I’ve been taking photographs in Quinamayó in west Colombia for around six years now, for a project about the town’s Black Baby Jesus celebrations. Quinamayó is what is known in Colombia as a palenque, a community founded by enslaved people who fled the country’s haciendas before slavery was abolished in the 1850s. These people had not been allowed to preserve their African cultural beliefs – nor to participate in the most important Catholic events, even though they had been forced to convert to Catholicism. So in Quinamayó they decided to perform their own version of Christmas, 45 days after the traditional date – the same number of days the Virgin Mary is said to have rested after the birth. The celebration still takes place every year in mid-February.

It lasts four days, with the second day devoted to a procession centring on a wooden figure of Black Baby Jesus, which is paraded around the town. Children dress up as biblical characters and people dance to a local variation of the juga rhythm, which in Quinamayó is performed by a brass band. Dancers shuffle their feet as a reference to their forebears, with chains around their ankles.

Three days after I’d photographed this year’s celebration, the director of Quinamayó’s juga band messaged me to say a child had died in the town and a bunde was going to take place that night. That’s a ritual in which a child up to the age of 10 is both mourned and celebrated – the tradition dates back to a time when the passing of children was seen as a release from the suffering of slavery. It was something I hadn’t witnessed before. Quinamayó is an hour and a half from my home by car, so I set out immediately.

Everyone in the neighbourhood is invited to a bunde. There’s a rule you have to respect if you are going to take part, even as a singer or dancer or a member of the band – and that rule is that you cannot go home before the child is buried at midnight. If you try to leave before the end, their spirit will chase you, forcing you to return. According to what I was told, the ghost will take the form of an animal, an insect, a butterfly, a sound, or an invisible hand that will come to fetch you.

For the people of Quinamayó, life begins at the moment of conception, and the baby being celebrated in this bunde had been lost due to miscarriage four months before her due date. Her mother Jessica wasn’t well enough to be present – she stayed inside her house, the building in the photograph. Other members of her family took part. Some of the children you can see filming on their phones in the background are Jessica’s cousins and nephews, and the two women – Mónica Carabalí and Nazly Paola Ramos – are friends of the family. The baby, referred to by many as angelito (little angel), was named Zoe Fernanda Camacho Aranda, and it is her tiny burial casket they’re dancing in front of.

According to the Afro-Colombian communities who practise these celebrations, children who die before the age of 10 are completely free of sin, as opposed to the usual Catholic belief that we inherit original sin at birth. The little angel on the banner behind the casket represents Zoe and was drawn by family members. She looks happy. If you look very closely you’ll also see that the only photographic materials relating to the life of Zoe have been stuck underneath: her antenatal scans.

Having gained the trust of the community, I was allowed generous access and witnessed the whole event – the singing and dancing at the start, and the coffin being carried to the cemetery where children surrounded it with candles, before people said their last words and Zoe was buried.

Racism is a structural problem throughout the country and Afro-Colombian customs are sometimes exoticised, but celebrations such as Black Baby Jesus and this bunde should be recognised as being part of Colombia’s national cultural heritage. I have come to admire Quinamayó as an example of Afro resilience, and want people who see my photographs to feel that same sense of admiration.

Jair F Coll’s CV

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Born: Cali, Colombia, 1997
Trained: Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia
Influences: “Luisa Dörr, Richard Rinaldi, Johis Alarcón, Juanita Escobar”
High point: “The two and a half years I’ve been working as a freelance photographer for the New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters and the UN”
Low point: “Not having enough courage to quit an earlier job that wasn’t meant for storytelling”
Top tip: “Find a personal project and a mentor. The first is vital for building your vision as an author. The second, to challenge the ways you portray the world”

iFoto AI: Revolutionizing Photo Editing and Product Photography for E-Commerce

Photography, especially landscape photography, often tends to capture moments in light, evoking emotions and telling stories without words. The 2024 ReFocus Color Photography Awards celebrates this genre, showcasing stunning images that transport viewers to breathtaking scenes of majestic mountains and serene seascapes, highlighting the planet’s beauty.

These standout landscape photographs amazed both judges and audiences, presenting unique views of nature. Examples include a dramatic seascape at sunset with waves crashing against jagged rocks, a towering mountain under the mesmerizing display of the Northern Lights, and a serene scene of a massive iceberg reflecting in calm waters at dusk just to name a few.

