The idea of “home” and what it is to each of us is an intriguing concept. Several years ago, Magnum Photos put together a collection of images where their photographers described the idea through their art. It’s a very personal concept and, therefore, involves so many different backgrounds and emotional experiences. “It’s an ode and a love letter to my home of Hawaii and to all those who came before us and will come after us as Kanaka Maoli, the indigenous people of Hawai’i,” says photographer Mainei Kinimaka to the Phoblographer when speaking to us about her project. All shot using a Leica SL3, the photographs remind us that identity is often a major part of the photography we create.

This article is presented in partnership with Leica. All images by Mainei Kinimaka. Used with permission. All photographs shot on the Leica SL3. Please take a look at her Instagram @maineikinimaka and her Leica Profile here.

Luckily for Mainei, she got into photography when she was around 11 years old thanks to her uncle’s penchant for capturing moments. He used to take photographs of surfers on the beach with an old camera. Like so many others over there, Mainei used to go surfing every day. “I must have bugged him to use it enough times, because when he moved onto a new camera, he gifted me his old one,” she tells us. It’s through this perfect mixture of coffee and cream that Mainei went on to make the radiant images she does.

One could also say that he also gifted her his love of the art form and understanding of how a camera can make us closer to the moments in front of us.

Growing up in her part of Hawaii, you couldn’t just walk a few blocks to your local Radio Shack or Camera Shop. But that didn’t matter — because she turned water into wine by using her camera and deep emotional connections to what was around her. Blessed with the gift of photography, she focused more on making simple images and being as natural as she could possibly get. Much of her work revolved around those close to her.

Mainei also learned about how incredibly timeless photographs can be — and has channeled this into her work. The image of her father above is a testament to that. “When I think of black and white, I’m thinking of a story over the color,” she explains. But there’s so much more to this image that we don’t realize.

In that image, my dad is leaning over his canoe, with his back facing the camera. The paddle in the image was handed down to him by his elder brother who taught him to surf and to steer the canoe. The back bone is representative of our ancestors in Hawai’i. This image felt like it could transcend generations, and it felt like black and white was necessary for it. 

Mainei Kinimaka

Still, photography often has this power much more than natural video with ambient sound. Images allow us to ponder and contemplate a specific moment rather than processing tons of small moments together. Even though Mainei is also a filmmaker, she still understands the power of a still photo.

To make her photographs, Mainei kept things pretty simple. “I’m a terrible online shopper,” she jokes. Because of this, she sticks with what she’s got on hand. For the past 5 years, she’s shot on Leica cameras. Currently, she’s making her masterpieces with the Leica SL3, Leica SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 Vario-Elmarit ASPH, Leica APO-Summicron-SL 75mm f/2 ASPH. Lens, and Leica APO-Summicron-SL 90mm f/2 ASPH. Lens. The lenses help her be as versatile as she can as she often isn’t even sure what she’s going to end up photographing.

Mainei is surrounded by large amounts of natural beauty that many of us could only dream of. So it comes without saying that everything around her just looks perfect in her eyes. Because it’s Hawaii, there are lots of different situations that the island might give her. Sometimes it’s rain, mist, intense sun, etc. The Leica SL3, with its IP durability rating, makes it great for standing up to the elements better than the vast majority of cameras on the market.

“Their cameras and lenses have definitely aided me in my quest for ‘the natural,’” Mainei explains to us. “The way their systems are so refined, and the way their lenses (especially their vintage lenses and the glass on those lenses) are crafted, definitely lends a certain soul to your imagery that I don’t think is replicable.”

In fact, Mainei doesn’t even do much post-production. And to that end, she’s been mostly removed from everything going on right now with Generative AI and photography. “…I have more of a draw toward the natural environment. Therefore, AI tends to sound like the last thing I’d personally explore.”

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Milestone events are usually captured by a professional photographer, and not just weddings. There’s an important celebration for young women in Latin culture, and several families in south Omaha paid for photos they’ve yet to receive.

A special dress highlights a 15th birthday quinceañera.

“It’s very important,” said Nelida Diaz. “It’s an event that’s only one time. One thing, one time in your life. You’re not going to relive that.”

