli Cal by Karl Lagerfeld), the Dutch Saskia de Brauw and Lara Stone (2009 Cal by Peter Beard and 2011 by Karl Lagerfeld), the Americans Joan Small and Guinevere Van Seenus (2006 Cal by Mert and Marcus), the Polish Malgosia (2009 Cal by Peter Beard), the Lithuanian Edita Vilkeviciute, the British Kate Moss (1994 Calby Herb Ritts and 2006 by Mert and Marcus). The actresses are the Ukrainian Milla Jovovich (1998 Cal by Bruce Weber), the Italian Margareth Madè and the Japanese Rinko Kikuchi.

Of his approach in photographing the girls, Sorrenti explains, “We tried to keep it very simple, there were times where we did just photographs with the model and myself and there was no one around. I think that was the moment when I was able to capture some of the most beautiful photographs… You kind of lose yourself and you go with the flow of the moment and just let things happen.” Sorrenti’s intimate manner obviously resonated with the models. The girls spoke candidly in a behind the scenes video, see what they had to say about their experience below: “I’ve known him since I was 17. We were boyfriend and girlfriend for a couple years. It’s easy to see that he loves women.” - Kate Moss “Mario and I have been friends since we were teenagers. He’s the only person I would take my clothes off for.” - Mila Jovovich “In the end you get that one shot, that magical decisive moment. It’s not sexy in-your-face, it’s more innocent sexy.” and “I’d like to do it every year till I’m 75.” - Lara Stone “I shot in the woods and it was very serene. It makes you feel calm and comfortable in your own body, so you focus on the beauty and intimacy.” - Joan Smalls “I feel always beautiful when he’s shooting me.” - Natasha Poly “Mario likes a girl very natural and just how we were born… as relaxed as possible.” - Isabeli Fontana “It’s mysterious and secretive, but I trust Mario… it’s poetic.” - Rinko Kikuchi “Mario makes you feel very powerful and beautiful as you are — he empowers women which I think is beautiul.”- Saskia de Brauw There are a total of 25 pictures that made it into the calendar, 18 black and white and seven in color. The calendar’s owner can choose who to feature every month–it’s an interactive calendar which allows you to switch the girls at will. We’ve got all 25 shots below. Who would you feature for your birthday month?

Pirelli Calendar 2012 by Mario Sorrenti

Pirelli Calendar 2011 Unveiled in Moscow

Top 10 Dogs - Movie Stars

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:36:24 -0500

It’s been a difficult week for Uggie the Dog. First, he gets snubbed by the Academy after being overlooked for his scene-stealing performance in Best Picture frontrunner, “The Artist”. And now, having been forced to face his movie mortality, Uggie has announced his retirement from film work altogether. Hopes are high that Uggie will get to close out his Hollywood career by being invited to present at the Oscars next month. Which is all well and good, but we’re still not over the fact that Uggie won’t be presented with an Oscar of his own. Uggie’s snub got us thinking about other top dogs who put in Oscar worthy performances. So in honor of Uggie, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten tail-wagging roles of all time.

10. Beethoven (“Beethoven”)

Rumor has it that Beethoven put on 30 extra pounds to play this difficult and demanding role. He also learned enough music theory to bark along to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

9. Marley (“Marley & Me”)

While it would be difficult to give an Oscar to all 22 dogs who played Marley, it’s hard to beat the raw emotion the composite character was able to deliver. Not to mention, going toe-toe with Jennifer Aniston without over-slobbering is no easy task.

8. Air Bud (“Air Bud”)

The dog shoots hoops. What else needs to be said?

7. Benji (“Benji”)

Higgins the dog had to enter some seriously dark territory to get into the mind of a stray, but his Benji is nonetheless sympathetic, believable, and downright adorable.

6. Cujo (“Cujo”)

Talk about sacrifice! The five St. Bernards who combined to play Cujo had to tape their tails to their legs at times because they couldn’t contain their joy sufficiently enough to look scary.

5. Old Yeller (“Old Yeller”)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a performance from anyone, man or beast, that has elicited more collective tears than Spike’s portrayal of good Old Yeller. And Oscars are all about tears.

4. Jack (“The Artist”)

While every performance in this Oscar frontrunner is riveting, Uggie even steals the scenes he’s not in.

3. Lassie (“Lassie Come Home”)

Even though the character of Lassie was supposed to be a female, Pal, the dog who played the part, was a male. Now that’s range. So much so that MGM paid Pal more than co-star Elizabeth Taylor.

2. Rin Tin Tin (body of work)

According to Susan Orlean’s latest book, Rin Tin Tin received the most votes for best actor in the first year of the Academy Awards, 1929, but was denied the Oscar. He’s also one of only three dogs to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (along with Lassie and Strongheart).

