In a Neighborly Portrait Series, Ashraful Arefin Turns His Gaze Toward Four-Legged Passersby

By in Art World News

In a Neighborly Portrait Series, Ashraful Arefin Turns His Gaze Toward Four-Legged Passersby

All images © Ashraful Arefin, shared with permission

In Animals from the streets, photographer Ashraful Arefin takes a moment to greet the furry creatures that join the hustle and bustle of the city. Taken during the last few years in cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Jaisalmer, Kathmandu, Dubai, and Dhaka, where Arefin is based, the portraits are dreamlike and neighborly, glimpsing the mundane goings on of cats, rhesus monkeys, and cows sunbathing or lumbering through small thoroughfares. Arefin takes a friendly approach to documenting his subjects, framing them like any other passerby wandering through the streets.

View the entire series on Behance, and follow Arefin on Instagram to keep up with his latest projects.

 

a cow licks its own face while walking down the street

a white cat looks at the camera

a monkey sits peacefully on a stone

a monkey sits on a concrete block

a cow with horns is in the center of the frame with blurred people in the background

a small cat sits in front of fringed textiles

two cows lie down in the street

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In a Neighborly Portrait Series, Ashraful Arefin Turns His Gaze Toward Four-Legged Passersby appeared first on Colossal.

A Luxury Villa + Artist Residency Offers Escape in the Tuscan Countryside

By in Design

A Luxury Villa + Artist Residency Offers Escape in the Tuscan Countryside

Villa Lena is a countryside boutique resort and artist residency located in Tuscany, Italy, founded in collaboration by contemporary art collector Lena Evstafieva, her musician husband Jérôme Hadey, and Lionel Bensemoun, founder of Le Baron. Villa Lena is discreetly nestled within 500 hectares of lush woodlands, sprawling vineyards, bountiful olive groves, and flourishing organic vegetable gardens.

At its core, a 19th-century villa, originally constructed for an Italian aristocratic family, now serves as the headquarters for the Villa Lena Foundation and its artist-in-residence program. Encircling the villa, meticulously restored historic agricultural structures – formerly farmhouses, stables, and hunting lodges – offer self-contained guest apartments and shared amenities.

The essence of Villa Lena revolves around fostering creativity and collaboration through a diverse range of activities and events. These include artists’ discussions, family-friendly pursuits, open-air film screenings, cooking workshops, candlelit concerts, and poolside DJ sessions. Each evening, both guests and resident artists convene in the terrace restaurant for a communal dining experience that centers around a seasonal organic menu deeply rooted in Italian cuisine.

Guestroom at Villa Lena, shot of reception

Guestroom at Villa Lena, shot of main reception and lounge

Guestroom at Villa Lena, shot of bed and bench

Guestroom at Villa Lena, shot of bed and window

Guestroom at Villa Lena, shot of bed and bathroom

Guestroom at Villa Lena, shot of writing desk

Guestroom at Villa Lena, shot of bathroom bathtub

Guestroom at Villa Lena, shot of bathroom

Photography by Henrik Lundell.

Leo Lei translates his passion for minimalism into his daily-updated blog Leibal. In addition, you can find uniquely designed minimalist objects and furniture at the Leibal Store.

The Kranzberg’s ‘In Place of Context’ exhibition explores the expressive power of architecture

By in Photography

The Kranzberg’s ‘In Place of Context’ exhibition explores the expressive power of architecture


Konchel_Ken_7.jpg

Photo by Ken Konchel


Architecture, according to photographer Ken Konchel, is not a dismissible backdrop to our daily lives – it’s a dynamic force that shapes our society, connects our past and defines our relationships. “In Place of Context,” Konchel’s newest exhibition at The Kranzberg Arts Foundation, invites viewers to reconstruct their view of the world around them through a close examination of the fundamental elements of architecture – shape, line, pattern, tone and texture – and appreciate the integral aspects of their existence which can often be taken for granted. The exhibition, shown from Dec. 1, 2023, to Jan. 27, 2024, promises compositions that stretch beyond immediate recognition and introduces audiences to intriguing visual possibilities that transform the buildings, and world, around them.

Congratulations on “In Place of Context.” Can you share the inspiration behind the title and what it signifies in the larger context of your work?

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Konchel_Ken_2.jpg

Photo by Ken Konchel


“The name of the exhibition emerges from my intention to make compelling photographs that remove the context and distill architecture to nothing but relationships with shape, line, pattern, form, detail, tone and texture. I used to create more representational work, but I found more fulfillment in taking detailed shots of buildings to create compositions that don’t immediately reveal themselves as architecture. I like to take detailed images of architecture up close, so audiences can’t quite recognize the building right away and view it from a perspective they may not have considered before.”



Facets-1.jpg

Photo by Ken Konchel


Your photography often involves using unusual vantage points and spatial ambiguities between buildings. How do you choose these perspectives, and what role does the viewer’s interaction with space play into your artistic vision?

