Photographs From Croatia, by Vedran Falica

I was surprised to discover that one of my favorite things about running filmzblog has been finding guest photographers from all over the world and learning more about them and their work. It's been really great. Usually I just surf through various 'film' groups on flickr, find a few people who's work I like and write them an invitation. Often I don't know where they're from, but sometimes I can tell that they deffinitly aren't native English speakers. Though, in every instance I have been impressed to discover that their English is far superior to my own ability to speak any other language. 

I was so excited when I heard back from Vedran Falica, because his pictures are so incredible. This first one for instance, I think what kills me about it is the tiny bit of sand in the navel. Something about it is just so sensual and mysterious. No matter what he's photographing, Vedran's images are always captivating. Even if it's just a photograph of a building or some cars driving along a hillside, there is a quality to his photographs that draws you in and makes you want to know more about what's going on. I was even more excited when I learned that Vedran & his girlfriend Sara are total photo geeks together, and they have started this really awesome double exposure project called 'The Toss Off'. They only have one roll of film up so far, but they have already created some really great images together.  

I am swooning..... is there anything more romantic? No, I don't think so either. And on that note, here's Vedran:

Photographs From South Korea, by Christian Diehl

Christian Diehl is a German student who spent some time studying Japanese, Economics and History in South Korea. While he was there he took some truly lovely photographs using a wide range of cameras and films. I was attracted to his images because they are not only show a strong technical proficiency (look at the exposers on the black and white pics! The composition!  His perfect use of line to keep your eye moving, and yet always coming back to the subject), but his images also invoke a strong feeling of wistfulness. The people in his photographs always appear to be elsewhere, or dreaming, as if they are not fully present in their immediate environment. He captures all of these things just right and shows us a South Korea that is unfolding, timeless scenes of fisher men, juxtaposed with a modern industrial landscape. Blue coller workers, businessmen, and school girls, all gazing out into the distance at something that goes unseen. 

Guest Photographer: Etienne Despois, Photographs From Paris

I wanna go to Paris so that I can meet Etienne Despois because his pictures are amazing! Check out his flickr stream, check out his blog, your mind will be blown I promise. Dude only shoots film and he shoots like a sniper, always capturing a moment when it is compositionally perfect. It hurts me. I found him on flickr, we exchanged some messages, and he is awesome (he didn't even make fun of me for using google translater to try and talk French at him). So without further ado, I present Eitenne Despois.

Works of God and Man: the Gulf Coast

Sabine Pass, TX

Filmzblog is pleased to present Adam Schwitters as this week's guest photographer.  I met Adam some time ago when I started frequenting the Little City coffeeshop in downtown Austin, where he works a few nights a week.  It was only recently that I discovered, with pleasure, his photography.   There are many people who can tell you with words that which we all know to be true about the South: it is simultaneously a very, very beautiful and very, very strange place.  Adam, it seems, has an uncanny ability to communicate that poignancy through photography.  Here are some shots from a trip he made through south Texas and Louisiana earlier this year.  (Click on any of the images to bring up the lightbox view.)  -Austin

This Too Is Afghanistan

A week ago we received our first guest photographer submission from a photographer who prefers to go by the name evanistan,  and who lives and works for an Non-Government Organization in Afghanistan. Needless to say I was floored. In my correspondence with evanistan I told him that what I like so much about this series of images is that they are a window into a side of Afghanistan that most Americans have never seen. I think that the average American thinks mostly of all the horror stories that we hear: little girls getting sprayed with acid for going to school, the Taliban being oppressive and scary, journalists being kidnapped and beheaded, etc. What I see in  his pictures are loving families, people with a sense of humor, a beautiful landscape, people that I can identify with. However, it is not just that the content of evanistan's photographs is compelling, he also has an eye for light, composition, lines, and negative space. Normally I would go on and on about this sort of thing, but I'm going to cut it short and and let evanistan do the talking, because even better than the pictures is what he has to say.  

Guest Photographer: Anthony Maddaloni, Scenes From Austin TX

I've been properly jealous of Anthony Maddaloni's film skillz for awhile, and so it is with the greatest pleasure that I now present you with a wee taste of his awesome photographs so that we may all be jealous together. After spending some time transfixed by his blog, I chose this selection of images because together they capture something so authentically Austin. For out-of-towners our city motto is "Keep Austin Weird", and this city is always up for a celebration. We celebrate music, hot sauce, Day of the Dead, kites, spring time, Eeyore's birthday, books, film (the movie kind), art, bikes, the full moon, and so so much more. Give us a reason and we'll be there with beer and ridiculous outfits.

Guest Photographer: Mike Andrick, An Honest Look At Isolated Appalachia

Every Tuesday, filmzblog will be featuring film work from a different guest photographer. In our inaugural week, I could not be more pleased to bring you this intimate look at an Appalachian community in West Virginia by Mike Andrick.  His project 'Left Alone: The Pride and Fear of Isolated Appalachia' establishes Mike as a seriously talented, compassionate, and honest social justice documentary photographer.