This n' That: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Black Entertainment Television
“Content for Change” on BET Honors DC Photographer
After months of protests by activists of the Black Lives Matter movement, photographers are accumulating an archive of weary, yet determined individuals rallying behind the causes. Native DC resident and photographer Tony Mobely has gone out everyday with his camera to empathetically capture the hurt and document the protests of locals impacted by the movement for justice and equality. His work will be featured by the Black Entertainment Television network in a PSA service announcement for the next 30 days as part of their “Content for Change” theme. Mobley’s black and white photographs allude to our nation’s divided past, while specifically casting a lens to our nation’s capital. The 2020 BET Awards focuses on African Americans, as well as other American minorities, in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment.
Adobe Photoshop Express
Snapseed
PhotoEditing Apps to Try During Quarantine
With restrictions being lifted in some places, and others still remaining under heavy lockdown, entertainment of all kinds is limited. Individuals are looking to creative outlets with photography being an underlying entertainment channel. However, whether you are a professional fine artist, or an amateur picture-snapper, a quick way to create beautiful, personalized photographs is more accessible–and affordable– than most people realize. Listed below are a handful of photo-editing apps for Android and iOs users, ranging from free to economical monthly and annual subscriptions:
Snapseed: A free app for iOS and Android which offers a more traditional approach to photo-editing via simple exposure and color-tweaking tools.
Prisma: Contrastingly from Snapseed, Prisma provides filters to transform photographs into artistic creations with a more painterly quality to them.
Adobe Photoshop Express: A free app for Apple and Android users which offers the standard and traditional photo-editing capabilities associated with Lightroom and Photoshop, albeit without the subscription fee.
Bazaart: Compatible with iOS users only, this app provides various collage tools that let the user layer multiple elements such as photos, text, and graphics to create a finished work of art.
PicsArt: Compatible with iOS and Android phones. From basic exposure tools, to transforming photographs with a painterly quality, PicsArt offers a wide array of options to tweak photographs to the owner's desire.
Chen Ronghui, Freezing Land 30, 2016-2018, Courtesy of the artist & Three Shadows + 3 Gallery
Reclaiming Newfound Chinese Identity through Photography
Among the groups documenting this iconic, pivotal time, Chinese contemporary photographers are searching to anchor themselves not only in a rapidly shifting nation, but the world. A common denominator amongst artists in general is a search of one’s own identity. The Alexander Tutsek Foundation in Munich is honoring Chinese photographers with an exhibition displaying the works of fourteen. The images react to the radical changes in Chinese society, with the artists underlining themes of self-discernment, introspective experiences, the repertoire of life, the human form, and individuality. Photographer Ren Hang, speaks loudly to the current social change. The artist’s composed images of naked people in acrobatic and distorted poses were prone to censorship; showing rebellious young people embracing their bodies and sexuality, whilst refusing to adhere to the conformity and traditionalism of Chinese societal norms. Other photographers, such as Zhang Xiao, take on a more subdued tone; paying homage to a disappearing cultural heritage with the documentary aesthetic of black and white portraiture. The exhibit as a whole is intended to showcase the complex worlds of feeling and experiences as these artists use their own voices, rising above the noise of the coronavirus crisis. The artworks are on show through January 29, 2021.
Photo by Bharath Reddy on Unsplash
Changes to Travel and Travel Photography
Anticipation over the reopening of local hotspots such as restaurants and salons does not compare to the iconic travel destinations which are slowly letting tourists back in. Travelers of the world are eager to spread their wings as iconic landmarks open up again. And photographers who wish to document their experiences and journeys may not be able to capture the cliché Instagram pictures associated with such sites. Many historic monuments are scheduled to reopen to visitors with adherence to strict social distancing guidelines and hygiene protocols. Only monuments and museums with non-containment zones will be open to visitors. Places which typically require tickets for entry are switching to online ticketing. And parking is eliminating the need for physical currency. For example, the Taj Mahal will be setting limitations on how many tourists are allowed through at any given time and a specific ban on group photography. This is to free up foot traffic and limit overcrowding. Travel photographers may have to use their viewfinders to discover new perspectives and capture these beloved travel hotspots.
