What to buy in August 2008

It may not be published in 2008 but rather in 2007. However, if you want to see some fantastic images from one of the greatest portrait photographers of all times, you should buy this book:

Great stuff!

Singapore at home

This is my nephew. He loves his video games. Sadly, besides the daily studying, homework and organized weekend activities (more studying!) there is not much room for Singaporean kids to enjoy themselves. Asian reality! That makes me realize what a free life we had when I was a kid. And we didn’t play video games…

Is it all about perception?

What went wrong when you show images and the people who look at them totally misinterpret them? This happens to me all the time since I am taking the majority of my photographs in Asia but then show them in Europe. Most of the time I am dealing with misperceptions about political statements that the images are supposed to make, or with stereotypes about Asia which lead the viewer in the wrong direction.

So is this the fault of the viewer, or is it up to the photographer to set it right?

First of all: I am trying to portrait people the way they are and not the way they want to appear or how the viewer wants them to appear in order to suit a certain stereotype. I am interested in real characters, not in fashion or fiction. Most of my images are pretty straight forward. So why is it that there is still so much room for misconceptions about what a picture wants to tell?
I do not think there is a final solution to this problem. People will always see what they want to see or what they are able to understand. They will fill the gaps with their own conception about the world. However, I strongly believe that the photographer has to take the viewer into consideration when he/she makes a decision about how to present the image. After all an image is a medium, a way to communicate my perception about a place, a person, a feeling. As a photographer I want people to see what I have seen and felt.

Viewing is about perception and understanding. If I have a message, I have to make sure that it’s understood. Maybe not by everyone, but at least by some people. Otherwise the image is a failure…

Stefan

Kuala Lumpur, July 2008

I went to Malaysia in early July. Kuala Lumpur had changed a lot since I had been there last time (1992!). It’s far more modern than it used to be, but still so different in style, atmosphere and look when compared to Singapore…

some things never change…