The Kiss of Judas

"The Kiss of Judas" cover

After a few days holiday, come back, this time more focused continuing with my work. Today I choose a book I consider to be basic for anyone in a creative way want to delve into the field of photography, as it is a book accessible to both a theoretical and conceptual basis of a particular vision of what is the picture and vision as a photographer Joan Fontcuberta.

"Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, the authority of photographic realism also intends to betray our intelligence. Judas hangs himself overwhelmed by remorse. React the picture in time to escape to his suicide announced. "

Joan Fontcuberta - The Kiss of Judas

I knew the book while studying photography, thanks to a great teacher and now friend, Oscar Yanel, which among other things taught me the importance of a theoretical basis in the picture. Among the multitude of writers, photographers, theorists and artists feature in this book first, that even being theory of photography, was written in an accessible way to start and dispensed with all baroque often have this kind of authority. Recommended reading for anyone who wants to bring the world of photography and like me I find it hard to summarize, I leave you with a summary of a blog I visit on a regular basis. De fotografía

"In" The Kiss of Judas ", Joan Fontcuberta criticizes the belief that the camera does not lie, based on the historical concept that photography has been serving the truth, exercising a function or testimonial registration. In his book vaccine we over-realism of photography, casting doubts and uncertainty about the veracity of the photographic record.

Portrait of Joan Fontcuberta in their study.

Of course the question is not trivial, as there are many cases in which the initial registration of the camera did not match the one we have seen in the media. Who does not remember the famous photograph that the Spanish Royal Family used as a Christmas card in 2005 and where the King appeared with no legs? How many times have discovered the wonders of the clone stamp images of seemingly pure story and untouched at all?

In the story, without tools as powerful as Photoshop retouching and have produced alterations in the original image. Today, every image is manipulated and that everyone knows, so we doubt what becomes imperative.

Through the eight chapters of "The Kiss of Judas", Fontcuberta takes a reflection not without irony about this issue. Based on his own experience compels us to open our eyes, to be skeptical of the photographic image.

Some we agree on the issues raised Fontcuberta and others are not. But reading this book is a good opportunity to put to work the neurons think the photographic act and in what amounts to press the button of the camera. "

Joan Fontcuberta website

Articulo en español

City of Life and Death - Nanjing! Nanjing!

City of life and death is a hard film from Chinese director Lu Chuan, released in the year 2009. The film offers the story of the Japanese invasion of the Chinese city of Nakina, during the Sino-Japanese War. Controversy about the data besides the war. The film shows us the Chinese view of the Japanese occupation, which tells the brutality of war.

The Japanese like Nazi Germany, they took their particular holocaust in Nakina, then capital of the Republic of China. However, in the film, the Germans are offering protection to China's population, but its powers are limited and may not prevent Japanese barbarism.

An impressive feature of the film, script aside, the photograph, an address that will prevent excellent eyes off the screen. An excellent address very carefully, which has led him to be rewarded and recognized. Finally a critical selection and collected from the portal flimaffinity.

"Creepy (...) If the boot has the power to shock the best war movies, the development of the tragedy will make your hair stand on end." (Charles Boyer: El País)

"Lu Chuan decides' spielbergizar 'in the best sense of the word, his way of narrating the episode. It is not" Schindler's List', nor 'Saving Private Ryan', but there are stretches of this film show that have nothing to envy any of them. "(E. Rodriguez Marchante: ABC Journal)

"A simply stunning production (...) From the first second, the film ignores the truth alone brutal, to surrender at least noble art of unearthing corpses. We're talking about propaganda." (Luis Martinez, Diario El Mundo)

"Cinema and great content while impressive in form, respects that counts." (Ricardo Aldarondo: Frotogramas)

Articulo en español

Jaime Gorospe

There are photographers who have made me more than others, some in a more aesthetic appearance, others in a more conceptual, but there are other, are what have made me a very personal way.

Within this group is Jaime Gorospe. A photographer from Madrid to that although I have not seen for some time, I have the pleasure of meeting and having been for some time in their study. I will not get to assess any personal appearance, because I think his work speaks for itself.

With a style that borders on abstraction Gorospe's work is a photographer and simultaneously on the contrary, it vanishes in a way, the representation of reality that provides the picture, isolating objects and spaces in many cases eliminating the volume also cancels the photographic reality to bring us to a reality more proper to the graphic arts. Herein lies the attraction that produce their images, as we propose the challenge of discovering the reality behind the form.