So, Nelida, a proud mother, says she paid photographer Carlos Valdez to capture the memories.

“$2,600 and what did I get? Nothing, except one picture,” Nelida said.

A 24-by-36 portrait, but not the photo book, three hundred pictures, two DVD videos and other contracted items. So Nelida and another customer went looking for more at a studio where hey signed contracts.

That business, Expresiones Photography, has an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau.

“Just the same issues the customers are having, we’re having,” said Jim Hegarty with BBB. “The company is not responsive to these complaints and they involve thousands of dollars.”

Noemi Iniguez is 17 now. She says she’s waited two years for her quinceañera pictures.

“It’s like I won’t be able to look back on any of that and see the photos I got to take with my family and my court,” Noemi said. “It’s just like, all gone.”

“You pay a lot of money and you expect something,” said her brother, Juan Iniguez. “We didn’t even take videos or pictures that day because we thought he was going to turn it in.”

But there is hope in a message received by 6 News from someone once listed with Expresiones Photography. It says “I can assure you the photos will be delivered to the people.”

“It’s not the first time he’s said it,” one customer said.

6 News talked to photographer Carlos Valdez, who says his customers will get their money’s worth when he’s recovered. From what, he won’t say.

Nelida hopes a small claims court lawsuit will provide answers, if not photos.

“He says he’s back up by a doctor’s paperwork and he can’t deliver photos and videos to families because he’s really sick,” Nelida said. “I want to see those papers. I want to see proof that he’s sick.”

A south Omaha community leader says several other customers have complained on social media about paying for photos and not having them delivered. Some of them have waited up to three years.

“Let’s ask everybody if you were in this situation

Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.

Editor’s Note: This CNN series is, or was, sponsored by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos within the sponsorship, in compliance with our policy.

“I am not famous — my camera is very famous. This camera.”

Ramesh Shukla pulls out a Rolleicord camera, a birthday gift from his father 70 years ago. It’s the same camera he left India with in 1965; the same one that has snapped photos of sheikhs and political leaders; the same one that captured the formation of a nation.

Now 85, Shukla has told and retold his life story so many times that the details are hard to pin down, mythologized into a series of essential moments that tell the tale of a plucky adventurer setting sail in search of fortune and opportunity.

As he tells it, the then-26-year-old photographer boarded a ship from Bombay (now Mumbai), to the Trucial States — now the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but at that time, a collection of independent Sheikhdoms along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. He arrived at the port in Sharjah with just a dollar in his pocket and a few rolls of film, and hitched a ride on a donkey cart, then a motorbike, to Dubai: not the glittering metropolis it is today, but a dusty fishing village with no roads, surrounded by huge, open expanses of desert.

“In my house there was no water, no electricity. It was very difficult,” says Shukla. It didn’t stop him from getting out and documenting the fisherfolk, pearl divers and camel drivers living in the small coastal settlement.

But change was on the horizon. The Trucial States, while not a colony, were part of a “British protectorate” that was soon to end, and oil had only been discovered in the Arabian Gulf a few years earlier, with the first exports beginning to create wealth for the small Emirati population. And at that time, there were very few people in the region with the skill, technical knowledge and equipment to produce the quality of photography that Shukla could.

His big break came when he attended a camel race in Sharjah in 1968. The sheikhs from the various emirates were in attendance that day, and Shukla snapped a photo of the group sitting along the side of the track.

Among them was Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late emir of Abu Dhabi, who is often referred to as the “founding father” of the UAE. The next day, he returned to the racetrack and presented the photo to Sheikh Zayed, asking for his blessing — and it changed everything.

“When he saw the picture, Sheikh Zayed tells me, ‘You are Fannan’ (meaning “artist” in Arabic),” says Shukla.

Capturing history

After the camel race, Shukla found himself invited to official events as a photographer, accessing places and people he could only have dreamed of a few years earlier.

He developed a friendship with the royals, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai until his death in 1990, encouraged him to stay in the Emirates — so in 1970, his wife and son joined him in Dubai.