1. Toto (“The Wizard of Oz”)

Terry the terrier (whose name was officially changed to Toto) almost lost her life when one of the Winkie guards stepped on her and broke her little foot, but that didn’t stop Terry from delivering the top dog performance of all time and becoming the leader of our pack. You can read all about it in Terry’s masterfully written autobiography, “I, Toto”. movies.yahoo.com

Lara Stone for Calvin Klein, Spring 2012

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:24:00 -0500

… Lara Stone features in another image captured by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott for the Calvin Klein Spring Campaign looking as hot as ever in a White Blazer and towering heels.[/stextbox] Lying topless at the water’s edge, it appears Lara Stone has a new man in her life. But husband David Walliams needn’t worry - as her six-pack baring friend is male model Matthew Terry. Both were snapped on the shores of St Barts for Calvin Klein’s latest ad campaign. Drawing on one of this season’s hottest, trends the new underwear, swimwear and denim collections feature a range of eye-catching colours. Ms Stone, 28, started working with the U.S. brand in 2007 and has since fronted numerous campaigns. ‘I love being part of so many elements of Calvin Klein, it’s so nice to be able to be all these different women,’ she told Vogue. ‘You lose track of your identity a bit. There are many different aspects in different women and I think this is reflected in the different campaigns.’

As well as showcasing the denim range, Stone also stars as poster girl for the mainline collection dressed in nothing but a crisp white jacket and peep-toe stiletto. This black and white imagery literally oozes sensuality – absolutely stunning. However, for Terry, a former personal trainer from Pennsylvania, this marks one of his first global assignments after he was discovered last year during the annual Ford model search.

The pictures were taken by renowned photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott who met almost two decades ago. Over the years they have worked with the likes of Madonna, Gisele Bündchen and Victoria Beckham while creating campaigns for designers including Louis Vuitton, Missoni, Giorgio Armani. Other models featured in the new Calvin Klein campaign include Chinese supermodel Liu Wen - currently ranked 6th on the Top 50 Models Women List by models.com, British model Lily Donaldson, Myles Crosby and Toni Garm. Karl Templer styled the shoot. He has worked the pages of W, V and Vogue, and is currently the go-to creative of Francisco Costa at Calvin Klein. As well as Guanahani Beach in St. Barts, the team also travelled to Canyon Point, Utah and Joshua Tree, California to locate the perfect backdrops. A spokesperon for Calvin Klien said: ‘Inspired by the line’s bright colors and daring energy, the campaign imagery captures the strong, sexy and vibrant appeal.’

National Geographic Photo Contest 2011 Winners

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:05:22 -0500

Here’s The Winner And The Runners-Up In The National Geographic Photo Contest

Shikhei Goh of Indonesia was just crowned the winner of the 2011 National Geographic Photography Contest.

His stunning image of a dragonfly bracing for a big splash (see image above) will be published in worldwide editions of National Geographic magazine, and Goh will also receive $10,000 and a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C. More than 20,000 photographs from over 130 countries were competing in this year’s contest in three categories: people, places and nature. National Geographic shared with us the winners and honorable mentions for each category. *** *** ***

People WINNER: “The Fjellman Family” (Arjeplog, Lappland, Sweden)

People Winner “The Fjellman Family” Photo and caption by Izabelle Nordfjell One shot and the reindeer is dead. The Sámi family Fjellman, which lives in Arjeplog, northern Sweden, now have food on their table. In the early autumn they slaughter a couple of their reindeers for food during the cold winter months. Location: Arjeplog, Lappland, Sweden

Places WINNER: “Into the Green Zone” (Onuk island, Balabac Palawan, Philippines)

Places Winner “Into the Green Zone” Photo and caption by George Tapan A beautiful rainbow after the rain, into the green zone of the Palawan Islands. Location: Onuk island, Balabac Palawan, Philippines

People Honorable Mention: “From Up Here” (Manhattan, NY)

Honorable Mention “From Up Here” Photo and caption by Helen Pearson Stephen “ST 2 Lettaz” Harris, and David “Yung Clova” Williams make up the Huntsville rap duo G-Side. I took this photo of them on tour, conducting a cell phone interview with a journalist on a fire escape in Manhattan. The photo speaks to the “D.I.Y.” nature of the current independent music scene. Digital technology has played a big role in G-Side’s business strategy, enabling them to use the Internet and viral word of mouth to build a diverse international fan base. G-Side released a track in 2011 called “Nat Geo.” Location: Manhattan, NY, USA

Places Honorable Mention: “Cyber Monsoon” (Bhaktapur, Nepal)

Honorable Mention “Cyber Monsoon” Photo and caption by Anuar Patjane A torrential monsoon rain in Bhaktapur Location: Bhaktapur, Nepal

People Honorable Mention: “Zombies, Brisbane” (Brisbane, Australia)

Honorable Mention “Zombies, Brisbane” Photo and caption by Lisa Clarke A young family dressed as zombies in Brisbane, Queensland. Each year around Halloween time a gathering of people dressed as zombies walks through the city in an effort to raise money for the Brain Foundation of Australia. Location: Brisbane, Australia

Nature Honorable Mention: “The Hunt” (Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve)

Honorable Mention “The Hunt” Photo and caption by Stefano Pesarelli I personally believe that, beyond the formal representation of reality, mediated by the technical instruments necessary to fix an image in time, photography is made of insights. The shot is the last act of image capturing and in many ways the easiest part of the whole process. This panning effect, even in its imperfection, with the chromatic harmony of the background, with all the needless information eliminated and the luck of having the big cat’s lifted tail in symmetry with the impala horns, brings the observer inside the hunting without distractions. Location: Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve

People Honorable Mention: “Auburn Pride” (Sydney, Australia)

