Transcendence: Awakening the Soul
Griffin Museum of Photography
67 Shore Rd., Winchester
Through Jan. 7, 2024

It’s often said that photography is one of the hardest art forms by which to create anything original. Nature photography has always felt to me as particularly hard hit by this phenomenon. There’s so much beauty inherent in nature that it seems especially difficult for a photographer to avoid trite, overseen tropes, lend a unique perspective, or tell a story that hasn’t already been told. As anyone who has ever tried to photograph a landscape can attest to, attempting to convey the vastness and wonder of nature into a flattened, limited frame, stripped away from all other sensation, almost invariably leads to disappointment.

Xuan Hui Ng’s exhibition, “Transcendence: Awakening the Soul,” on view at the The Griffin Museum of Photography until Jan. 7, manages to breathe some of the life back into nature photography – if that’s even the best categorization for the poetic, often abstract impressions Ng’s work conveys. While her photographs are of nature, they manage to feel much more like scenes from a personal diary, imbued with the weight of memory and recognizable personal emotion, rather than solely conveying an external reality.

In Harmony #81:

Ng notes in her artist statement that she began photographing as a form of self-therapy as she was grieving the loss of her mother. She describes plunging into a world of grief until a chance encounter with the vastness and wonder of nature set her onto a path of recovery. Her drive to photograph comes from her desire to prolong these moments of awe. “Its vastness gave me a sense of perspective,” Ng writes, “while its majesty reignited a sense of wonder and adventure… I hope these photographs of the natural world provide a brief reprieve from life’s harsh realities, by reminding us of the beauty in all things delicate and fierce.”

All of her images are single-exposure images made in camera as Ng searches for beauty in the mundane and chances upon otherworldly scenes. Ng, who is from Singapore and currently living and photographing in Japan, often takes her photographs at intense moments, such as during snowstorms, and describes the feeling of being a co-creator with nature: “The Chinese idiom ‘天时地利人和’ speaks to the importance of fortuitous timing (天时), favorable conditions (地利) and the human resolve (人和) to our endeavors. I think this is especially true for my photography because my images are a collaborative effort with nature.”

Remembrance #4:

The result is a series of photographs which are emotional, open to interpretation, and manage to side-step the expected images of nature. Specular dots of light and moisture splatter create beautiful and abstract shapes over landscapes which otherwise feel cold or barren, and the result is breathtaking and almost fantastical, like images sent from a parallel magical fairy realm hinting to the ephemeral hope and transcendence that Ng refers to in her artist statement.

Water is photographed at extremely long shutter speeds until it becomes just the idea of motion, serving instead as meditation on the passage of time and drawing out eternity. Nothing here is separate. Snow, light, petals, sky, and water all layer each other, becoming reduced to patterns and shapes before offering the viewer the chance to build them back up into a coherent world.

The gallery space at The Griffin Museum of Photography:

The Griffin Museum of Photography plays a perfect host for Ng’s work, providing a quiet gallery within a cozy library, plenty of photo books, and a view of a lake just out of the window. Ng’s prints are displayed on heavy matte paper which feels like a welcome diversion from the sharp, bright reflective surfaces I’m used to seeing in galleries, and adds to the muted, abstract quality of the work. The overhead lights seem to illuminate just the right points in Ng’s work, mimicking the kind of celestial, otherworldly light present of many of her images and translating them back into a third dimension. A video loops with scenes of a snowfall – Ng’s images brought to life – trees and flurries performing the role of purifying visual white noise while soft music fills the entire gallery with a peaceful tone.

Ng’s photography reminds us that our internal states are so large that they often reach beyond our own boundaries, and yet at the same time that the world is blissfully larger than ourselves. These photographs come from the artist’s own unique emotional journey, but the emotions they speak to are universal and truly transcendent.

Review from the Independent Review Crew.

A former photographer for the British royal family is suing a clothing store for allegedly using his image of Princess Diana in its advertising without permission.

According to Fox17, Glenn Harvey, who worked as a royal photographer from 1985 until Princess Diana’s death in 1997, filed a lawsuit against menswear clothing store Bruce Baird & Co. in a federal court in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Harvey says he took the photograph of Princess Diana in Barra, Scotland in 1985. The photographer says he copyrighted the image in 2019.

However, according to court documents, Harvey says he discovered the photo that he took of the princess on Bruce Baird & Co.’s website in November 2021.

The photographer claims his image of Princess Diana was used in three different places on the clothing store’s website without his consent.

In his lawsuit, Harvey says the clothing store, which is based in Chattanooga, used his photo to advertise and promote the business.

In one of the screenshots provided in Harvey’s lawsuit, Bruce Baird & Co. appear to use the photographer’s image of Princess Diana to advertise a $400 Barbour coat on its website.

In the lawsuit, Harvey claims that he notified Bruce Baird & Co. of the alleged copyright infringement of his image in January 2022. However, the parties have failed to resolve this matter.