“I’ve been shooting in St. Louis for a long time; years ago, I began documenting the architecture of other cities. At this point, I’m up to 19 cities in addition to St. Louis. What I typically do is called ‘scouting for an image,’ which is where I’ll walk around a building that I find intriguing to determine the composition that would be most compelling. I evaluate potential shots that explore the angles, cubes, curves, triangles and other shapes of the building to challenge and captivate people by introducing them to different visual possibilities in architecture.”

Your photographic style involves precise calibration of lines, shapes and forms. Can you elaborate on the meticulous process behind achieving this precision, and the visual impact it has on your work?

“I shoot silver gelatin photography and darkroom photography. I use a four-by-five-inch negative to take the photographs, so I don’t have the luxury of taking 50 pictures. I have to be very careful about getting the picture right the first time with the film I’m using – it’s a very deliberate process. That means that none of my images are manipulated like you can do with a digital camera. It’s very challenging to take photographs of buildings where there are trees, powerlines or anything obstructing my ability to get a good view of the subject matter that I want to shoot. I feel proud that I’m able to do that without photoshopping my photographs.”



Delineation-1.jpg

Photo by Ken Konchel


How do you hope viewers will perceive and interact with your photographs in this exhibition?

“One of my goals is to help people appreciate architecture. Architecture gives us a sense of place and identity, it enhances and advances our creative legacy, and it contributes immeasurably to our quality of life. But so often it’s dismissed as mundane and taken for granted. My ambition is to raise awareness and an appreciation for it. When people look at my work and say, ‘I’ve seen this building before, but I’ve never seen it in this particular way,’ that’s a real compliment to me.”

Looking ahead, what artistic endeavors or themes are you excited to explore?

“I typically travel in the spring and fall to photograph because those are seasons when the lighting conditions are ideal for photographing architecture. I’m hoping to go to Washington D.C. next spring to document [its] architecture, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Ken Konchel, kenkonchelphoto.com

Kranzberg Arts Foundation, kranzbergartsfoundation.org

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Captain America: Brave New World | New writer hired and additional photography planned for 2024

By in Photography

Captain America: Brave New World | New writer hired and additional photography planned for 2024

With the breathing room given by its delay to 2025, the next Captain America film is going through a few changes before it arrives in cinemas.

Marvel Studios are looking to have an interesting 2024.

With just one film coming out of the studio for the first time since 2010 (when Iron Man 2 arrived as the MCU was still finding its feet), from the outside it looks like Feige and co. are pulling the breaks on the ‘content’ machine a little bit.

What’s more, that one 2024 film is Deadpool 3 – and it’s currently pretty unclear how tied the famously off-beat antihero will tie into the wider MCU.

Though Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World were originally scheduled for next year (on 20th December and 26th July respectively), both have since been moved back into 2025. Given the grumblings about superhero fatigue and poor box office numbers that have plagued almost every comic book movie released this year, that bit of extra space might not be such a bad thing.

Seemingly on that note, Marvel Studios has brought a new writer, Moon Knight producer Matthew Orton, onto the next Captain America movie, with additional photography now planned for the middle of 2024 (according to Deadline).

While it’s not at all uncommon for Disney to chop, change and reshoot bits of their blockbusters right up until release, it does feel like the six-month delay to Marvel Studios’ upcoming slate might have given them the chance to course correct after a largely disappointing year for MCU fans.

The fourth Captain America movie is currently slated as the last film of Marvel’s ‘Phase Five’, and Anthony Mackie’s first standalone film as the star-spangled man after taking over the mantle in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. If everything goes according to plan, it’ll be in cinemas on the 14th of February 2025 (oh Marvel, you old romantic).

Prize-winning macro photo takes us into the Martian-like world of plasmodial slime mold

By in Photography

Prize-winning macro photo takes us into the Martian-like world of plasmodial slime mold

Returning for the first time since 2019, the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2023 showcases fascinating photographs that capture ‘scientific phenomena happening all around us’.

The competition is made up of 5 categories, Astronomy, Behavior, Earth science and climatology, Ecology and environmental science, and Microimaging. Some seriously impressive images give viewers a glimpse into worlds that are all around us but often go unnoticed. The winning image is just that, capturing a scene that would usually be stepped over.

• See our guide for the best macro lenses

This year’s grand prize winner was awarded to Irina Petrova Adamatzky for her image titled Martian Landscape, which presents viewers with a glimpse into a micro world. The photograph was taken using the Laowa 25mm f2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro lens on her Sony A7R IV and depicts ‘steel-blue iridescence of the plasmodial slime mold, Lamproderma scintillans, populating the surface of a decomposing autumnal leaf’.

Microimaging category and overall prize winner Adamatzky states, “I unintentionally captured this scene while collecting samples of slime molds in a field near my home in Somerset,” Irina said. “I noticed them the evening before and had intended to gather samples to measure their electrical activity for our research. However, my attention was diverted by a simple autumn leaf that, although seemingly ordinary, held something intriguing within. I gathered it, along with my samples, and the following day I was amazed to discover what appeared to be another world within the confines of that unassuming leaf.”