Honorable Mention “Auburn Pride” Photo and caption by George Voulgaropoulos Young men driving into a patch of reflected light along Auburn Road. Part of a larger personal project documenting the western Sydney suburb of Auburn. The series provides a glimpse into the life of the next generation of Australians living in Auburn, peering behind the veil of this little-known side of society. Auburn is a small suburb in Sydney’s west, a landing point for many migrants and refugees when they first arrive in Australia. Location: Sydney, Australia

Places Honorable Mention: “Waterway to Orbit” (Ponte Vedra, Florida)

Honorable Mention “Waterway to Orbit” Photo and caption by James Vernacotola Space shuttle Endeavour STS-130 launches into orbit toward the east, as the stars and waning crescent moon trail toward the west, leaving a beautiful reflection on the Intracoastal Waterway in Ponte Vedra, Florida. This 132-second time exposure of the final night launch of a space shuttle, from launch through SRB separation, was taken 115 miles north of Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Location: Ponte Vedra, Florida

Nature Honorable Mention: “Panic in the Pan” (Serengeti National Park, Tanzania)

Honorable Mention “Panic in the Pan” Photo and caption by Marius Coetzee I was leading a photographic safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. It was midday and we came across a dazzle of zebra approaching a waterhole to quench their thirst. Every few minutes the zebras will enter the water to drink, just to panic and scatter out of the water again. Location: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Nature Honorable Mention: “Blue Pond & First Snow” (Hokkaido, Japan)

Honorable Mention “Blue Pond & First Snow” Photo and caption by Kent Shiraishi The blue pond of the famous tourist resort. This is a place where many tourists gather in spring, summer, and autumn. However, since this pond freezes in winter, nobody is there during that period. This photograph is the moment of the first snow of the season falling on that blue pond. We can see the first snow of the season beginning at the end of October. Why is the pond blue? Because the underground hot spring ingredient is gushing. This blue pond changes color every day. I think that mystical blue and pure white snow are beautiful. All are nature’s tints. Location: Biei, Hokkaido, Japan

Places Honorable Mention: “Sulfuric Fire Festival” (Taipei)

Honorable Mention “Sulfuric Fire Festival” Photo and caption by Hung-Hsiu Shih Once a year, Formosa fishermen’s unique sulfuric fire fishing ritual is handed down from generation to generation. Location: Taipei

Places Honorable Mention: “Flying Kites”

Honorable Mention “Flying Kites” Photo and caption by Felipe Carvalho Kite battle at Santa Marta ghetto, Rio de Janeiro. For many years, the kites were used to alert the drug dealers when their enemies were coming. The place was a “war zone” controlled by traffickers that were in constant conflicts against each other to control the drug market. A few years ago, Santa Marta was occupied by the Pacifier Police Division, which released the population from the traffic domination. Location: Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro

Nature Honorable Mention: “Sunrising Jellyfish” (Murcia province, Spain)

Honorable Mention “Sunrising Jellyfish” Photo and caption by Angel Fitor Jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata) drifting just beneath the surface, looking to capture the first sunrays to trigger their symbiotic algae to produce energy for it. Location: Mar Menor coastal lagoon, Murcia province, Spain

Grand Prize WINNER and Nature WINNER: “Splashing” (Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia)

Grand Prize Winner and Nature Winner “Splashing” Photo and caption by Shikhei Goh This photo was taken when I was taking photos of other insects, as I normally did during macro photo hunting. I wasn’t actually aware of this dragonfly since I was occupied with other objects. When I was about to take a picture of it, it suddenly rained, but the lighting was just superb. I decided to take the shot regardless of the rain. The result caused me to be overjoyed, and I hope it pleases viewers. Location: Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia

National Geographic Photo Contest 2011 Winners

Karla Read about woman's longing

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:52:07 -0500

Karla Read is a young photographer who currently lives in the beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina. There she uses the plethora of sunny days to capture friends and models for stunning photo shoots. Karla Read has a passion for portrait photography and her specialty is turning the everyday portrait photograph into a themed picture of culture, style and beauty. Read photographs a variety of subjects that are either friends or models, but no matter who they are, she is able to able to capture them at their utmost beauty. Read uses black and white filters alongside color washout techniques to give her photos a classic and vintage feel. Just by going through her photos on Flickr, you can tell these were meant for an earlier time. In 2008, fresh out of high school, Karla Read picked up a hobby that would ultimately change the course of her life. After seeing a friend’s blog, she was not just inspired to create one of her own, she decided that she would make her own portfolio. One thing led to another and she ended up moving from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to Buenos Aires, Argentina so that she could pursue her passion. She rigorously studied photography and, ultimately, was able to make a career out of it. Her beautiful photography carries a sense of nostalgia, and tells stories about a woman’s longing to be different, young and free. “I’m mostly inspired by the things I want to be. Things I miss - my childhood and feelings. You see, I’m a really introverted person…so photography, it’s like the other me, if that makes any sense. It helps me balance things out,” Read shares. Since the move she’s shot for Factoria Magazine, and now she’s shooting for model agencies while developing an exciting personal project. When asked about her inspiration, she answers: “- I’m mostly inspired by the things I want to be. Things I miss, my childhood and feelings. You see, I’m a really introverted person so photography it’s like the other me, if that makes any sense. It helps me balance things out.”

