EDITORS’ PICK
A Perfect Chaos
OPEN CALL
Open Call Editors’ Pick
Following Tsoku Maela’s selection of winning images for our recent OPEN CALL competition, this compilation of 20 images represents some of the other talented photographers whose work struck us and left a mark. Each a stunning image worthy of exposure and attention…
An Open Call can be tricky to navigate; parameters are abandoned and the artist must rely on instinct and self-assurance to select a satisfying piece work – but, with all that too comes freedom. This call is an opportunity to celebrate our far-reaching community, emphasizing the inclusive nature and personal development aspect of the visual arts cohort.
When selecting for editor’s picks we’re always searching for those striking but unrefined photographs that have potential as an unforgettable single image, whether from a broader series or not. We enjoy the accompanying text some photographers submit with their images, and while not always necessary it can be relevant when understanding the work in full context.
These are intended to be a conversation starter… so feel free to join the discussion on our social networks.
IMAGE AND BANNER COURTESY OF WAYNE SORENSEN
www.waynesorensen.com.au / @waynesorensenphotography
“This series of images is part of a collection of aerial photography taken over various salt lakes in Western Australia. I was fascinated by the patterns and colours that occur naturally in these lakes and specifically targeted areas that looked more like modern art paintings than photographs.”
Editor’s comment: Some of us our lucky enough to view the world from this perspective, to see the earth appear as dreamlike scenes unfolding and flowing before us… and the rest of us are must settle for seeing the photograph of it. However it is a wonderful image celebrating the natural world, our appreciation for its scenery and the magic it can create.
IMAGE COURTESY OF JERKER ANDERSSON
www.jerker.se / @jerker.andersson
“Gull, Istanbul, Turkey, 2014 – There are billions of smartphones in the world and is today the world’s most common type of camera. We become more eyewitnesses who tell stories of our time. It creates amazing cultural, social and democratic possibilities. Phone Diary Animals are observations of animals, photographed with my smartphone.”
Editor’s comment: This cinematic perspective immediately elevates this image to a portrait, one with a comic effect. The photographer is correct to give credit to the fact most of us now carry cameras, cameras that are not very intrusive to the subject and easy to use. However, it takes a good photographer to see the image and have the patience and understanding of light to get a strong and animated scene like this – with or without a smartphone. I look forward to checking out more of the ‘Phone Diary Animals’ series – this one sets a high bar.
IMAGE COURTESY OF HANSAE LEE
www.hansaelee.com / @hansaelee
“Broken Glass. This photograph was taken in Seoul, South Korea. I was instantly drawn to the scene because of the strong color blocking between the translucent red glass and yellow structure behind it. I was trying to add some contrast by including a ‘cool’ color in the frame; I ended up using a car windshield to reflect the blue sky into my image.”
Editor’s comment: An ideal representation of the Open Call theme, a joyful snapshot caught as an instant reaction to light and surroundings, with no real intention or particular place within a portfolio. The photographer has captured a playful scene, naturally created but with a clever use of composition and reflection.
IMAGE COURTESY OF DENISSE ARIANA PEREZ
www.denisseariana.com / @denisseaps
“I keep coming back to water scenes. I keep coming back to rivers and lakes. I keep coming back to oceans. I like to explore the interaction of people with water. Water can disarm even the most armed of facades. Becoming one with water is not about rushing but rather about flowing. And flowing is the closest thing to being.
This large ongoing body of work has taken me through different corners of the world on an aquatic pilgrimage, from the cold waters of Scandinavia to the pink rivers of Senegal. In these versatile waters I have captured men, women, siblings, people living with albinism, and non-binary beings. Disarming and dismantling traditional notions of masculinity, facades of masculinity, especially of brown and black men, is something I am devoted to. Through my images, I aim to showcase people through a more sensible and sensitive lens, one that shows nuance, vulnerability and movement.”
Editor’s comment: Alone this is a striking image, a perfect mix of movement and tone, however below the surface lies a deeper mission the photographer intends to carry out. Breaking down boundaries and stereotypes to celebrate humankind’s relationship with water. I think this image would work well as part of an editorial – documentary or fashion – but I really enjoy it as a standalone image, the light sits perfectly across the subject and the glimpse of a reflection at the base of the image adds to the layered concept.