“Where I grew up, we had one room which was our living room, our kitchen and the dark room,” explains Neel Shukla, Ramesh’s son. “We had thalis, for the Indian way of eating food — it’s a steel plate and you put your different vegetables and dal and roti on it. That same thali was used for eating and developing film.”

Neel recalls that resources were scarce — especially water, which was delivered by donkeys from wells in the desert. The water used to develop photos had to be precisely measured out, and Shukla’s wife, Tara, played a vital role in her husband’s work: while he was photographing events, she recorded technical notes that would impact how the pictures were developed later, such as the lighting, exposure and shutter speed.

“Without my family, my wife and son, I couldn’t do anything,” Ramesh Shukla says.

On December 2, 1971, Shukla was called to join a moment of huge historic significance for the region: the signing of the unification agreement that saw six of the emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al-Qaywayn, and Ajman — come together as the United Arab Emirates. (Ras Al-Khaimah joined as the seventh emirate just two months later.)

Shukla’s photo of Sheikh Zayed signing the unification declaration is instantly recognizable for those in the country — even 50 years on, thanks to its use on the new 50 dirham note, printed in 2021 to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary.

A ‘world-famous’ camera

Shukla continued to document Dubai and the Emirates through the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, although he still has “hundreds” of undeveloped rolls of film from this period. He’s still developing them, releasing unseen images of the sheikhs in exhibitions every few years.

In a bid to continue his legacy, Shukla — with the help of his son, Neel — has set up a darkroom lab to teach the next generation of Emirati photographers the technical skills of analog photography.

The year-long “masterclass” course, which will start in September this year for 10 students, is free through Dubai Culture, a government organization. Shukla hopes it will give young photographers a chance to gain skills that are being lost since the advent of digital photography.

“They’ll graduate under my father’s mentorship, and they will have that standing from (being taught by) the Founding Fathers’ photographer,” says Neel Shukla.

Over the years, Shukla’s photography has been compiled into books and showcased in exhibitions as a vital witness to the formation of the country. While it’s his name across the books and posters, he insists it was the Rolleicord that did all the work.

“I told my father, ‘Papa, I will make this camera one day world-famous,’” he says. “This is my dream.”

With millions of copies of his books distributed in the past few years alone, it’s safe to say he achieved it.

Mohamed Zakaria

Mohamed Zakaria

Mohamed Zakaria

Mohamed Zakaria

Mohamed Zakaria

Mohamed Zakaria

Mohamed Zakaria

Mohamed Zakaria

Mohamed Zakaria

More BBC stories on Sudan’s civil war:

Getty Images/BBC

Retirement doesn’t look the same for everybody. For Marino and Nic Battigelli of Sudbury, retiring from the day jobs gave them the opportunity to pursue their real passion: photography.

The dramatically composed landscape images they produce are as individual as the brothers themselves, but share a keen eye for composition, colour and the interplay of light and shadow.

They opened Two Bees Fine Art Photography in the fall of 2023. “Two bees” like two Bs, as in two Battigellis.

Marino is a retired child psychiatrist who moved back to Sudbury from Burlington after his retirement. He’s been a dedicated shutterbug for 50 years, he said. Nic is a retired teacher with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. His love for photography isn’t as long-standing as his brother’s but his passion is just as high.

And while they share a lot of things in common, one thing they don’t share is equipment. Marino is a Canon guy, while Nic prefers Fuji.

What they love to shoot are landscapes and architectural images. 

“No weddings, no babies,” Nic said.

Fortunately, there are plenty of places for the brothers to ply their trade. Their favourite places to shoot include Capreol, Skead, Cartier, Tilton Lake Road, Secord Falls, Wanup, Kukagami Road and Willisville. They plan to go farther afield, too, with plans to begin exploring Manitoulin Island, Killarney and French River.

The brothers are also community volunteers. They’re currently putting together a fundraising calendar for Independent Living Sudbury-Manitoulin, featuring 13 accessible places in the area. They also teach photography.

Readers of Sudbury.com might recognize Nic’s work. Several of his images have been featured in Sudbury.com’s good morning story that runs at 7 a.m.