See more Karla Read full size photos on Alafoto Collections

Amazing Images Of The 2012 Solar Storm From Space

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:46:00 -0500

. A solar storm created a dazzling light show in the northern latitudes of Earth on Tuesday. The storm also bombarded the Earth with radiation in the form of solar protons. The radiation storm is the largest of its kind since 2005 but still ranks only a three on the scale of one to five, enough to be considered “strong” but not “severe”.

This Jan. 23, 2012 image provided by NASA, captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), shows an M9-class solar flare erupting on the Sun’s northeastern hemisphere at 03:49 UT, just 4 days after a previous strong CME that sparked aurora around the world on the 22nd. A very fast coronal mass ejection (CME) traveling four million miles per hour (6.4 million kilometers per hour, is headed towards the Earth. A rush of radiation in the form of solar protons already has begun bombarding the Earth and is likely to continue through Wednesday. The radiation storm is the largest of its kind since 2005 but still ranks only a three on the scale of one to five, enough to be considered “strong” but not “severe”. Credit: NASA / Getty Images (click to enlarge)

This colorized NASA image, taken Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, shows a flare shooting out of the top of the sun. It was taken in a special teal wavelength to best see the flare. Credit: NASA / AP

This Jan. 19, 2012 image provided by NASA shows an M3.2 solar flare captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). An earth-directed coronal mass ejection was associated with the solar flare. NASA’s Space Weather Services estimated that it traveled at over 630 miles per second and reached the Earth on Jan. 21, when strong geomagnetic storms and aurora were observed. Credit: NASA / Getty Images

This Jan. 23, 2012 NASA Solar and Heliosphere Observatory (SOHO) image shows a current view of sunspots 1402(R-TOP) and 1402(R). Early Monday at appoximately 0359 GMT, sunspot 1402 unleashed a long duration M-classs solar flare. Credit: NASA / Getty Images

huffingtonpost.com

Cigar Guy revealed: "I don't smoke a cigar"

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 06:25:09 -0400

It all started with an extraordinary photograph, some say one of the best sports pictures ever taken. Captured by The Mail on Sunday’s Mark Pain, it showed Tiger Woods fluffing a chip at the Ryder Cup – his ball heading straight towards the camera lens. If that wasn’t remarkable enough, there was another arresting element to the image. Standing behind Woods was a wide-eyed spectator smoking a fat cigar and wearing a Groucho Marx moustache and ginger wig. Nicknamed ‘Cigar Guy’ he became an overnight internet phenomenon after the picture appeared in The Mail on Sunday and MailOnline last week. Suddenly millions were obsessed with the moustachioed mystery man. His smiling face was pasted into the backdrop of countless historic photographs which then buzzed around the net. He acquired his own fan club and received marriage proposals.A reward was offered to anyone who could unmask him. Read previous articles:
The greatest golf photo by… Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods shot and Cigar Guy secret

With the story making headlines around the world – it was covered by titles as august as the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine – one question was being asked with growing frequency: just who is Cigar Guy? Last night, The Mail on Sunday tracked down Cigar Guy to a detached house in South London where he is living with his parents, a retired mechanic and a housewife. We can reveal that Cigar Guy is golf fan Rupesh Shingadia, a 30-year-old investment analyst in the City – and a very reluctant star. ‘I am embarrassed and overwhelmed,’ he said in an exclusive interview. ‘Never in a million years could I have expected anything like this. It is truly surreal.’ Rupesh said his costume was a ‘tribute’ to Spanish gol fer Miguel Angel Jimenez. ‘I wanted to do something to show my support for the European team and I thought of Miguel. These days sportsmen have become devoid of character. But Miguel does his own thing and I love the way he walks around the course with a cigar clamped between his teeth.’ One might imagine Rupesh to be, to put it politely, a bit of an eccentric who revels in the limelight. In fact while he is engaging company, he is also singularly unassuming, not normally given to practical jokes. Comedy spectator: The fan (left) wore a ginger-coloured wig, fake moustache and chomped on a large cigar, in tribute to Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez (right). Time to leave: Moments after taking his picture, Mail photographer Mark Pain (in blue bib) makes a sharp exit as a disillusioned Woods looks on and ‘cigar guy’ hovers just behind him. None could realise just how Pain’s photo would soon take the online world by storm. ‘I’d say he would be the last person you’d think of to do something like this,’ said one of his friends. Rupesh confirms: ‘I have never done anything like this before. I’m just an ordinary guy who loves golf and follows Arsenal. If I had known the incredible reaction it would produce, the way that Cigar Guy has snowballed, I would probably never have put on my costume. That said, I’m glad it has put a smile on people’s faces.’ Currently single, he was unaware of the marriage proposals delivered via Facebook. Perhaps he might wish to trade on that? ‘I’m not so sure,’ he says. ‘I’d want them to love me for who I am – not just Cigar Guy.’ Rupesh, a maths graduate, said the idea came to him at work at Threadneedle Asset Management in the City a week before the Ryder Cup began. ‘I was very excited about going. There is a strong fun element to it, and I wanted to enter into that spirit.’ Cigar Guy: Rupesh Shingadia says his new found fame won’t change his life. He fleetingly considered donning a pair of garish Union Jack trousers, as worn by English golfer Ian Poulter, but rejected that idea in favour of the Miguel costume. He ores ndered the wig and moustache from a website for £15 and bought a £14 Montecristo cigar from a tobacconist. ‘I don’t normally smoke – well, maybe the odd cigar at weddings – so I asked for something mild. To last all day, though, it had to be a big one.’ The rest of his ensemble came from his own wardrobe: a Pringle jumper, North Face anorak and Reiss trousers. ‘At the course people were nudging each other and pointing at me. But, the costume was secondary to the golf. I wasn’t running around desperately trying to get on TV, far from it. My friends were keen to get me together with Miguel. I was quite close to him at the 13th. I like to think there was a flicker of a smile when he looked in my direction. His caddie was certainly laughing.’ The fateful photograph was taken on the 18th hole. ‘There was a huge crowd,’ he recalls. ‘I was somehow thrust forward in all the jostling. To suddenly find yourself so close to a legend was amazing.’ As Woods misfires his ball, Rupesh strikes an insouciant pose, but he insists he wasn’t hamming it up for the cameras. ‘If I look goggle-eyed it was because I was stunned at the way he messed up.’ The following day Rupesh was alerted to the picture by a friend who saw it in The Mail on Sunday. ‘I got up and looked at it online, thought it was a bit funny – and then went back to bed.’ Over the next few days the Cigar Guy phenomenon took off in earnest on the internet. ‘I was absolutely astonished,’ he said. ‘It was incredible. I found it funny but unsettling’ He had become an online icon, Photoshopped into pictures of dramatic moments from history. See more photoshops… ‘My favourite is me with The Simpsons,’ said Rupesh. ‘It’s difficult to understand the situation because it has just been thrust upon me. Some people spend years craving this kind of attention but to me it happened by accident. It’s just bizarre. ‘But I’m still expecting to go to work next week. I’m not expecting it to change my life in the long term.’ Read more about Cigar Guy:

The greatest golf photo by… Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods shot and Cigar Guy secret

From: dailymail.co.uk

Stunning Microscope love images of pollen grains

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 06:44:42 -0400

Love Is in the Air Birds do it, bees do it, even pollinating plants do it.

” It’s very exciting, like being on a microsafari trip. ” Martin Oeggerli, the micronaut

Pollen may be associated by many of us in spring with hayfever, but as Swiss scientific photographer Martin Oeggerli reveals, it has a whole hidden life. Delving into the miniscule world of pollen, the “micronaut” shows that the grains are in fact very varied and very beautiful – and that they go to great lengths to have sex.

Oeggerli was involved in writing the captions for his gallery. “We wanted to point out that pollen are male sperm cells and they need to find a mate, to find their way to the egg cell,” Oeggerli said. “There are far fewer eggs cells than pollen, so there is also a dramatic journey, which is sometimes very long, going over thousands of kilometres in the air or very adventurous, such as sticking to a leg of a little insect.”

Sex life

Indeed, pollen’s main aim in life is to have sex - to basically find an ovule, which contains an egg cell, of a plant of the same species, he explained. It has evolved many ways of reaching its target. The first grains of pollen - they date back millions of years - were very small with smooth surfaces to fly through the air. Then came cooperation with insects, which fed on nectar and pollen, says Oeggerli. “Some pollen have spokes, have rough surface structures or they are sticky, as in the case of the Australian silver leaf tree,” Oeggerli told swissinfo.ch, pointing to one of his images. This ensures they are carried off. But even then, the path of true love is fraught with difficulties. Pollen can land on the wrong flower or, even if it reaches the plant of its dreams, can face fierce competition from other grains. It needs to attach itself to the plant and grow a pollen tube, through which one of its two germ cells or sperms, contained inside its shell, can travel into the female part of the flower.

More challenges

“This first step into the female reproductive area is very important because there the germ cells travel unprotected, they step out of his hard surface of the pollen which is like a shield against heat and sun radiation,” Oeggerli said. As his geranium image shows (see National Geographic link), the sperms can sometimes face a long journey to the egg, which is far away from where the pollen lands. This promotes the survival of the fittest and thus good genes from the lucky cell. There are an estimated 300,000 different types of pollen, each one unique. Apart from being wonderful shapes – triangular, round, even with little balloons for better floating – they come in many sizes. The pumpkin pollen can be around 0.25 millimetres but becomes a giant if placed next to smallest of the smallest, the forget-me-not. “Despite its small size, it’s one of the most beautiful pollens I’ve ever come across,” Oeggerli said. “It’s around six micrometres in length, that’s around three times larger than an e-coli bacterium.”

