Nick Brandt and the story of Qumquat

I have posted on Nick Brandt's work before, but it would never be enough for me.  This time I am posting with particular emphasis on the story of the beautiful and awe-inspiring Matriarch of two generations, Qumquat (born in 1968) who, along with some of her family, were slaughtered by poachers.  These two photographs above are of 1) Qumquat and her daughter and granddaughter, and 2) Qumquat and her family.

A few purposes of this post are to bring awareness regarding the massacre of elephants and other animals in Africa by poachers; to let you know how you can help; and to display Nick Brandt's powerful and moving imagery.  I will let you experience your own reactions and resist the urge to editorialize with just a few exceptions:

The story of Qumquat and many of Brandt's photographs (when not bringing me sheer joy) bring me to absolute tears. 

When an elephant calf, like Qumquat's baby, experiences their mother's death and then even worse is witness to her being butchered by poachers where they literally cut out the face of the elephant and take the tusks, that calf mourns deeply and as in the case of Quanza, she was found keeping vigil over her mother's body.  She was traumatized.  These animals FEEL things deeply.  They are gentle, sensitive and loving creatures.

Anyone buying ivory is just as much a murderer.  I believe there should not only be fines (with the money going to conservation and protection efforts) for anyone in possession of ivory and a criminal charge should be imposed.

Please read the story of Qumquat and her family by clicking on this link.  This next link has more information and a few disturbing photographs, but if you can skip looking at them, you can read about The Rescue of Quanza which includes background on Amboseli where Qumquat lived and a follow-up report.  It is worth reading.

Please donate to Big Life - you can read about their mission here and I am quite sure any amount of a donation is appreciated. 

Here is some more of Nick Brandt's work.  I have not included captions (at least for now), but for this first one since it is another case of the slaughter of a magnificent and majestic Matriarch of her herd.

Elephants Walking Through Grass, Amboseli 2008. Leading Matriarch Killed By Poachers, 2009

Philip-Lorca diCorcia

I look at this photograph and have to ask myself, why?  Why do I find that a random group of passersby with dull, lifeless expressions in a rather ordinary, mundane environment, a sidewalk, is somehow, strangely captivating if not compelling?  I have no idea why!

Philip-Lorca diCorcia does this and other equally disconcerting shots.  I get the feeling of being off-balance, unsettled, uncertain.  I'm not sure what I'm seeing.  Are his images real life documents or theatrical stagings?  Snap shots or cinema clips?  There is a filmic quality to them yet a static quality, as well.  Something frozen in time, whether it be the pedestrians on the sidewalk, the wealthy women and boy at the dinner table, the women adorned with chandeliers ... whether it be the banal or highly decorated.  Is it real or is it fiction?  One thing is for certain, his lighting and technique is key to making the inconsequential seem important.

Above, an example of diCorcia's fashion advertising work.

To see Philip-Lorca diCorcia's work in the Museum of Modern Art's collection, click here (MOMA).  Here is a bio and slideshow and another bio that also references a court case of interest.  And, here is an interview with diCorcia about his series called, "The Hustlers" which resulted in a book featuring male prostitutes in Los Angeles, California.  The portraits of the men were then published with their name, age, place they were from, and the dollar amount they were paid to model which was a payment equivalent to the payment they would have received otherwise for their services. 

Irving Penn Masks

Around this time in October of 2009, Irving Penn passed away at the age of 92.  (Click here for a bio the New York Times published in 2009.)Here is a compilation of images featuring masks ... something apropos of October and its bearing of Halloween.