If you want to check out the Battigelli brothers’ work, visit their website, TwoBeesFineArt.ca.

Mark Gentili is the editor of Sudbury.com.

Your votes have earned Nicolas Brizin a wildcard spot at the 2024 Deep Summer Photo Challenge! The Deep Summer Photo Challenge sees six photographers competing for cash and for the title of Deep Summer Photo Challenge Champion. This year’s lineup of photographers showcases a deeply talented crew, each with their own unique twist on telling the story of mountain biking.
Nicolas will be up against Hannah Childress, Joe Wakefield, Joel Ducrot, Júlio Campos, and Samantha Saskia Dugon, with the unique opportunity to shoot, edit and weave together a photo slideshow that captures the best of Whistler’s mountain bike culture in just three days.

The final three to five-minute video slideshow then screens before fans and a panel of expert industry judges with the winning photographer awarded $5000.

See you on Tuesday, July 23 from 7pm at the Olympic Plaza in Whistler.

In a digital age saturated with smartphone photography, a new era of visual storytelling is emerging through the lens of analog cameras. Polaroid and Magnum Photos have teamed up to pioneer a fresh initiative, beckoning aspiring photographers to delve into the realm of black-and-white photography and narrative construction.

As part of this groundbreaking collaboration, photographers have the opportunity to submit their portfolios by August 12, showcasing their prowess in visual storytelling. Ten individuals will be crowned winners on August 26, each receiving a coveted Polaroid I-2 Instant Camera and film to capture the essence of their empathy-driven tales.

With mentorship from renowned Magnum photographers Jim Goldberg, Enri Canaj, and Newsha Tavakolian, participants are set to embark on a journey delving into the nuances of raw human emotions and experiences. The aesthetic allure of analog photography, juxtaposed against modernism and cultural heritage, serves as a pivotal conduit for portraying the intricacies of society in transition.

Through the lens of Enri Canaj, Albania’s cultural tapestry unfolds, depicting the clash between tradition and modernity. Meanwhile, Newsha Tavakolian’s lens captures the essence of community life atop Iran’s towering Mount Damavand, breathing life into the stories of sheep herders, nomads, and artisans.

The essence of “empathy-inspired storytelling” lies at the heart of this initiative, transcending the digital facade to establish genuine connections through visual narratives that resonate with the imperfections of reality. In a world teeming with digital noise, analog photography serves as a reverent homage to the authenticity and intimacy inherent in visual storytelling.

Exploring New Horizons with Analog Photography: Unveiling Hidden Depths

In the realm of analog photography, where visual storytelling takes on a deeper, more textured form than its digital counterparts, there exist numerous intriguing facets that contribute to its enduring allure. Here, we delve into some lesser-known facts and key considerations that add layers of complexity to the exploration of new horizons through analog photography.

What unique qualities does analog photography possess that distinguish it from digital photography?
Analog photography, characterized by its meticulous process and tangible results, offers a hands-on experience that demands patience, skill, and creativity. The unpredictability of film development and the distinctive aesthetic quality of analog images imbue them with a sense of nostalgia and authenticity that digital photography often struggles to replicate.

What are the key challenges associated with embracing analog photography in a digital age?
One significant challenge is the scarcity of resources, including film availability, darkroom equipment, and expertise in traditional photography techniques. Additionally, the learning curve for mastering the intricacies of analog cameras and film processing can be steep, requiring dedication and persistence to achieve desired results.

What controversies surround the debate between analog and digital photography?
One ongoing controversy is the perceived dichotomy between the convenience and immediacy of digital photography versus the deliberate, time-intensive nature of analog photography. Some argue that the speed and ease of digital technology compromise the artistry and depth of analog approaches, while others believe that each has its distinct merits and can coexist harmoniously in the creative landscape.

Advantages of analog photography:
1. Unique aesthetic qualities that evoke a sense of nostalgia and authenticity.
2. Hands-on, tactile experience that fosters a deeper connection to the artistic process.
3. Cultivation of patience, creativity, and attention to detail in crafting each image.
4. Ability to achieve distinctive visual effects and texture not easily replicated in digital formats.

