We’ve talked some about ‘alternative publishing’ here on Dva but this might be more outside the box than you’ve heard before, but hopefully will be intriguing to some of you. Matt Mallams, and a few others I know of, are getting their photos out into the world in innovative ways that bring a much different reaction from viewers. To sound foolishly ‘arty’, the photograph is taken from its normal context, or the context it was created in, and morphed into a new kind of object. It is intriguing to me, messing with the often-stodgy limitations of ‘where photographs belong’ (on websites, on newsprint, on walls).

In addition to lots of great work that falls into more traditional realms of photography/photojournalism Matt Mallams is pushing some boundaries and developing his own way of bringing his pictures back into the streets. I’ve been idly thinking about how to make ‘photos as street art’ for years, but haven’t done the first thing about it, so it is great to see a talented photographer trying it out.

He is also producing t-shirts with a cool image of his (if I were back in the States, I’d definitely be picking one of these up):

If you want one, follow the link for info. Printed on whatever color tshirt you like, $15.

That image has made some earlier street appearances, and was actually my first sight of Mallams’ push to get images out in this new way. Be sure to catch his journals too (unfortunately I can’t give you a direct link because of how his site is set up), which show a different side to Mallams’ vision.

I love it, congrats Matt… can’t wait to see what is next, I’ll let you know if I ever get something started myself. And can’t wait to do our rogue street exhibition some day.

I know of a couple of other instances of this kind of photo street art, including this random post that came along a couple of months ago on (what other than) the Slog: “Currently Hanging on the Tennis Court at Cal Anderson”. Someone tied a collection of photographs to the chain-link fence at a popular park in the center of the active Capitol Hill neighborhood, and a writer for the Stranger newspaper (who produces the Slog) saw, photographed and commented. Simply, they were impressed with the expression of the exhibition, not knowing who did it, why, or really what it was all about. Perfect, provocative, fresh. I love it. And if you read the comments on the blog post some people figured out that it was probably a highschool photo student from a nearby school, which is great.

M. Scott awhile ago pointed me toward Zoe Strauss’ ‘under-highway exhibition’. I haven’t found anything better to show it than Flickr set. Again, great idea (though from the looks of these pictures, not quite right to my taste).

Also, Magnum did something a bit unusual when it had exhibitions on kiosks in Paris, or even on a video screen in the center of Manhattan. I can’t find a picture for that, but as the NY Daily News said, they were “operating on the notion that New York deserves art where it least expects it…”. Cool, but a bit too close to an organized exhibition with state approval than the vibe I like in these other examples!

Mallams also reminded me about the work of JR who recently completed an opus in the Nigerian slum of Kibera. See more of the impressive and inventive work here at the online bible of street art (as far as I know) The Wooster Collective. While you’re at it, look at some of the beautiful self-published books they’ve produced.

As for me, I’m starting work on a project about a Roma slum here in Belgrade that is soon to be torn down. Its a complicated thing, and if I can continue to get access (there were complications this week) I’ll be sure to tell more soon. But I’m thinking of the ripe possibilities of turning pictures of ‘the invisible’ (most in Belgrade have no idea what life is like in there) into something that confronts the public more directly. Mm, I’m excited about this.

Please, if you’ve experimented with this or seen other work that has, send it my way!

Been in a little funk over the weekend after hearing that I didn’t get an important grant from my university that was to fund my Russia story.. there are other paths and I’m pursuing them vigorously but this was a bummer. Spent much of the last few days reading, looking, listening and thinking and, since I haven’t come up with a big post to write from any of them, I’ll have to dump on you another massive link roundup. Lots of interesting things and terrific photographs, hope something suits your fancy if you’re looking for a little education or entertainment.