IMAGE COURTESY OF PAOLO QUADRINI
www.paoloquadrini.com / @paoloquadrini
“On March 11th, 2020 the Italian government prohibited all movements of people within the national territory. I spent 82 days at home on lockdown. I live alone and every day was uncertain. After savoring weeks of solitude and contemplation, I felt vulnerable and inconsistent, looking for a new prospective. I was not sure what next day would hold and what news to brace for next, but my home, the finite space where I was confined, was withholding all what I was. I chose to navigate this uncharted territory exploring the deepest, truthful side of me, the one that just wants to exist. Here is my personal wacky approach to defeat fear and loneliness, a tribute to my strength, my desires, my rebellion. This is my dissonant, visceral attempt to become my own refuge. A surreal silent cry.”
Editor’s comment: The expression on the photographer’s face here gives us a real insight into the resilience and imagination of this person during one of the many lockdown phases of the Covid-19 pandemic. They use the visual medium to explore, navigate and – most importantly – understand their daily emotional path. This was a common approach for a lot of visual artists over the past couple of years, but ultimately it’s the photographers own personality and humour that brings shape to this journal of life in lockdown. Surviving these isolated times can feel just as terrifying as embarking on any extreme outdoor excursion.
IMAGE COURTESY OF RASTO SRAMEK
www.100acrewood.org/gallery / @rasto.sramek
“I always made sure my landscapes were pristine, with no humans or human interference being seen. It took me a while to realize that this is a deception and focusing on people in nature will turn a image into a snapshot of a story or many stories.”
Editor’s comment: This postcard-perfect landscape is anchored by the photographer’s statement, how they changed the approach of their process to include more people and welcome a social aspect to their work. The image is carefully cropped and composed ensuring the landscape is still the dominant subject without it distracting from the human aspect. I would like to see how the photographer develops this into a wider series, and what dramatic backdrops they choose.
IMAGE COURTESY OF BEC ALLAN
www.becallan.com / @wildhoney__
“This image explores the polarising nature of a child who on the one hand is independent, curious, playful and defiant, and on the other, instinctively keeps close to her mother, residing in safety and familiarity. The photograph embodies the real life personalities of these sisters, as they await the arrival of another little girl to join their family.”
Editor’s comment: This subtle, serene image has many elements at play – the muted tones, watery canvas and balance of subjects welcomes you into it. The heavily pregnant figure brings your eye from the right of the frame right across each subject occupying the space in their own way. The photographer implies a slight air of anticipation amongst the family with the imminent arrival of a new member, generating an undertone of energy in the image. A lovely celebration of family time.
IMAGE COURTESY OF INGRID GIELEN
www.ingridgielenphotography.com / @gieleningrid
“Due to my work in a psychiatric hospital I’m always in contact with people struggling with their thoughts and emotions. With this project I tried to express these thoughts in pictures. I wanted to make it recognizable for each of us, because everyone has moments in live in which they struggle with their thoughts. I used a diptych for each thought, one expresses the state of the mind for which I used common objects, the other expresses the state of the body, where the model takes different postures under a cloth. I used the same – unrecognizable – model in each pictures – so he became part of the object, a sort of statue. I experimented with different light settings but finally choose for natural light because of its soft effect.”
Editor’s comment: I like the idea of this image, the subject creating a shield to either protect themselves or, keep something from getting out. The colour and tones provide an additional veil for the subject, attempting to hide in plain sight. Anyone who has struggled with their mental health, hiding their true selves and the battles they are fighting within, will know that it just adds an extra layer of pain to endure on a daily basis. I feel the photographer has carefully depicted both the feelings of invisibility and suffocation experienced by some of the people they support and give voice to within their line of work.
IMAGE COURTESY OF GUISEPPE FRANCAVILLA
www.giuseppefrancavilla.it / @giuseppe_francavilla
“This image is simply called “The Flock”. It’s about a flock grazing on a hill on the outskirts of Rome while two electricity pylons emerge behind them. Metaphor of a threatened world?”