Disadvantages of analog photography:
1. Limited control over immediate results, requiring meticulous planning and precision.
2. Costs associated with film, processing, and equipment maintenance can be prohibitive.
3. Time-consuming nature of film development and printing may not align with fast-paced workflows.
4. Limited accessibility to resources and expertise compared to the widespread availability of digital tools.

As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of visual storytelling, analog photography stands as a timeless beacon of artistic expression and introspection. Its melding of tradition and innovation, craftsmanship and serendipity, offers a compelling avenue for photographers to explore new horizons and unearth hidden depths in their creative journeys.

For further inspiration and resources on analog photography, you may visit Magnum Photos, the esteemed platform known for its celebration of photographic excellence and storytelling prowess. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of analog imagery and discover the richness of this enduring art form.

By Udo Salters

It has been on and poppin every Sunday in June, including on June 16th, 2024.  

Pier I in Riverside Park along the Hudson River, is the location for the Summer on the Hudson: Let’s Dance! event.

This free Sunday event was perfect!  The weather was warm and DJ Pedro-S, sounds were on point!

Related: See more photographs by Udo Salters Salters Scene.

The collaboration between Piel Canela Dance Company and Summer on the Hudson brings together an outdoor space, music and instructors to lead free Salsa and Bachata classes.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, these classes are designed to get you moving and have fun.

In addition to the dance lessons there were two Bachata and one Afro Cuban dance performance with dancers from the Piel Canela Dance Company.

After the performances and dance lessons, it was time to put to use everything seen and learned earlier. DJ Pedro-S let the beats play and everyone on dance floor kept it moving. 

A great event to listen to music, dance, meet people, eat and see the sunset.

Check the NYC Parks website for different events going on throughout the summer at https://www.nycgovparks.org/events

Udo Salters

Udo Salters was born and raised in New York City. His love for photography began as a youth when he started taking photos of friends and family at various events. In a natural transition, his passion turned from shooting images of fashion models and fashion shows to jetting around Harlem to Hollywood creating images of celebrities and socialites at some of the most exclusive hot spots. He has worked for many outlets locally with Harlem World Magazine, Fortune 500 companies, and many other various media outlets. He currently resides in NYC. Get more information at Udo Salters Photography.

Photo credit: by Udo Salters.

Some say a photograph is simply a memory frozen in time – and a high school graduation photo taken in Churchill, Man. takes that adage to a completely new level.

Photographer Brandy Bloxom captured Emily Dingwall, a graduate of Duke Marlborough School, posing on an iceberg near picturesque Hudson Bay Beach on Sunday, July 7.

Bloxom, a self-taught photographer who lives in Denare Beach, Sask., travelled to Churchill for an Indigenous women’s conference and took the opportunity to fulfill a photography dream.

She put out a call on social media looking for a subject and said Dingwall jumped at the chance.

“I said, ‘Would you like to step on an iceberg? It’ll take two seconds if you want – this would be epic,’” Bloxom told CTV News. “She was game for it and she was just thrilled.”

While the photo makes Dingwall seem like she’s floating in the middle of nowhere, Bloxom said the chunk of ice was only about 15 feet away from the shoreline.

“[The water] was basically up to her mid-calf,” Bloxom explained. “But the angles and lighting… make it look like she’s way out in the middle of Hudson Bay – but it’s the tricks.”

Bloxom said the water was calm during the photo shoot, which helped create the glassy, mirrored image. She said she wanted to depict what it’s like to grow up in a place like Churchill.

“It shows the difficulties, the coldness, and the hardships,” Bloxom said. “But yet… she has her whole future ahead of her – she’s got this background of solid people and a solid community.”

Bloxom grew up in Leaf Rapids, Man., though her roots trace back to York Factory First Nation southeast of Churchill. She described the trip to Churchill as a learning experience and a way to connect her family’s past.

“What you see in books and everything is polar bears and whales, but there’s so much more to it,” she explained. “The people are amazing. The landscape over at the Churchill Flats looks like the east coast of Newfoundland. It’s just beautiful.”

Bloxom said her next dream is to photograph Inuit communities in the Arctic.