More info: Instagram | refocus-awards.com | Facebook

Vivian Maier is one of the most recognized photographers of the 20th century, with both her photographic ability and her story bringing much-deserved posthumous success.

Fotografiska New York will display over 230 of Maier’s photographs, making it the first major retrospective of her work to be shown in the US. Mairer’s first New York museum show will be dedicated to sharing the extraordinary work of the late artist, and how she captured post-war America and the ‘facade of the American dream’.

• See our list of the greatest photographers of all time

Much of Maier’s recognition came after she died in 2009, with her work being discovered after being bought at auction. Many of her works were still undeveloped due to Maier’s lack of funds, and little did the buyer know he had stumbled across what is now considered one of the greatest art finds in history.

Maier is now considered one of the greatest street photographers of all time. At the time she took the images, what we now refer to as ‘street photography’ was simply thought of as capturing the world around you, and Maier did so exceptionally. 

The exhibition titled Unseen Work will run from now through to September 29, 2024, at Fotografiska New York. It will feature works from the early 1950s to the late 1990s, including ‘vintage and modern prints, color, black and white, super 8 films, and audio recordings’, offering a complete vision of the artist’s deep and extensive archive.

Executive Director of Fotografiska Sophie Wright says, “Fotografiska is proud to be the first museum in Vivian Maier’s hometown of New York to present a large-scale exhibition of her work. The story of the discovery of her extraordinary archive transcends photography, and her talent has captivated audiences worldwide. We’re grateful to be able to share her work for existing fans to enjoy, while giving new audiences a chance to discover her”.

Unseen Work will challenge existing perceptions of Maier’s extensive body of work simply by offering more, and focus on the major themes that define her creative output. From her street captures, renowned self-portraits, and portraits of working-class neighborhoods, Maier explored her world from many nuanced perspectives.

For those who are not aware of Vivian Maier’s story and her exceptional photography, I urge you to take a look, as her photographs are a highly considered commentary on life at the time, and Maier’s place in it.

Unseen Works is currently on display until September 29 at , which is at 281 Park Ave South, near 22nd St,

You may also be interested in our guides to the best camera for street photography, the best lenses for street photography, and the best film cameras.

•  The 26 winners of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2024 were announced yesterday.
• The overall winner was Chinese photographer Zhonghua Yang for an image of a woman making dim sum.
•  A free exhibition of finalist images and films are on show at the Mall Galleries in London

By Sabrina Penty

Published: 08:46 EDT, 5 June 2024 | Updated: 09:40 EDT, 5 June 2024

The world’s best food photographs have been served up, as the winners of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2024 were announced yesterday.

The winners of the 36 categories were announced by chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver in an exciting awards ceremony gathering at the Mall Galleries in London London on Tuesday. 

The photography competition, hosted by Pink Lady, celebrates the ‘very best in food photography and film from around the world. 

The ‘haunting’ image, ‘Red Bean Paste Balls’, by Chinese photographer Zhonghua Yang, won the overall prize of Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2024.

Commenting on the awards, Phil Turnull, CEO of APAL, owner of Pink Lady said: ‘Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year continues to tell important food stories from across the globe through the very best photography.’

An exhibition of all the finalist images and films are now on show at the Mall Galleries, London. 

The free-to-enter exhibition, which has been named one of the best photography exhibitions to see in 2024, runs from 5th – 9th June.

Libyan photographer Muhammad Al-Jilani came second in the largest photography competition in America and Canada; LifeTouch Photographic Award.

In the largest photography competition held by the American company LifeTouch, specialized in photographing school students, sports photography, annual graduation parties, kindergarten photography, and other fields of photography in the United States and Canada, with the participation of more than 10,000 photographers, the journalist and photographer, Muhammad Nasr Al-Jilani, came second in the field of photographing school students after the company announced its results for this year on June 3, 2024.

LiveTouch was founded in 1936, and it is the largest photography company in the world. The company provides integrated photography services that include photographing individual photos of students and teachers, group classes, and special school events.

The company is also distinguished by providing a distinctive and innovative school photography experience using the latest technologies and high-quality photographic devices, and it always seeks to impress its customers through school photos that highlight the students’ aesthetics and reflect the school atmosphere in an inspiring way.

In addition, LifeTouch provides various services such as designing photo albums, selling photos online, and providing photo editing and modification services to fully meet customer needs.

The company is also distinguished by its flexibility and professionalism in dealing with schools, students and families, making it one of the leading companies in the field of school photography in the United States and Canada.