Editor’s comment: The photographer asks if this is potentially a visual metaphor for a threatened world. However, I see something beyond a threat, it seems there’s a resilience in the flock – still there grazing indifferent to their surroundings – and within resilience lies hope. The image is beautifully composed, the viewer’s eye flowing right from the top of the pylons down through the end of the flock. The soft black and white tone gives a poetic finish.
IMAGE COURTESY OF TOMMASO ALTAMURA
www.tommasoaltamura.it / @tommi_con_la_i
“Last cruise in Venice / From August 2021 cruise ships will no longer be able to pass through the Venice Lagoon. After years of waiting by the whole world for a decision invoked by UNESCO and by all those who have been to Venice and have been overwhelmed by the size of these ships passing through the most fragile and beautiful place in the world.”
Editor’s comment: This is a historic moment witnessed and captured by someone who seems truly happy to welcome this new ban on large cruise ships entering this extraordinary city. The scene is peppered with symbolic elements weaving together a tapestry of old and new, tourist and culture, light and dark. Wisps of cloud travel across the blue sky, unaware of the poignant changes happening below.
IMAGE COURTESY OF PAUL HYNES-ALLEN
www.philistinephotos.com / @paulphilistine99
“From Gay Pride to Covid lockdown. This is Brighton, England.”
Editor’s comment: Over the past (almost) two years of this global pandemic we have been forced to look at our physical surroundings in a different way – the walls of our own homes, the streets in our town, the buildings knitting our cities together… these constructions have become our new gallery walls. The photographer composes a layered scene of portraits, merging different eras and ethoses that seem to challenge the constraints of typical gender roles.
IMAGE COURTESY OF AKI-PEKKA SINIKOSKI
www.sinikoski.com / @akipekkasinikoski
“Ghost Study with Flowers. This series deals with the relationship between human beings and nature and our need for control. At the same time, it’s a study about the circle of life and the fragile nature of moments and everything in this world. This photo series is made together with my 13 years old daughter Astrid. It’s part of our ongoing photo series New Ghosts (2011-2058), but it can also be exhibited separately. The starting point for Ghost Study with Flowers is the floras (the books with dried flowers we used to collect in schools), wildfires in Australia, a misheard sentence in Billie Eilish’s song, and also some philosophical studies and theological writings from the 16th century. In the photos, you can see the flowers, whose life span is catalyzed with fire.”
Editor’s comment: What I love most about this image is that it is a collaboration – the photographer states they created this with their daughter, as part of a long term project. Their image is loaded with a varied mix of considered concepts and themes, inspired by both personal and global events. The deep backdrop secures the viewer’s focus on these flaming flowers – equally disturbing and captivating. The photograph itself is a precise canvas of richly composed colours, symbolism and disparity.
IMAGE COURTESY OF DUSHKA VUJOVIC
www.dushkavujovicphotography.com / @dushkavujovic
“My main interests are humans and human-altered landscapes. Human activity is changing the earth, and that matters to me. I sometimes think of myself as a portrait photographer, despite the absence of people in my photos. Their suggested presence, and often their warmth or eccentricity, is essential as I try to tell their story. Human routines, patterns and their often strange solutions fascinate me.”
Editor’s comment: This subtle street shot captures a scene within a scene; the dramatic seascape creates a small but stark contrast to its deserted, placid surrounding. I imagine this photographer has had many street adventures looking for these shards of intrigue to capture and celebrate. An image that with glimmers of spirit, optimism and promise in the sadness.
IMAGE COURTESY OF UTA GENILKE
www.genilke.myportfolio.com / @pik.dame
“I was 21 when I almost developed a depression, it was after the death of my lover. I was able to overcome it, but now, decades later, these episodes come back to me from time to time, as sleepless nights full of ideas, energy and creativity, being excited and extremely happy, falling into a deep hole later, feeling like frozen, sinking into powerlessness and darkness. It is not a disorder, just a way to live.”
Editor’s comment: At first glance this image appears overly simplistic with a potentially sinister angle – but with understanding of the photographer’s journey and inspiration the scene takes shape. The unseen pain of grief – heartbreak, loss and uncertainty – is apparent in every corner of the frame, the icicle symbolic of an invisible weapon, the black attire an indication of mourning. An intriguing image, the process as important as the final outcome I imagine.