Beacon of Crystals in a wild forest, shows micro crystals of two chemical combinations Beta Alanine and L Glutamine. Taken on a Sony A6600 attached a Magnus Opto MX21i LED trinocular microscope using a 3D-printed adapter (Image credit: Shyam Ulhas)

The runner-up for microimaging goes to Shyam Ulhas for their image titled Beacon of Crystals in a Wild Forest. 

The Western Veil Nebula  (Image credit: Imran Sultan)

The Astronomy category was dominated by photographer Imran Sultan, who was awarded both category winner and runner-up. The winning image titled The Western Veil Nebula is the result of “four hours of total imaging time and is a stack of 52 individual 300-second sub-exposures”

Nightly Elevator – a fish hitches a ride on a jellyfish. Taken with a Sony a7R III camera and a 90mm lens (Image credit: Dr Tom Shlesinger)

Dr. Tom Shlesinger wins the Behavior category for his image Nightly Elevator, which shows a small fish hitching a ride on a jellyfish as it returns to the surface of the ocean for food after sundown. Shlesinger also won the category, Ecology and Environmental Science, for an equally impressive underwater scene titled, Star of the Night. 

Star of the Night. (This photo was taken with a Sony a7R III camera and a 16-35mm lens) (Image credit: Dr Tom Shlesinger)

A Crack in Time by Dr Chia-Hsin (Wendy) Tsai

 A Crack in Time, Corinth Canal, Greece. Taken with a Nikon D5300 and 18-55mm lens (Image credit: Dr Chia-Hsin (Wendy) Tsai)

The Earth Science and Climatology category was won by Dr. Chia-Hsin (Wendy) Tsai, for her image A Crack in Time, which depicts ‘showcasing normal faults within extensional tectonics setting’. The image shows a vast scene and the layers of earth, recently excavated representing millennia – check out the surveyor for scale! 

The Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition was launched in 2015 by the Royal Society’s journals to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the oldest continual scientific journal in the world. The full list of this year’s winners can be found on the official webpage, along with insights from the judges and winners. 

See our guides for more information on the best telescopes for astrophotography, the waterproof camera, and the best microscopes. 

ICC to hold free photography workshops, live shoots and more

By in Photography

ICC to hold free photography workshops, live shoots and more

Doha, Qatar: Five free and open workshops on outdoor landscape, portrait, wildlife, and food photography will take place in Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) this weekend. 

The workshops, in celebration of ICC Photography Day, are part of a two-day mega event which will be held on December 15 and 16. The event is designed to enhance the art of photography through a variety programmes and to bring together all photography enthusiasts in Qatar. 

Apart from the five workshops, the other attractions include photography exhibition, camera and free lens cleaning services by top brands, hands on experience on new camera models, live shoots, quiz competition, and many more attractive programmes for the attendees.

The photography exhibition titled ‘India & Qatar: A Journey Through Captured Moments’ will feature the works of 93 talented photographers from the ICC Photography Club. 

The exhibition aims to showcase a diverse range of photographic styles and subjects, offering a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and creativity of the art of photography. The opening reception will take place on December 15 at 6:15pm, providing an exclusive opportunity to meet the artists, engage in discussions about their work, and gain insight into the stories behind the images. 

ICC president Manikandan AP informed that the winners of the ICC photography competition and the coveted “ICC Photographer of the year” award will be announced at the inaugural function which carries a cash prize award of QR5,000. ICC Photography club President Vishnu Gopal urged all photography enthusiasts to utilize this event, to learn various aspects of the photography.

The event will start at 2:30pm on Friday with a seminar on ‘Landscape & Cityscape photography’ by Dany Eid, a renowned Fuji Film Photographer. It will be followed by two concurrent workshops, one on ‘Wildlife Photography’ by Priyanshi Nahata, a Nikon ambassador and ‘Travel and Portrait Photography’ workshop by Sony Ambassador Abdulla Al Mushaifri. The inaugural function and the award ceremony will be followed after the workshops. The Chief Jury Abdulla Almesleh will announce the winners of the competition.

The workshop titled ‘The Art of Food photography’ will be conducted on Saturday evening by Fujifilm Ambassador Aref Al-Amari, while Diana Haddad, a famous Canon mentor will present a workshop on ‘Outdoor Portrait Photography’. 

While walk-in is allowed, this is the event registration link. For further information contact Suneer: +974 7707 8590 / Ashraf: +974 3098 3460

Workshop schedule:  

Outdoor Landscape and cityscape photography (Seminar by Dany Eid) – Mumbai Hall –  2:30pm-4pm, December 15
Travel and portrait photography (workshop by Abdulla Al Mushaifri)- Ashoka Hall – 4-6pm, December 15 
Wildlife photography (workshop by Priyanshi Nahata) – Mumbai Hall – 4-6pm, December 15
Food photography (workshop by Aref Al Ammari) – Ashoka Hall –  6-7:30pm, December 16 
Outdoor portrait photography (workshop by Diana Haddad) – Mumbai Hall –  6-8pm, December 16

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