Photographer Crystal Martinez said The Creative Photographer was inspired by her passion to provide a safe place where photographers could explore their creativity.

The Creative Photographer, a rental photography studio with a variety of sets, has been in business since October 2022.

The overview

Martinez said, as a photographer with 15 years of experience, she saw the need for more affordable spaces where photographers of all experience levels could explore their creativity.

Martinez said she delayed her plans to initiate The Creative Photographer due to the unforeseen circumstances most businesses were experiencing due to social distancing during COVID-19.

Although COVID-19 set her business plans behind, Martinez said she created The Creative Photographer with a variety of sets and props to choose from for photographers to create their own unique space.

“I really wanted photographers to come in and just feel like they could move around props, and make their own sets from scratch and get as creative as possible,” Martinez said.

With the help of her father, Martinez was able to create and decorate the studio with eight sets to choose from, four rolling walls and a variety of props.

The specifics

Martinez said she acquired her photography skills after college where she studied business. When several of her friends married and had children, it gave her the opportunity to take photos for her friends’ celebrations while capturing memories.

After she realized her passion for photography, Martinez’s love for children led her to specialize in newborn and family photography. Today, she continues to advance her experience in photography with photography classes and professional practice.

Aside from her studio business, Martinez has another photography business where she offers back-to-back 15-minute, mini-session photo shoots for families.

What does the studio offer?

The Creative Photographer offers styled setups, lighting equipment, natural light and several props, including furniture.

The studio is booked for one photographer at a time, giving renters access to the entire studio.

To book the studio, customers can visit The Creative Photographer website and book their desired rental options. Rental options include single-family studio rental designed for photographers with one client per hour and multiclient studio rental for rentals with more than one client per hour.

The studio also offers seasonally themed sets. The next seasonal sets include “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Dreaming of Wonderland,” and they will be available from Oct. 14-Dec. 31.

«Every photograph is a fiction with claims to truth. Despite all that has been instilled in us, everything we believe, photography always lies; it lies instinctively because its nature does not allow it to do anything else,» states the Spanish photographer, teacher, and writer Joan Fontcuberta. As an interpreter of contemporary photography, he defines it in his essays with the term post-photography, specifically referring to photography in the second digital revolution, the era of social networks, virtual reality, the internet, and, most notably, the ubiquity of images. What is primarily explored is the change that post-photography has brought about. Firstly, photography becomes accessible to everyone, resulting in a monumental transformation in its use. Secondly, the relationship between photography and truth changes, or rather mutates. According to Fontcuberta, photography has never been sincere. Since the invention of this medium, “photography has always been a Judas kiss” because it constantly betrays reality. The photographer’s perspective alone makes the image subjective rather than objective. But today, the equation “photography = reality” is even more unstable due to the advent of numerous tools that allow image manipulation and, more recently, the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, capable of generating any type of representation with a simple human command.

On one hand, we have always been accustomed to thinking that photography is the most faithful form of representing reality, but doubt always creeps in. Whether it’s a documentary, landscape, or portrait shot, we could never assert with certainty that what our eyes observe is actually concrete. Ambiguity is around the corner. The feeling of mistrust in the face of an image becomes the norm. The more sensational, aesthetically perfect, colorful, and grand an image is, the more we are filled with doubt, “could it be real?” Thus, we are led to believe that photography promises reality, but it has never been its prerogative. From this perspective, one could think of it as the greatest form of deception, capable of generating disillusionment and, at the same time, wonder. However, the mere fact that there is a human and subjective component between the medium and the subject automatically alters objectivity. The creative element is integrated into this process, as well as the freedom to express individual concepts and emotions, shifting photography to the artistic realm. «Photography begins as an informative medium and transforms into a work that people go to see in search of aesthetic and emotional values, as a way to participate in an artistic experience,» Joan Fontcuberta continues. In this sense, it is useful to analyze one of the emerging contemporary artists who best represents the concepts being investigated here.