Fox17 reports that Harvey is asking that the menswear clothing store face a trial by jury, pay him for damages rendered, and pay for attorneys fees, as well as anything else the court deems proper.

In a 2014 interview with U.K. local news outlet Surrey Live, Harvey described how he first met Princess of Diana and became her photographer.

“I first met a young Lady Diana Spencer when rumors first began about a romance with Prince Charles”, the photographer told Surrey Live.

“We were only a year apart in age but from very different backgrounds.”

In 2014, Harvey showcased 100 photographs that he took of Princess Diana in an international exhibition. The exhibition included an iconic image of the princess sitting by herself on a bench in front of the Taj Mahal, India.

The photograph, shot in 1992, captured Princess Diana’s disintegrating marriage to King Charles III.

Image credits: All photos via court documents.

A photographer captured an epic shot of a B-2 stealth bomber flying over a college football game which he says is the most special shot of his career so far.

Tyler Leipprandt of Michigan Sky Media caught the epic site of the B-2 bomber flying above 100,000 people packed into the Rose Bowl stadium as he hovered 4,000 feet above ground in a helicopter.

“This is a shot that has been at the TOP of my bucket list for the past three years,” Leipprandt tells PetaPixel. “I have taken similar photos of big game flyovers at Big Ten football games, but when I heard a B-2 was scheduled to fly over the Rose Bowl, I knew that was the shot I needed to get.”

What made it sweeter for Leipprandt was that Michigan starred in this year’s Rose Bowl — a playoff semifinal to earn a spot in the national championship game — and he was only going to take the picture if Michigan was playing in the historic New Year’s Day event.

Planning and Expense

“This was easily the most expensive photo I have ever taken with a month of planning,” explains Leipprandt, who took up photography eight years ago.

“Once I found out that the [Michigan] Wolverines made the Rose Bowl Game, I immediately began researching, talking with helicopter companies in L.A., and booking my trip out there.”

“I was determined to get this photo and no amount of money was going to stop that. I felt that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with my team playing, so I was willing to take the gamble,” he continues.

“I will not give the exact amount this photo cost me, but let’s just say that the cost of my flights, hotel, car rental, ticket to the Rose Bowl Game, and food, didn’t come close to the cost to rent a large helicopter.”

Capturing the Shot

After all that waiting and all that money spent, Leipprandt was understandably nervous as he hovered thousands of feet in the air anticipating the B-2 bomber — terrified that he might mess it up.

“For a shot like this, I had to pull out all the stops. I was on a five-camera setup. My photo camera was a Sony a7R IV with a 50mm 1.2 lens,” he says.

“Mounted on that camera was a GoPro 12 facing down to capture the first person view of my main camera.”

“In front of me was my brother who joined me for the trip. He was rocking my Sony a7S III with my 70-200mm f/2.8, and was at 70mm shooting 4K 120fps,” he says.

“He got some incredible close-up footage that I have not even released yet. On top of that camera was a GoPro 360 capturing everything around us and our reactions. Lastly, I had a Go Pro 10 mounted in the back of the helicopter recording myself and my brother’s every move.”

For the showstopping photos, Leipprandt set his camera to a fast shutter speed of 1/3200 on a 10 frames per second burst mode. His aperture was f/3.2 and ISO was 250.

Ultimately the photo came out great and Leipprandt says that it is the most special shot of his career.

“This photo is special for so many reasons,” he adds. “This was the number one photo on my bucket list for a few years and I was able to cross it off on January 1, 2024.”

To purchase a print directly from Leipprandt, head to his website: Michigan Sky Media.

More of his work can be found on his Instagram and Facebook.

Image credits: Tyler Leipprandt of Michigan Sky Media

In the heart of Croydon, where love stories unfold against a backdrop of timeless elegance, a new era in wedding photography is emerging. Gone are the days of posed, staged shots – the trend now leans towards capturing the raw, unscripted moments that make each wedding a unique and unforgettable experience. Candid wedding photography has taken center stage, revealing the authentic emotions, laughter, and joy that define the essence of true love. Join us on a journey as we delve into the world of candid wedding photography, unraveling the artistry behind preserving the magic of matrimonial celebrations in the vibrant tapestry of Croydon’s romantic ambiance.

In the bustling heart of Croydon, a transformation is occurring in the realm of wedding photography. Couples seeking to immortalize their special day are no longer content with traditional, posed snapshots. Instead, they are opting for a more intimate and authentic approach – the art of candid wedding photography. This evolving trend is redefining the way we capture the essence of love, with photographers skillfully unraveling the beauty of unscripted moments against the backdrop of Croydon’s timeless elegance.

The Essence of Candid Wedding Photography

Candid wedding photography, unlike its staged counterpart, focuses on capturing genuine emotions, unfiltered laughter, and the spontaneous interactions that make each wedding day unique. It’s about freezing the fleeting moments that tell a story, allowing couples to relive the authenticity of their celebration for years to come. In Croydon, where history and modernity coalesce, the charm of candid wedding photography finds its perfect canvas.