Pollen fascination

For the micronaut – the name is a fusion of micrometre and astronaut - the fascination of pollen is that they are so remote. “It’s very exciting, like being on a microsafari trip and you always see another pollen that you haven’t seen before which is maybe ever nicer than the other one,” he enthused. Pollen structures, which can clearly be seen in the images, are another source of interest. They could be helpful in developing many pollen at a time or in distribution, Oeggerli ponders, always the scientist. The photographer, who has just won the EMBO Journal’s Best Scientific Cover Image 2010, has already completed a second project into the world of the invisible for National Geographic. This is most likely to be published in October. “I have been working day and night colouring the equally beautiful butterfly eggs,” Oeggerli said. “It’s a great honour.” Hay fever sufferers can now see the face of their invisible enemy – thanks to these Scanning Electron Microscope images of pollen grains. Martin Oeggerli, who uses the name Micronaut for his art, uses a Scanning Electron Microscope to capture images of pollen grains. All Photographs by Martin Oeggerli: MICRONAUT / CATERS NEWS Click image for bigger size. Find a name of pollen and description below of the photo. Tiny forget me not pollen Silk tree pollen Albizia julibrissin Persian silk tree grains are also more than 15 times bigger than forget-me-not ones. A grain of willow pollen wedged between flower petals A grain of Salix caprea pollen has missed its mark. Wedged between flower petals, it will die. While some grains will be flung into the air as springtime breezes swirl the willow leaves, others will stick to the backs of bees and find their way. Grains of pollen on a geranium stigma The size of the grains is measured in millionths of a meter, but the romantic journeys of pollen are epic. The dozens of golden grains that have successfully reached a Geranium phaeum flower’s stigma must compete to be among the few that achieve fertilization. Birch pollen Mallow flower pollen sticks to bird feathers Abutilon pictum Spines on Indian mallow pollen help it cling to bird feathers. Acanthus pollen Pollen from a snowball plant with a sperm transfer tube Lodged in the rumpled tissue of a Viburnum tinus stigma, pollen grains from other snowball blossoms (gray) swell with moisture. One (at center) is already growing the tube that delivers sperm to the ovule. Other species’ pollen (yellow and green) has landed amiss; genetic defenses exclude them from the fertilization race. Pollen from the silver leaf tree Proteaceae Silver leaf tree grains have a sticky coating that bonds them to animal carriers. Lily pollen Crinum japonicum Poison-bulb pollen is surrounded by long, showy petals that attract insect porters. Some variations seem easy to explain. Others remain puzzling, or have yet to be investigated at all. Alder pollen Water lettuce pollen Pistia stratiotes The ridges on water cabbage grains are an unusual pollen surface feature, though the plant is common from Egypt to Argentina. Bromelia pollen Tillandsia maxima The fold in a bromeliad grain allows it to shrink as it dries, or swell with moisture, without breaking. Pine pollen The pollen of this family coats cars with yellow-green dust—though this particular grain landed on an unhatched insect egg. It floats through the air, sperm carried by two pale “balloons.” Such wind-borne pollen causes misery for allergy sufferers in much of the world, where it falls heavily, as it has for millions of years. Venus fly trap pollen Dionaea muscipula Venus flytrap grains are more than 15 times bigger than forget-me-not ones: There’s no consistent correlation between plant and pollen size. Forget me not pollen Hayfever pumpkin pollen (center) with tiny forget me not to the right

100 Things About Photography

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 02:24:00 -0400

1. Just because someone has an expensive camera doesn’t mean that they’re a good photographer.
2. Always shoot in RAW. Always.
3. Prime lenses help you learn to be a better photographer.
4. Photo editing is an art in itself
5. The rule of thirds works 99% of the time.
6. Macro photography isn’t for everybody.
7. UV filters work just as well as lens caps.
8. Go outside and shoot photos rather than spending hours a day on photography forums.
9. Capture the beauty in the mundane and you have a winning photograph.
10. Film isn’t better than digital.
11. Digital isn’t better than film.
12. There is no “magic” camera or lens.
13. Better lenses don’t give you better photos.
14. Spend less time looking at other people’s work and more time shooting your own.
15. Don’t take your DSLR to parties.
16. Girls dig photographers.
17. Making your photos b/w doesn’t automatically make them “artsy”
18. People will always discredit your work if you tell them you “photoshop” your images. Rather, tell them that you process them in the “digital darkroom”.
19. You don’t need to take a photo of everything.
20. Have at least 2 backups of all your images. Like they say in war, two is one, one is none.
21. Ditch the neck strap and get a handstrap.
22. Get closer when taking your photos, they often turn out better.
23. Be a part of a scene while taking a photo; not a voyeur.
24. Taking a photo crouched often make your photos look more interesting.
25. Worry less about technical aspects and focus more on compositional aspects of photography.
26. Tape up any logos on your camera with black gaffers tape- it brings a lot less attention to you.
27. Always underexpose by 2/3rds of a stop when shooting in broad daylight.
28. The more photos you take, the better you get.
29. Don’t be afraid to take several photos of the same scene at different exposures, angles, or apertures.
30. Only show your best photos.
31. A point-and-shoot is still a camera.
32. Join an online photography forum.
33. Critique the works of others.
34. Think before you shoot.
35. A good photo shouldn’t require explanation (although background information often adds to an image). *
36. Alcohol and photography do not mix well.
37. Draw inspiration from other photographers but never worship them.
38. Grain is beautiful.
39. Ditch the photo backpack and get a messenger bag. It makes getting your lenses and camera a whole lot easier.
40. Simplicity is key.
41. The definition of photography is: “painting with light.” Use light in your favor.
42. Find your style of photography and stick with it.
43. Having a second monitor is the best thing ever for photo processing.
44. Silver EFEX pro is the best b/w converter.
45. Carry your camera with you everywhere. Everywhere.
46. Never let photography get in the way of enjoying life.
47. Don’t pamper your camera. Use and abuse it.
48. Take straight photos.
49. Shoot with confidence.
50. Photography and juxtaposition are best friends.
51. Print out your photos big. They will make you happy.
52. Give your photos to friends.
53. Give them to strangers.
54. Don’t forget to frame them.
55. Costco prints are cheap and look great.
56. Go out and take photos with (a) friend(s).
57. Join a photo club or start one for yourself.
58. Photos make great presents.
59. Taking photos of strangers is thrilling.
60. Candid>Posed.
61. Natural light is the best light.
62. 35mm (on full frame) is the best “walk-around” focal length.
63. Don’t be afraid to bump up your ISO when necessary.
64. You don’t need to always bring a tripod with you everywhere you go (hell, I don’t even own one).
65. It is always better to underexpose than overexpose.
66. Shooting photos of homeless people in an attempt to be “artsy” is exploitation.
67. You will find the best photo opportunities in the least likely situations.
68. Photos are always more interesting with the human element included.
69. You can’t “photoshop” bad images into good ones.
70. Nowadays everybody is a photographer.
71. You don’t need to fly to Paris to get good photos; the best photo opportunities are in your backyard.
72. People with DSLRS who shoot portraits with their grip pointed downwards look like morons.
73. Cameras as tools, not toys.
74. In terms of composition, photography and painting aren’t much different.
75. Photography isn’t a hobby- it’s a lifestyle.
76. Make photos, not excuses.
77. Be original in your photography. Don’t try to copy the style of others.
78. The best photographs tell stories that begs the viewer for more.
79. Any cameras but black ones draw too much attention.
80. The more gear you carry around with you the less you will enjoy photography.
81. Good self-portraits are harder to take than they seem.
82. Laughter always draws out peoples’ true character in a photograph.
83. Don’t look suspicious when taking photos- blend in with the environment.
84. Landscape photography can become dull after a while.
85. Have fun while taking photos.
86. Never delete any of your photos.
87. Be respectful when taking photos of people or places.
88. When taking candid photos of people in the street, it is easier to use a wide-angle than a telephoto lens.
89. Travel and photography are the perfect pair.
90. Learn how to read a histogram.
91. A noisy photo is better than a blurry one.
92. Don’t be afraid to take photos in the rain.
93. Learn how to enjoy the moment, rather than relentlessly trying to capture the perfect picture of it.
94. Never take photos on an empty stomach.
95. You will discover a lot about yourself through your photography.
96. Never hoard your photographic insight- share it with the world.
97. Never stop taking photos
98. Photography is more than simply taking photos, it is a philosophy of life
99. Capture the decisive moment
100. Write your own list.