It is through this simple composition of austere lines, and gets our attention, attention that can often last for hours, it is in this thread of communication established between viewer - image, which at once leads to a subconscious approach , almost childish to want to reveal what is hidden from us. It is a clean and direct photography, which does not mean it is simple.

In closing I leave a paper published by the newspaper El Mundo, because I think it's always good for a second opinion.

"Neatness, serenity, soft chromatic contrast between pure and immaculate funds, household, almost intimate, friendly blurs, simplicity ... all images from Madrid features Jaime Gorospe. Guessing here a graph will flatten objects only became signs devoid of volumes in solitary photographs seized by a look you want, lewd, the space between the strands of a comb, the letter enclosed in the corners of scissors, the shadow early diaphragmatic distortion, the perfect world of artificial microcosm of a marble ... through it, Gorospe approaches the unusual beauty of visual stimuli, an erotic and abstract mapping pattern fleeing reality and listens to the powers of color, along the aseptic and avoiding, almost by the hair, the redundant facility authoritarian world of design. Photographs of excellent quality that could well win a gritty pulse. "by Abel H. Pozuelo.

Jaime Gorospe Web Page

Article published in El Cultural by H. Abel Pozuelo

Articulo en español

120 visits to celebrate the 1000

More than 1000 visitors, Thank you!!!

This is one of those tickets expected to write after a long time, but the truth is that I am thrilled to write in just 3 weeks after starting this project, which is my blog. Thanks to all who know me and you visit me, but many more thanks to those who did not know me and yet you have decided to visit. Greetings to all and I hope you continue visiting.

Now putting a little less emotional and more analytical, the truth is that surprises me the number of visitors arriving from the United States, nearly 30% of visits, and I was pleasantly surprised that I have received visits from certain countries as Belarus, Ukraine and Japan.

Another thing that quite surprised me is the amount of hits they receive inputs devoted to the authors, which I really like because I am passionate about always seeking new artists, without forgetting those who lead in this difficult time world, such as photography and art. But I do not forget those who read my posts more reflective, it surprises me that the second most-watched entrance is where he developed the idea of ​​my project, which on the one hand encourages me to continue on the other hand makes me liable rather more dedication.

Another more pleasantly surprising data is the number of visitors who come through the google search engine, at a time where the position is so complicated, I was pleasantly surprised that so much more than 80% of visits, come to this blog through the browser.

As for the tickets, I leave the ranking for now, there on the blog, so that you do a little to the idea of ​​the interests of visitors, first entry on the photographer Francesca Woodman, in second place entry on the Japanese animated series, Serial Experiment Lain, the third and deserved place not know if it is for the third part of the influences in my project, fear .... phobos III, the fourth is for a smaller personal reflection, digital photography .... simplifying the process?, a fitting position for, Nobuyoshi Araki and sixth for another great piece of animation, Prezít svuj zivot (Praxair theory).

Again many, thank you very much everybody and just encourage you to leave a comment more.

Statistics by day October 25, 2011

Articulo en español

Nobuyoshi Araki

Araki, a Japanese photographer of which I have spoken before in this blog, and which seems to generate interest, at the same controversy, this time makes you devote an entire entry.

Araki was born in Japan on May 25, 1940, more specifically in the city of Tokyo. He studied photography in college, where he completed a diploma in 1963. Later work in advertising, and in 1970 married, but his wife die from ovarian cancer and decided to devote himself to photography.

As for your images, never lacking in controversy, it has to say they are highly valued in the Eastern world, because they reflect something of a dark and forbidden part of the surrounding society formalism Nippon. This type of images is becoming more prolific in his work began in 1980 when the artist makes what would be the first of the series of this issue in the district of Kabukicho in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Anecdotally, it is noteworthy that on one occasion, in which the artist sent part of his work in Europe, were about to be destroyed images by the courier company since they considered them pornographic, and his contract was for writing that such messaging not accept the sending of pornography. After solving the misunderstanding, the images came to the show, but this endowed Araki, some controversy, which is otherwise the same which is dedicated to promoting.

Among the sickness, depravity and reflection, Araki is proposing some images where everything is dominated by an erotic component. Sexually charged, the more explicit, this author often criticized and labeled a misogynist, we attempted to show the duality of the company and puts us ahead of us in a way that society bother to conceal. It is this social fear of not wanting to see what's behind what I think Araki plans to launch in the face of a violent and elegant, but certainly brutal.

We can see his recent work in the 2005 documentary Arakimentari, by Travis Klose, showing the trajectory of this particular photographer, apart from their latest works.

Articulo en español