Category: Culture

This interview with iconic war photographer James Nachteway is brutal, essential

James Nachtwey and Anderson Cooper in Nachtwey's studio holding a print
Nachtwey makes large prints of his work in his studio. 60 Minutes

A quick warning before you dig into this video: James Nachtwey’s war photographs can be incredibly hard to look at. The 75-year-old photographer has created some of the most powerful, brutal, and visually striking war photography from conflicts around the world. He has spent decades trying to show audiences the horrors that come with war, earning countless awards along the way. He recently sat for an interview with Anderson Cooper to look back on his career and discuss some of his most powerful work. It’s worth watching if you have the stomach for it.

Nachtwey considers himself an anti-war photographer. He has strived to shine a light on atrocities happening around the world. His incredible skill and understanding of the photographic process stand in stark contrast to the brutal and often horrifying subject matter of his images. His book Inferno is now almost impossible to come by, but it truly represents some of the most powerful photojournalism I have ever seen.

During the interview, we get glimpses into Nachtwey’s photographic process. While most of us will (thankfully) never have to shoot in war zones, his approach to storytelling and meaningful composition apply broadly to the photographic craft. For instance, he talks about his emphasis on subjects’ hands and eyes because they’re often the most expressive parts of the people and the final image. He’s a legend for a reason, and it’s fantastic to see him still creating work at 75 after years of literally getting shot and injured by bombs while out in the world with his camera.

The post This interview with iconic war photographer James Nachteway is brutal, essential appeared first on Popular Photography.

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The Star Wars Lightsaber was based on a camera flash handle


This post is by Abby Ferguson from Popular Photography
Graflex camera nd flash handle
DigitalRev In-Focus

We love when nerdy things collide here at Pop Photo, and that is precisely what happened with the creation of perhaps the most iconic movie prop of all time. As the video below from DigitalRev In-Focus explains, George Lucas wanted the props in the Star Wars films to look used in order to suggest a sense of history. He didn’t want shiny new objects in his films. They also had a very limited budget when filming those initial movies. The low budget required they get scrappy—literally—in how they created props.

As a result, set decorator Roger Christian would browse antique and junk stores for items to use as props. He was in a tiny camera store in London’s West End and asked if they had anything that he might find interesting. The owner took out a dusty box of antique camera goods, which included a 1940s Graflex camera with a three-cell flash gun. A lightbulb went off for Christian. The flash handle became the base for Luke’s lightsaber.

It took only a few modifications to create the legendary weapon. The actual “blade” portion of the weapon involved painting a tube with blue projector material and adding a light, which made it glow. Luke’s was one of two lightsabers that Christian designed. The entire thing took only $15 to build, though it sold in 2012 for $250,000. That makes it one of the most expensive movie weapon props ever sold. It even beats out Ghostbusters props. And that number is likely even higher now since it was featured so prominently in Episode 7.

Lightsaber handle design
The flash handle from the Graflex camera fit the concept for the lightsaber perfectly. DigitalRev In-Focus

Of course, there is a downside to cameras becoming pieces of sci-fi legend. Camera collectors have had difficulty getting their hands on Graflex flash handles since so many were bought by Star Wars prop collectors and cut up to become lightsabers. A genuine original Graflex can cost thousands of dollars at this point. And camera collectors say that valuable antiques are getting destroyed in the process. Whether you agree that history is being destroyed or are all about your genuine lightsaber props, we think this clash of photography and pop culture history is a fun one.

The post The Star Wars Lightsaber was based on a camera flash handle appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Traveling with Intention: Visual Storytelling Around the World with Lola Akinmade

Traveling the world opens us up to unique experiences, new cultures and important lessons that can often change our outlook on humanity. Add a camera to the equation and it’s incredible to see just how far these stories soar. For Lola Akinmade Åkerström, photography and storytelling are two very special components to her travels. After…

The post Traveling with Intention: Visual Storytelling Around the World with Lola Akinmade appeared first on PhotoShelter Blog.

Wild Octopus ‘Hugs’ Divers in a Rare Interaction During Photo Shoot


This post is by Jaron Schneider from PetaPixel

Wild Octopus 'Hugs'

Recreational diver and amateur photographer Andrea Humphreys recently took a friend into the water who had never seen an octopus before. Not only did they find an octopus, but it also engaged closely with the divers for 40 minutes.

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Instagram Now Lets You Add Music to Your Photos


This post is by Jaron Schneider from PetaPixel

Instagram Music

Last month, Instagram started testing the ability to add songs to profiles in a callback to the MySpace days. Audio integration into the app apparently didn’t stop there, as it has already rolled out a way to add auto-playing music to posted photos.

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