**********************

This article was originally written by Eric Kim, a street photographer from Los Angeles.

erickimphotography.com

Tiger Woods shot and Cigar Guy secret

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 02:15:10 -0400

As you may remember, Tiger Woods, paired with Steve Stricker, fluffed a chip on the final hole in the fourball match against Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher on Saturday morning of the Ryder Cup. (Woods and Stricker ended up winning, largely thanks to Stricker.) Apparently, photographer Mark Pain was in the right place at the right time (or wrong place at the right time), snapping an absolutely priceless picture right before Tiger’s ball hit the camera and then bounced off Pain’s chest. (A little ironic the photog’s name is pain, eh?). Read The greatest golf photo by… Tiger Woods

What makes the photo even better is that it has a hidden treasure. Standing to the right in the photo, but in plain view, is a random golf fan who is chomping a cigar and sporting what looks to be a Grouch Marx greasepaint mustache. He’s also wearing who-knows-what on his head. Who is this mysterious Cigar Guy? The world desperately seeks answers. Click image to enlarge. So the legend of Cigar Guy was born and now internet is rumoured about that mystic fan. Just see the other photoshopped versions of the photo circulating around the interwebs. Tauntr.com photoshop team was hard at work taking the reason for the photo’s greatness, Cigar Guy, and inserting him into photos of some classic sports moments. See here… Alafoto also has his own originally created Cigar Guy works: President Cigar Guy in the White House Elvis Presley meet President Cigar Guy in 1970 Cigar Guy with American Top models Larry King renewed his show and invited Cigar Guy Cigar Guy in Matrix Of course, Cigar Guy was one of Beatles

Have your own Cigar Guy? Upload it to special Cigar Guy Gallery!

More here ******************

The greatest golf photo by… Tiger Woods

139 photos from Ellen von Unwerth “Revenge” project...

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 15:59:14 -0400

139 photos from Ellen von Unwerth “Revenge” project and book.

Fashion photographer Ellen Von Unwerth’s book Revenge is an X-rated sitcom: A trio of young women arrive at the estate of a baroness expecting a relaxing weekend, only to find that the baroness, her chauffeur, and her stable hand have in mind some other activities—games that involve rope, whips, and lingerie.

Though Ellen is best noted for taking young teenage girls and making them look like French prostitutes, this is a nice departure. The ‘story’ is contrived and the reader would be better served by viewing the images and not having to be lead to justify the photos with awful writing. The series she creates are interesting, and the black and white images are very rich. Fairly erotic, tempting and sexual.

One of Ellen gifts is the way she can get pretty girls to open their legs for the camera and appear blissfully unselfconscious while doing it. They’re usually wearing underwear, so the pictures could hardly be described as obscene or pornographic, though some are undoubtedly provocative and, sometimes, unsettling. Generally, though, it’s all good clean fun, a sanitised hedonism with lots of black stockings, high heels and lacy panties, lashings of champagne, masks and other elements of erotic fancy dress, and the occasional swish of a riding crop to keep the senses keen, the flesh alert. All of this is often played out amid the faded grandeur of hotels or chateaux or Parisian boudoirs, on sweeping lawns or in vintage limousines.

