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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

scale, perspective, depth ... & the Eiffel Tower

Richard Avedon (1959)

I had posted this photograph (above) previously and explained that this was a matter of Genius x 2. Two of my favorite artists -- Richard Avedon, the photographer and the subject, Marc Chagall, the painter. Here are two more shots that make use of the Eiffel Tower and create depth by use of a person in the background.

Walde Huth

Frank Horvat (1974)

Jill Greenberg

I just read of the remarkable discovery of a new species of monkey and it prompted me to think of Jill Greenberg's series on monkey portraits.  Here is the CNN article on the new species of monkey and here is a glimpse of some of the monkey portraits as was featured in Jill Greenberg's 2006 exhibit at Clamp Art.

Jacques Henri Lartigue

I have always said that Lartigue's work was that as seen through a child's eyes and indeed that is what much of it was.  He was born into a wealthy family in France and he photographed what was around him starting at age seven -- he documented daily life and quite often, society ladies. It wasn't, however, until later in life that his childhood photographs were given recognition.  Quite by accident, he was ultimately introduced to John Szarkowski, curator of the Museum of Modern Art who produced an exhibition of his work.  As an adult, Lartigue shot fashion and just about anyone he met.  To read more on Jacques Henri Lartigue, click here and here and here.

Richard Avedon as photographed by Jacques Henri Lartigue / 1966