National Geographic - China's Wetland Revolution

Two tearsheets of interest today from two publications that I am very happy that have picked up some of my work recently. The first is from National Geographic who are featuring my work on China’s wetlands in a piece titled “China’s Wetland Revolution”. We worked on this piece to make it an in-depth online feature, told with extended captions which highlight some of the main issues surrounding this issue in China. I’m really happy with the way it has turned out.

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Back in September of 2010, I posted an article called ‘Probably the Best Photography Blogs in the World‘. It was a casual listing of some of my favourite photography blogs which I visit on a fairly regular basis for inspiration and thought-provoking dialogue. The post itself has been one of the most popular on my blog, so I thought it was time for an update in response to reader suggestions and new blogs I have stumbled upon.

So, as in the last list, in no discernible order and with no official criteria, here are what I think are probably the best photography blogs in the world….part 2.

1. Photoshelter - I’m not quite sure how I missed this blog the first time around but it one that anyone with a remote interest in photography should check out. It is especially suited for those who are working as photographers, or aspiring to do so. Titled ‘A Picture’s Worth’ it covers topics including photography workflow, technique, SEO analytics strategies, photo-industry news amongst others. An essential resource for serious photographers or those thinking of taking photography more seriously.

2. TIME – Lightbox - This is a great new photography showcase by one of the industry leaders. Featuring high-quality reportage photography from some of the world’s leading photojournalists, as well as a sprinkling of other types of photography, it has already become a favorite amongst photo-aficionados, ranking with the New York Times’ Lens blog which was featured in my first list. This site is overflowing in quality photography.

3. Prison Photography - ”To bring to attention things previously unsaid. To bring attention to things said but unrecorded”. Pete Brook states from the outset his intentions in his manifesto on his blog. Don’t be led to think that this is just a blog about orange jumpsuits and prison bars though. Pete offers his intelligent and deeply thoughtful views about the world of photography and its role on a global cultural level, often through the views of incarceration. For those who wish to go to a deeper level in photography.

4. BBC In Pictures – Formerly ‘Viewfinder’, BBC Picture Editor Phil Coomes has recently rejigged the layout of his blog but still retains the quality content that is falling on the desk of one of the world’s busiest news/picture desks. “We can receive more than 8,000 pictures from the news wire agencies each day”, comments Phil, however he and his team filter through them to offer updates from the world of photography from a news perspective.

5. Reuters – “What makes a great picture?”, is the tagline on Reuters’ photography blog. If you are an aspiring news photographer, or want to find out more about how wire photographers go about covering breaking news around the world, then this is the site for you.  Updates from Reuters’ hundreds of photographers dotted around the globe will keep you informed of the challenges associated with recording many of the most current images that make it into newspapers on a daily basis.

6. Conscientious – For those of you who lean more to the world of fine art, or if you like to escape the travel/photojournalism worlds of photography once in a while, Jorg M. Colberg’s site might just be for you. Book and exhibition reviews, photographer profiles, guest articles can all be found here. Keep up to date with the happenings in the world of contemporary photography.

7. Lens Culture – This contemporary photography online magazine/blog focuses on a diverse mix of photography, photography-related news and has a myriad of styles represented. My personal favourite part of this blog is the audio/video archive which contains a host of interviews with many leading photographers and photo-related professionals. A great resource.

8. Foto8 – This magazine needs no introduction. Foto8, established by Jon Levy, has become an institution in the world of photojournalism and for good reason. It is a source of the finest in the world of photojournalism, presented beautifully in their monthly magazine. The blog reflects what is being published each month, as well as offering updates from the world of photography. Updates are more weekly than daily on their blog. But, as always, foto8 is about quality, not quantity.

9. 1854 - Another stalwart in the world of photography. The British Journal of Photography offers news, thoughts, analysis, product reviews, photographer profiles and more, on the online manifestation of their magazine. This is an essential blog to keep up to date with many breaking stories and the latest industry news.

10. So, is the sequel better than the original? Have I still missed any other great blogs? Please feel free to write suggestions below!