For more read here: http://alafoto.com/?p=2086
Book in pictures: http://alafoto.com/revenge/Revenge.html
All scans used in video: from alafoto.com scans archives.
Music: Wez Clarke “Someday”

Tempting Razoomovsky wallpapers

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 15:51:00 -0400

What to say…. Tempting, sexy and erotic wallpapers from Andrey Razoomovsky studio. From milk to war, from guns to roses, from shower-bath to bedroom, from Gucci to Mercedes. And of course, girls girls girls… Just download and enjoy! Click on image for big size and save. Two sizes available.

Original post: http://alafoto.com/?p=2359

The Grand List of Photo Sharing/Hosting Websites

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 13:35:32 -0400

At last – perhaps, the biggest and most comprehensive photo sharing/hosting websites listing on the web is finished! Counting 160 by now!

I spend a lot of time browsing and checking hundreds of websites, so now I hope you will find your own website where could host and share your photos. These websites are very different – from very simple without any features to very sophisticated with a lot of various features, galleries, presentations etc. We all have our subjective opinions about sharing, different possibilities and different needs so a list is not rated and all websites are sorted in alphabetical order. If you want to check websites’ reviews, top listings, please click appropriate links in the end of this listing.

Of course, changes can occur at any moment on any website and new websites appear every day as some old ones can be closed. So some inaccuracy can be found on this list in time but at the moment of publishing all sites are active and working. Please let me know if you’ll find some broken links later.

Also, please contact me or leave a comment if you are using or just know some other good photo sharing/hosting website – I would like to add it to this list and to keep it the biggest listing ever!

Thank you and enjoy!

23hq.com
4shared.com
alkaspace.com
atpic.com
bayimg.com
berryflash.com
BetterPhoto
BlueMelon
bplinx.com
Care 2 Connect
cdnpic.com
cheapimagehosting.com
ComBoost
contakme.com
DarqRoom
deviantART
digitalfrenzy.net
dotphoto.com
dotPhotoPro
DPhoto
DropShots
ecosee.com
efreephoto.com
ephotobay.com
esnips.com
ezprints.com
Facebook
factini.com
Flickr
flixtime.com
Fotki
fotoholder.com
fotolode.co
Fotolog
Fotonomy
fotopic.net
freeimagehosting.net
freepicturehosting.com
funnypicturenow.com
gallery.menalto.com
GalleryWebHost
Go2Album
goaruna.com
hostanyphoto.com
hostanypic.com
host-me-free.com
host-photo.com
Hostwave
iimmgg
imagebam.com
imagecabin.com
imagecave.com
imagecheese.com
imagecross.com
ImageEvent
ImageHosting
imagehousing.com
imageplay.net
ImageShack
imagevenue.com
img4free.com
imgboot.com
imgplace.com
imgur.com
Imgzzz
inselpix.com
invitr.swal.org
Ipernity
iPhoto
isphotobomb.com
jalbum.net
Joomeo
Kodak Gallery
koffeephoto.com
lifeblob.com
lifesnapz.com
Mejuba
MobileMe Gallery
Monille
myalbumonline.org
MyPhotoAlbum
mypicx.com
mysite.com
Ovi from Nokia
Panoramio
PBase
Phanfare
Pho.to
Photo.net
Photobox
Photobucket
PhotoChart
Photocheap
PhotoDekho
Photomax/Maxvault
photo-sharing.winsoftmagic.com
PhotoShelter
Photoshop.com
Photoswarm
Photoworks
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Nigel Barker Turns Fashion Into Philanthropy

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:24:39 -0400

Nigel Barker thinks that fashion can make a difference. Next month at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the America’s Next Top Model judge will support Nine West Runway Relief: Steps for a Cause. Models will wear limited-edition Nine West boots fitted with pedometers; each step taken will equal a donation to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. “I think it’s important that models and the fashion industry do give back, and they’re known for giving back, but this is a great, really fantastic cause and it’s also backed by the CFDA,” Nigel tells OK!. “The fashion industry is known for being fluffy and you know, frivolous, all those things, and so often it is, but also so often it isn’t.” Model Coco Rocha’s reason for getting involved in the charitable cause has personal roots. “I have an auntie who is actually a survivor of breast cancer so it was kind of a nice thing to be part of and then when they were telling us that models could be a part of this and raise money with what we do best which is walking,” Coco tells OK!. “I decided it was a really fun and new idea. Instead of doing the events, the parties, the runway shows; it’s something people really put thought and input into this, so I was excited to be part of this.” Nigel and the Top Model crew just wrapped up season 15, and the noted fashion photographer and judge feels humbled by the experience. He also wants fans to get excited for Season 16 of the hit reality show. “Next season coming up is groundbreaking in many, many ways. Everything is changing. We’ve never had a change in 15 seasons. It’s like huge. So it’s very exciting. I don’t know what to tell you, because I’m not sure if I’ll get killed if I do, but exciting stuff.”

LOS ANGELES: Nigel Barker participates at the Oopsy daisy Art Booth at Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Carnival at Wadsworth Theater on June 13, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for Oopsy daisy)

Nigel Barker and Nine West Models

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okmagazine.com

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Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:14:00 -0400

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