IMAGE COURTESY OF KIM SUNIK
www.kimsunikstudio.com / @kimsunik_
“The series that I captured plants surrounding cities uncovers the aura of neglected landscape of the space. Plants have coexisted with the earth for a long time which has been replaced in the name of humankind’s urban aesthetics into various forms. The hidden and entangled phenomenon by a lot of layers and barriers which are artificial and natural are repeated throughout the series. The recurred visual elements reflect the relationship between human and nature. The fences and barriers clearly distinguish its possession and involve loving cares, close observations and simultaneously functions of restricting and neglecting. The architectural structures such as buildings, walls on the street and the fences of construction sites have consideration and violence at the same time. However we can only see the trees, flowers and leaves which are unconcerned and aloof. They actually haven’t requested anything from us. This photographic series is an attempt to re-exploration the meaning of nature by reflecting them and non-nature continuously.”
Editor’s comment: This works seems to highlight the ongoing war between the natural world and modern society – an endless competition for space and dominance. Using a mix of authentic and unreal imagery, the photographer attempts to emphasise the complicated elements of this conflict. The use of negative space and simplicity of colours makes for a very aesthetically pleasing visual, and I feel seeing the series in full would put more context to the narrative, and how the balance between real and ‘unreal’ is managed.
IMAGE COURTESY OF MICHA SERRAF
“When We Landed.”
Editor’s comment: The accompanying statement doesn’t give much away, leaving the viewer to ponder this unusual scene of man and material. The movement, textures and colour pallet swirl together creating a dramatic yet subdued spectacle. The image falls within a conceptual fashion photographic realm, the photographer possessing a skill for creating engaging imagery with a deep understanding of colour and light. Beautiful.
IMAGE COURTESY OF SARA ZANINI
www.szanini.500px.photography / @sarazaniniiiii
“Perfect chaos.”
Editor’s comment: An epic scene depicted as ‘perfect chaos’. The photographer declares their affection for this landscape packed full of city, mountains and pattern. It’s difficult to tell immediately if this portrayal is a constructed setting or real photograph, it seems timeless, bubbling over with history and culture. I would like to see more of this photographers work to understand their approach.
IMAGE COURTESY OF MANUEL PALLARO
“A journey into an imaginary future that asks questions about what the answers will be born from the most lively debate at the beginning of the century, the life cycle of the planet made available to us or the heritage of humanitarian disasters. Speaking of the present, the raid to conquer the scepter of king of Space tourism. The future pulls straight to new worlds.”
Editor’s comment: This reimagining of a future planet looks like a postcard from a fantasy – a dreamlike place where a positive prospective awaits us. The photographer uses minimal substitutes of reality for fiction to help the viewer accept this potential eventuality. I would like to see the photographer expand the visual narrative to incorporate more of the points they raise in their statement, and represent these continuous topics.
IMAGE COURTESY OF LUISANA ESPINOZA
@luisacoma
“Self-Portrait. Margarita. 2020. Last year taught me that I don’t need to go out and be in a beautiful place to create my self-portraits. A simple wall was the perfect place to recreate one of my favorite places: The beach. I just let my mind run wild and came up with my beach in quarantine times.”
Editor’s comment: Much like a painting, the use of classic tones and simple shapes creates the ideal scene without actually portraying it in a literal sense. The photographer seems to have unlocked a potential new aspect to their work utilising simple, accessible backdrops as a canvas to explore a new series of self-portraits and self-expression. An aesthetically pleasing image and playful use of environment.
IMAGE COURTESY OF ISABEL CORTHIER
www.isabelcorthier.com / @isabelcorthier
“The Yoke, Honduras, 2017
Bitter work with sweet sugarcane
Heavy sun, fire and smoke
What in the end is there to gain
Functions for these men as a yoke”
Editor’s comment: Coupled with the poetry, this image really appeals to the basic senses – you can almost feel the heat, smell the smoke and taste the burnt sugar cane fumes. There’s a sombre element to these passing, faceless subjects, as if their identity is irrelevant, only their hard labour momentarily valued. This cinematic scene has more stories from the figures within its frame, and I feel the poetic element is a beautiful way to release them.