Unveiling the Artistry Behind the Lens

The secret to capturing these candid moments lies in the skill and artistry of the photographers themselves. Armed with a keen eye for detail, an acute sense of timing, and a deep appreciation for the emotions unfolding before them, these artists weave a visual narrative that transcends the limitations of posed photographs. From stolen glances to unrestrained laughter, every emotion is immortalized in its purest form, creating a timeless album that reflects the genuine spirit of the couple’s union.

Croydon’s Timeless Elegance as a Backdrop

Croydon, with its rich history and diverse landscapes, provides a stunning backdrop for candid wedding photography. The borough’s parks, gardens, and historical landmarks offer a tapestry of settings, each with its own unique charm. Whether it’s a couple stealing a quiet moment in the lush Queen’s Gardens or dancing under the stars in the courtyard of the Elizabethan Whitgift Almshouses, Croydon provides a plethora of settings that enhance the authenticity of candid wedding photography.

Breaking Away from Convention

Candid wedding photography is a departure from the conventional, encouraging couples to embrace the imperfections and unpredictability of their special day. The beauty lies in the authenticity of the unguarded moments – the tear that escapes during the vows, the laughter shared between friends, and the stolen glances that convey more than words ever could. In Croydon, this departure from convention feels right at home amidst the borough’s eclectic mix of tradition and contemporary flair.

Preserving Memories for a Lifetime

The result of candid wedding photography is not just a collection of images but a storytelling experience. Each photograph becomes a chapter in the love story, creating a visual legacy that transcends time. Croydon’s timeless elegance, combined with the artistry of candid photography, ensures that every memory is preserved in its most authentic form – a testament to the couple’s love and the moments that define it.

Conclusion

As Croydon becomes a haven for couples seeking an authentic and intimate portrayal of their wedding day, candid wedding photography emerges as the medium that beautifully encapsulates the essence of love. In a world where moments are fleeting, these skilled photographers freeze time, allowing couples to revisit the genuine emotions and connections that made their celebration truly special. In the heart of Croydon’s timeless elegance, a new era in wedding photography is unfolding – one that celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the authenticity of unscripted love.

Jane Aguilar Murphy may be an employee for Rockland County, but her real passion is birds—bald eagles, to be exact. The nature-lover’s fascination with these creatures runs so deep that she recently wrote and published “Hi, My Name is Skye,” a children’s book documenting a real baby bald eagle’s journey to leaving the nest with the help of his parents, using her own photographs.

Though Murphy has doubled as a photographer for decades, she became interested in raptors (birds of prey) after seeing the famous red-tailed hawk Pale Male in New York City in the 2000s. From then on, she took every opportunity to travel to locations where bald eagles—another type of raptor—could be found. So when word got around in 2019 that there was a bald eagles’ nest on Strawtown Road in West Nyack, Murphy jumped at the chance to visit.

“Years ago when I was photographing, I never thought I’d be able to find a bald eagles’ nest in Rockland County, let alone photograph a baby,” Murphy said. “That’s been a dream of mine, to photograph a baby bald eagle. And here it was, right in my own backyard!”

Photographing the Nest

In November 2020, Murphy started taking pictures of the two parents bringing new twigs to the nest to prepare for the baby eagle, which they had in mid-January of 2021. After the egg hatched in mid-April, the most intense portion of Murphy’s photography began.

For five to six hours at a time from that point to mid-June (when the baby fledged, or left the nest for the first time), Murphy would stand under the eagles’ tree—100 feet away by law—documenting the family’s every move. The process, she emphasizes, was riveting.

“It’s amazing how quick the baby grows—it went from six or eight inches to a full-size adult when it fledged in two months,” Murphy recalled. “I photographed it from the beginning to the end, when it was practicing its little fledging in the nest, jumping up and down…The parents would come into the nest and flap their wings, and then the baby would flap his wings. They showed him everything he needed to know so that when he fledged, he would be safe and wouldn’t hurt himself.”

The Book

While Murphy had often considered creating a project with her photographs, for a long time she wasn’t quite sure how to approach the task. However, one day in early 2023 on her lunch break, the words for a children’s picture book on the West Nyack baby eagle’s story started “pouring out.”

After typing up the notes she scribbled on paper napkins, Murphy showed her first draft to friends, incorporating their feedback. She then reached out to Volossal, a self-publishing company based in California.

In September of 2023, Murphy finally had “Hi, My Name is Skye” in her hands—a feeling, she says, that remains gratifying for this “labor of love.” She has since sold approximately 70 books and has given copies to nature centers and libraries in Rockland for their children’s sections. Copies of “Hi, My Name is Skye” can be ordered from Barnes & Noble’s website, as well as lulu.com/shop.

“I’d just love for them to get the love of nature,” Murphy said, referring to her younger audience. “To go out, look around, see what’s flying by…I want everybody to get into nature and realize that we have amazing animals in our own backyard.”