<<Return to the Learning Zone

As the models of journalism have changes in the past year or two, more and more independent journalists are going online to crowd-fund their stories. A number of sites have sprung up giving you, the reader/viewer, the chance to help contribute and actively fund investigative reporting. It’s proving a successful model for some with many projects getting fully-funded and contributing to an excting new way that you can become part of the reporting process.

I was browsing one of these sites, Kickstarter, when I came across a story by a China-based journalist called Jocelyn Ford. She has a really interesting new project that she is seeking funding for which I thought I would try to help spread the word about here on the blog.

Tibet holds an almost mythic place in the minds of everyone, but what are the real stories taking place there? What are the stories beyond our stereotypes? Jocelyn is trying to show you one. Take a look.

Viewing the Terracotta Warriors

Last week, I had the opportunity for the first time to visit the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, in central China. I was excited to have this opportunity althougha little wary that I would be visiting a location that has been photographed from nearly every angle over the years, since their discovery in 1974. This is often the case when visiting popular sites and it is sometimes a real challenge to find something unique and different when you feel like you know a place well, even before you have visited.

As I wandered around the vast pits containing the warriors I, like everyone else, was stunned by the sight in front of me. The only problem was that there was quite a large distance between the visiting areas and the warriors themselves. This sense of wonderment in the visitors was therefore difficult to capture.

Upon further exploration of the site, I happened upon a room which containing a number of individual soldiers, encased in glass displays. This was the closest that visitors could get to a warrior. As a result, the hoardes of tourists squeezed around the case, all trying to get a good look.

My attention became focused on the visitors and I began to photograph them and their reactions to the warrior in front of them. It was their reactions which fascinated me the most and offered me the best opportunity at capturing the reaction of the people to seeing the warriors. I hope that the image above reflects (excuse the pun) their feelings and hints at the importance of this site to the Chinese people.

Camera Info: Canon 7D | 16-35mm f2.8 lens | ISO 1600 | f2.8 | 1/30th

New Travel Magazine | Page 1&2

I hope you will excuse the seemingly self-promotion nature of this post today. I’ve been lucky enough to have two nice spreads in magazines this month, which I thought could serve as a nice reminder that online publication is not always to be all and end all. Seeing images in print in magazines and books have such a different impact and feeling for me, that it’s important to remember the importance of combining distributiuon methods to reach as many people as possible with our stories and images.

Desertification in China | Ventiquattro Magazine | Page 1&2

It is also interesting to see what different editors decide to do with my images. On a production level, I normally hand over my images to editors and then they take it from there. This is their job, of course. Speaking from only my personal experience, I rarely am consulted in terms of layout. I am fine with this as I am lucky enough to work with some really very good editors, who try to get the best out of the images. I am rarely disappointed.

So, if you happen to be in Italy at the moment, pick up a copy of Ventiquattro Magazine, which is running a very nice 8-page spread of my work on desertification in China. If you are in China, you may like to pick up a copy of New Travel Magazine 新旅行 which is running a 6-page spread of my work on the plight of the Chinese Alligator. Samples of both, are shown in this post. Scroll down for more…

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Collecting Firewood in Inner Mongolia

This week, I returned again to the deserts of Inner Mongolia, whilst on assignment. I have been to this region a number of times over the past few years and really enjoy my time there. For those who don’t know, Inner Mongolia is one of China’s most northerly provinces, stretching across most of northern China. The landscape is dominated by grasslands however much of it is under serious threat from desertification.

In this photo, locals were collecting firewood, moving it from their truck to the side of the road. Deforestation is one of the main drivers are desertification in these regions. As trees are uprooted and roots removed, the soil loses its stability, drying quickly  as the desert moves in.

For those living in very rural areas, firewood is essential for their daily lives, however unregulated collecting can have disastrous consequences, especially when combined with other activities that fuel desertification. It is difficult though to implement a workable balance between local people’s needs and their impact on the environment.

Camera Info: Canon 7D | 16-35mm f2.8 lens | ISO 100 | f8 | 1/500th