Andro Pang, an artist of Indonesian origin, fits perfectly into this complex and still new discourse. When looking at his works, the eye presents a stimulus to the mind, which the mind perceives as real. At first, there are no doubts: it appears to be a photograph. However, upon careful analysis of the images, their perfect lighting and occasionally surreal details, ambiguity creeps in. Could it be a misjudgment? Indeed, it is. Andro Pang creates digital works using photographic composition, cinematic references, and artistic inspirations. From the cypresses of Vincent Van Gogh to the staircases of The Truman Show, moving through Hopperian realism and elements borrowed from the surreal and Dadaist currents. His works can evoke a sense of familiarity in the viewer, conjuring up images they are not unfamiliar with, allowing for an immediate connection with the artworks. Andro Pang is closely tied to photography. His artistic career began as a photographer, but due to the pandemic and the resulting inability to venture outside, he found a solution for his art. Unable to shoot outdoors, Andro Pang dedicated himself to digital art, creating images that blend reality and fantasy. The boundary between reality and fiction wavers. At this point, the question arises again: “Is this perhaps a form of deception?” A clear, defined, and universal answer is impossible, but undoubtedly, an explanation can be found in the change. Quoting the photographer Fontcuberta once more: «The digital age inaugurates a new space between the real and the virtual where a new way of creating communities is established.» Thus, the methods of creation change, and fiction becomes a form of artistic expression. We can only wait to see what will happen at the end of this decade.

This year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner is both incredibly beautiful and utterly strange

• Laurent Ballesta is the first person to win Wildlife Photographer of the Year twice in its 59-year history

By Stewart Carr

Published: 03:48 EDT, 11 October 2023 | Updated: 04:21 EDT, 11 October 2023

A tri-spine horseshoe crab gliding along the bottom of the sea has helped Laurent Ballesta win the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year for a second time.

Horseshoe crabs have survived for more than 100 million years, but they now face habitat destruction and overfishing as they are caught for food and for their blue blood, which is used in vaccines.

Mr Ballesta, an underwater photographer and marine biologist from France, found the creature, which dates from prehistoric times, in the waters of Pangatalan Island in the Philippines – which is a known haven for the crabs. It is accompanied in the winning shot by three golden trevally fish.

Kath Moran, chairwoman of the judging panel, described the winning photo as ‘luminescent’.

She said: ‘To see a horseshoe crab so vibrantly alive in its natural habitat, in such a hauntingly beautiful way, was astonishing.

‘We are looking at an ancient species, highly endangered, and also critical to human health.’

Mr Ballesta is only the second person to have won the Natural History Museum competition twice in its 59 year history.

His first award was in 2021 for a shot of camouflage grouper fish in a swirl of eggs and sperm in Fakarava, French Polynesia.

The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award went to Carmel Bechler from Israel, for snapping several barn owls in a hollowed-out concrete building by a roadside.

He used his family’s car as a hide with long exposure times to capture the light trails of passing traffic.

The 17-year-old said: ‘I hope to share with my photography that the beauty of the natural world is all around us, even in places where we least expect it to be – we just need to open our eyes and our minds.’

The winning photographs were selected from 49,957 original entries from 95 countries and were announced at an awards ceremony in South Kensington on Tuesday.

Among the 17 other category winners was a beached orca in the Netherlands photographed by Lennart Verheuvel which was later found to be malnourished and sick, likely from PCB contamination.

Poisoning from this industrial chemical is common in European waters despite the chemical being banned decades ago. Its unique properties mean it builds up through the food chain.

Agorastos Papatsanis revealed how the parasol mushroom releases its spores for them to drift on air currents in search of new places to grow in his home country of Greece, on Mount Olympus, capturing the colourful refraction of light through the rain.

An illuminated forest in Tamil Nadu, India, won the Behaviour: Invertebrates award, with Sriram Murali showcasing how fireflies attract mates by combining 50 exposures of 19 seconds with 16 minutes of the beetles’ bioluminescence.

Two Nubian ibex locking horns in a cliff-side clash in Israel was captured by Amit Eshel as he crept up to the battling males, which ram their heads together during the mating season in a competition of physical prowess.

Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, said: ‘Whilst inspiring absolute awe and wonder, this year’s winning images present compelling evidence of our impact on nature – both positive and negative.

