Delaney McQuown says: ‘This photograph is part of my ongoing self-portrait project, urging women to find liberation through unidealised self-images. Excessive self-documentation fosters familiarity, enabling women to exist unapologetically in photos. Capturing myself eating a BLT without inhibition felt fitting, given the complex relationships women often have with their bodies and food. I’m passionate about women embracing their cameras, leading to liberation and self-love.’ Category: Claire Aho award for women photographers
Photograph: Delaney McQuown/Pink Lady FPOTY 2024
Darren Elias, owner of boutique portrait studio Darren Elias Photography in Dallas Twp. and working in partnership with The Back Mountain Chamber of Commerce, held a fundraiser for the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, a local nonprofit chamber member which helps local children reach their full potential. The Look Good Do Good project was designed by a group of photographers who were looking to pour back into area youth while helping the small businesses who support them. On May 1st and 2nd, Elias and the Back Mountain Chamber hosted Look Good Do Good, creative business portrait event, focused on creating updated business portraits for locals, with a portion of the proceeds to the WVCA. The event raised $1,375. From left, are Brenda Pugh, Back Mountain Chamber president; Christine Meluskey, WVCA director of development and community outreach; and Darren Elias, owner of Darren Elias Photography.
The Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) has launched a new exhibition, entitled Backra Bluid, featuring the work of Brooklyn, New York based photographer, Stacey Tyrell. A special reception will be held on Wednesday, June 5, from 4-7:30pm, which will include a moderated talk about representations of identity in the visual arts.
Stacey Tyrell (b.1978) is a photo-based conceptual artist. She was born and raised in Toronto, Canada to parents of Nevisian heritage. She attended OCAD University where she majored in Photography. Her work explores the interplay of race, heritage, immigration, and identity as it pertains to the Caribbean Diaspora.
For the series Backra Bluid,Stacey Tyrell started experimenting with herself as the model. The title of this series draws from words of both West Indian and Scottish origins. “Backra” is an archaic Caribbean slang of West African origin meaning white master or white person, and “Bluid” is the Scottish word for the blood of men or animals as well as kin. Stacey’s ancestors hail from the West Indies, which was colonised by Europeans after Christopther Columbus arrived in 1492. These Europeans brought African slaves to work alongside enslaved local people to work on the sugar plantations during the Sugar Revolution after 1625. In acknowledging her Scottish, English and Irish ancestors, Stacey is directly addressing slavery and its impact on her family.
Fourteen large-scale photographs are Stacey’s attempt to interpret and explore distant relatives from both her past and present. The images are also a reflection on her own perceptions and preconceptions of “Whiteness” in particular as it relates to white Anglo-Saxon people. She feels there is a dualism that is inherent in the constructs of “Whiteness” and “Blackness” in Western societies.
OMAH are thrilled to present this exhibition to the OMAH community, in hopes that it will encourage a conversation about our own stories; who we are, where we came from and where we hope to end up.
On Wednesday, June 5, at 5pm, Stacey will join via zoom from her Brooklyn studio to share her thoughts on representation of identities within the visual arts. At OMAH, she will be joined by Triti Shah, a grade 10 student and digital artist from Orillia Secondary School and Allie Bradford, Culture Coordinator with the City of Orillia who will moderate the discussion.
OMAH is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 4pm.
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Red Bean Paste Balls, by Chinese photographer Zhonghua Yang, has won the overall prize in the Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024.
Zhonghua YangThe image, which came first in the Champagne Taittinger Food for Celebration category, was taken in the rural area of Xiangshan, Zhejiang during preparations for the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year.
Celebratory traditions include making dim sum, such as red bean dumplings, steamed rice cakes and glutinous rice cake.
“This wonderful, perfectly-balanced image is full of light, shadow, mystery and poignancy,” said Caroline Kenyon, founder of the Pink Lady competition.
“The food is exquisitely made – its circular shapes contrasting with the angularity of the fretwork screens, through which the light pours.
“Meanwhile, the woman who has made the food, weary, carries in yet another tray. Her role is to labour and to serve, while the guests party and enjoy.”
Here is a selection of the category winners, with descriptions by the photographers who took them.
Lynne Kennedy“Lucy and Tony, and their children, made the long journey from Kent to the Isle of Skye to get married.
“They didn’t want to transport a traditional wedding cake all that way, so their cakemaker produced these fabulous little ‘cakes in containers’ for them.
“We found a spot by the historic Sligachan Bridge, and they tucked in!”
Matteo Alberti“Buri is Japanese for the fish [belonging to the species] Seriola quinqueradiata – it is known in English as ‘Yellowtail’.
“For centuries, fishermen filleted buri, salted them, dried them for about 10 days, and finally wrapped them in leaves and long rice-straw ropes before hanging them in front of their houses, exposed to the sea breeze.”
Barbora Baretic“Rhubarb is so fascinating to me. I adore its colour and texture. It also means spring is near.”
Tailai Obrien“Chestnuts symbolise Autumn harvest.
“In our family with strong Celtic roots, they are considered guardians of men and animals.
“The antique chestnut roaster is a family heirloom and a nod to our farming heritage.
“The crested dove symbolises harmony and virility.”
Max Jowitt/Rosie French“This photo was shot as part of a series, The Hungry Traveller, a Gousto campaign celebrating cuisines from around the world.”
Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn“At the beginning of the rice-farming season, a young farmer carries a rack of rice sprouts across a paddy field in Sakon Nakhon province, Thailand.”
Kishore Das“As the sun gracefully descends on the horizon, casting a warm and magical golden glow with an ethereal radiance, a tribal lady engages in the ancient practice of threshing rice grains in the courtyard of her home with rhythmic movements by tossing the harvested rice into the air.”
Ming Tang-Evans/Tarunima Sinha“A celebration of cake with My Little Cake Tin’s signature colourful and stylish edible floral decoration.”
Azim Khan Ronnie“Boats fan out across a stretch of the lake, creating a floating market selling an array of fresh fruit.
“This is a floating market of seasonal fruits such as jackfruit, pineapple, mango, at Rangamati, Bangladesh.
“The tribal farmers sell their fruit early morning at minimum price on a wholesale basis.”
William Dewhurst“I caught this bee having breakfast on a large sunflower at Bignor Roman Villa in West Sussex, England.
“Without bees to pollinate, there would be far less food in the world.”
This year’s judging panel, assessing thousands of entries submitted from more than 65 countries, was chaired by food photographer David Loftus and included Fiona Shields, head of photography at Guardian News & Media and Rein Skullerud, senior photographer and photo editor, United Nations World Food Programme.
An exhibition of all the finalists can be seen, between 5-9 June, at the Mall Galleries, London.
All photos subject to copyright. Courtesy of Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024.
Renowned for her ability to turn everyday moments into pure magic, across stills and motion, Parker’s work spans various genres, from fashion to lifestyle, with a particular flair for capturing the essence of childhood, which is unrivalled in the Australian market.
Her meticulous attention to detail and creative vision shine through, whether in the studio or more often, in one of the many bespoke locations she personally curates for her singular imagery.
Says Alison Lydiard, EP, Photoplay Photography: “I’ve admired Alexandrena’s work for a long time. Adding her to the Photoplay Photography roster is incredibly exciting — her innovative vision and relentless drive ensure her work is always evolving. We are eager to be a part of her next chapter.”
Keep an eye out for Parker’s upcoming short film, Screentime, set to hit the festival circuit later this year.
For more of Alexandrena Parker’s work, visit https://photoplay.co/photographer/alexandrena-parker