I’ve had a borrowed copy of Joe Sacco’s Safe Area Gorazde on my desk for a few weeks and I just found time to read through. Fucking brilliant, and utterly heartbreaking. If you’re not familiar, it is a illustrated piece of journalism .. war journalism in ‘comic book’ form. Brought me right back to all of the people I know and the things I’ve seen in Bosnia .. Gilles Peress had it right, first, with the sentiment behind his book “Farewell to Bosnia”. Gone, gone was the idea of a true multi-ethnic Bosnia. And this isn’t something that has gone away, warns Richard Holbrooke in the Guardian. I’ll be delving into this deeply when I’m back over there.. (also, reading this inspired me to go find my copy of Eugene Richard’s The Fat Baby.. which has a story I haven’t seen anywhere else about his trip to a Serb war hospital in Bosnia in 1995.. if you have the book go look and read.)

Got up this yesterday morning and found a particularly interesting post by Kevin German on his blog Wandering Light, featuring a new body of work he is starting on mental illness in Vietnam. I think it is a tremendous start of a story with beautiful photographs .. well worth a look. Very interesting timing, too, as I saw Friday for the first time Eugene Richards’ new book A Procession of Them at the bookstore. An important topic and I admire these photographers for pursuing this difficult story .. I spent an hour in an institution in Kosovo this past June (one that Richards covered much better in his own book) and it was a draining situation.. hats off to these men.
(c) Kevin German

I know that at least a few of you out there are interested in the Balkans like me, and I’ve got to recommend a story in Vanity Fair about Ramush Haradinaj, “House of War”. A remarkably well done piece about this man, who is a former KLA general and PM of Kosovo and an acquitted war criminal. Plenty of background about the war in the West of Kosovo too.

I’ve mentioned Jason Eskenazi and his new book Wonderland a couple of times now (1, 2), and last week NPR published an interview with him, and you can listen online. Eugene Richards even pops up to give some nice commentary. Seems like everyone is noticing and writing about this book these days, also see the write-up on The Fader’s website.

Here is an interesting (if slightly formulaic) article from the Washington Post (signin might be required .. try bugmenot.com if you need one) about Barack Obama’s transition from ‘normal guy’ to President. “Much to His Chagrin, ‘Plain Old Barack Is Gone’”. Odd picture of a scary secret service guy, but otherwise I enjoyed this peek into the transition.

From the wonderful Wooster Collective blog: Old photo-street art, and Michael Rakowitz’s ParaSites, inflatable shelters for the homeless, and an example (with Gaia) of Wooster’s revived and terrific “The A’s to our Q’s” series. Beyond cool art, they’re great little interviews .. inspiration for our series here on Dva too.

I have no idea what kind of reputation the magazine MONOCLE has, I only ran into it while traveling through Heathrow some months ago. Beyond way too expensive items recommended, there is a terrific design and feel to the mag. I’m curious to know more about it.. (chime in please if you know something). On their website I just saw a nifty little video-story about “New designs on diplomacy”, the process behind designing new embassies (in this case UK and Norway) in stressed locales. Quite interesting.

For anyone out there who is still wanting to wallow in the Digital Railroad mess, here is a lengthy piece (which I admit I haven’t read completely) by Photoshelter CEO Allen Murabayashi: “What Happened to Digital Railroad?”.

I can’t remember where I first saw G.M.B. Akash’s work from Bangladesh, but I was reminded again when he wrote on Lighstalkers that he won the 2008 Kindernothilfe Media Award in Germany for a story on Child Labor. See the story, which includes this World Press winning picture, on his website.

11th Annual Postcards From the Edge: A Benefit for Visual AIDS seems like a very interesting opportunity to donate a small piece of work for a good cause. Check it out.

More music (video): “Create Your Own Rainbow”, a chance to mix your own version of Radiohead’s “15 Step” off of In Rainbows via a crazy interface and 12 camera angles. I don’t have enough bandwidth where I’m at, apparently, to make it run smoothly but maybe you’ll have more luck.

Lastly, Colberg at Conscientious writes On photography collectives. In short, he is ‘pro’ photographers working together and can’t figure out why there aren’t more Congrats again to Luceo for being ahead of the curve.

We’re working a lot of interesting things for the coming weeks, some more interviews and I’ll have more to chat about my near-term plans for a marketing trip to New York and the move to Belgrade. Stay tuned!