‘Global promises must shift to action to turn the tide on nature’s decline.’

Next year, the Natural History Museum will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award with new prizes and waiver fees for more than 100 countries. Submissions are open from October 16.

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts displays work created by Hillsborough County senior centers’ artists

The unprotected by Karine Aigner, US. Winner, photojournalist story award

‘Big business’ contestants line up to have their bobcats weighed in the March 2022 West Texas Big Bobcat Contest, the highest-paying predator-hunting contest in the US. There are a number of prizes, one of which is for the heaviest bobcat. In 2022 the winner of that category took home US$35,530 (around £28,000). Portfolio Story: Karine Aigner documents the annual hunting competitions in Texas, US. For some people in the US, hunting wildlife is a pastime. In Texas, while there are strict regulations covering ‘game’ species, certain predators such as bobcats, mountain lions and coyotes have no protection and can be killed at any time. In this portfolio, Karine delves deep into the contests and festivals that celebrate the killing of these unprotected and maligned species, exploring their relationship with humans.

Photograph: Karine Aigner/2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

TRENTON, Fla. (WCJB) – Multiple residents across North Central Florida are on social media accusing Jennifer McWilliams, a Trenton photographer, of not delivering services their paid for.

Starke resident Taylor Duke, reached out to McWilliams days ago and said she wanted a sunflower photo shoot to mark her 20th birthday.   

“She actually just wanted a down deposit at first,” shared Duke. “My dad just wanted to go ahead and pay it out in full so we actually just ended sending her the full $150. She has the full amount and I have yet to get my pictures taken.”

Several residents have taken their complaints online and share their experience with McWilliams on Facebook.

“I had asked her, I was like, ‘Hey sorry for the inconvenience but is there any way that I could be able to get a refund?’”, stated Duke. “She never texted me back until this morning and she just keeps sending me a thumbs up to any message that I send her now.”

Last week, McWilliams shared a fundraiser in Facebook groups for the family of Baylee Holbrook, the 16-year-old girl who died of a lightning strike in Palatka.

In her post, McWilliams claimed portion of her proceeds would go to the Holbrook family. However, many commenters believe the fundraiser may be too good to be true.

“My dad was like, ‘No way she’s a scam. She’s helping the Baylee family out,’” shared Duke. “I realized that there’s not trustworthy people out there.”

TV20 spoke to McWilliams’ father who said his daughter is incarcerated for charges unrelated to alleged scamming.

Duke said despite being one of many seeking to get her money back from McWilliams, other photographers on social media have reached out and said they have offered to give her a free photoshoot.

TRENDING STORY: Gainesville leaders beginning to take steps towards re-opening Reichert House

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A Gallery For Fine Photography presents a new exhibition by Josephine Sacabo, Gravity and Grace: The Years 2020-2023.

The exhibition is comprised of 25 beautiful, hand pulled photogravures printed on silk and hand sewn.

Josephine Sacabo divides her time between New Orleans and Mexico. Both places inform her work, resulting in imagery that is as dreamlike, surreal, and romantic as the places that she calls home.

Born in Laredo, Texas, in 1944, she was educated at Bard College in New York. Prior to coming to New Orleans, Sacabo lived and worked extensively in France and England. Her earlier work was in the photo-journalistic tradition and influenced by Robert Frank, Josef Koudelka, and Henri Cartier-Bresson. She now works in a very subjective, introspective style, using poetry as the genesis for her work.

Sacabo’s many portfolios are visual manifestations of the written word, and she lists poets as her most important influences, including Rilke, Baudelaire, Pedro Salinas, Vicente Huidobro, Juan Rulfo, Mallarmé, and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Her images transfer the viewer into a world of constructed beauty.

During her 36-year career her work has been featured in over 40 gallery and museum exhibitions in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico. She has been the recipient of multiple awards and is included in the permanent collections of the George Eastman House, New Orleans Museum of Art, the International Center of Photography, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and la Bibliothéque Nationale.

“De este cuerpo eres el alma, y eres cuerpo de esta sombra.”
You are the soul of this body and the body of this shade.

A Gallery For Fine Photography
241 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70130
504-568-1313
www.agallery.com