Category: photography

outliers vol I = a scenic documentary!

we are really glad this amazing looking project has reached its funding goal via the awesome kickstarter website. chicago based studio Scenic in collaboration with outstanding photographers Tim Navis and Kim Høltermand, plus electronic music composer Deru, are now set to embark on a journey to explore uncharted terrains of remote Iceland and document the entire experience with the goal of producing a beautifully packaged box set of the film in blu-ray quality, a photo book, and companion soundtrack.

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one of the many highlights of the project is its proposed soundtrack, curated by the aforementioned Deru, it will feature music from some of our favorite producers. goldmund, shigeto, ryuichi sakamoto, loscil, tycho, and take are just some of the names that will be providing exclusive soundscapes to accompany the visual side of this yet to be commenced journey. you can preview a couple of the cuts below.

Vaast by SHIGETO

Deru – Outliers Iceland (Video Edit) by Deru

although the project has already surpassed its funding goal, there’s still a few hours to go before it moves into its next phase. that means there’s still time to support it and more importantly to get a hold of one of its many limited rewards. for instance by pledging 80$ or more you can grab a limited photo book + a box set containing the blu-ray disc, a music CD, a booklet, and a digital download version. hurry up and pledge some well worth money to this much promising project! in the meantime check out more details via kickstarter or follow @ScenicStudio on twitter for current updates

No Comments by miguel on September 4, 2011

filed in arte, film, photography, sounds

tagged deru, documentary, film, iceland, kim holtermand, outliers vol. I, scenic, tim navis

iwan baan = picture perfect architecture!

if you’re a fan of modern architecture then you’ve undoubtedly crossed the photographic works of dutch-born iwan baan. however, if you’re only scratching the surface of structures designed by the likes of SANAA, Herzog & De Meuron, or Zaha Hadid; then browsing iwan’s portfolio is a must! having been around the world since taking up architectural photography in 2005, iwan has climbed to the forefront of in-demand photographers for some of the most recognized studios worldwide. his main ethos is to shoot “images that narrate the life and interactions that occur within architecture”. this simpe, functionality-based approach is perhaps what makes his photos so appealing to the naked eye.

iwan’s works have been published by numerous media outlets, such as the new york times (link), domus (link), or abitare. he’s also been the focus of several exhibitions around the world, with the latest one happening at ACME in LA (info). last year, iwan hosted an excellent exhibition at the villa noailles in hyères, where he showcased a photo-diary taken across 52 weeks of traveling. during said time frame he photographed iconic buildings such as the burj khalifa by SOM in dubai, MAXXI by Zaha Hadid in rome, and olympic stadium by Herzog & De Meuron in beijing; but iwan’s adventures didn’t stop there, he also visited caracas and medellín, which are typically considered dangerous territory for a foreigner carrying a fancy camera.

if you dig architecture as much as we do, we definitely recommend keeping track of mr. baan’s whereabouts by checking his website from time to time. we are truly looking forward to where his camera might take him next. in the meantime enjoy some of our favorite images from his portfolio below…

No Comments by miguel on August 1, 2011

filed in architecture, photography

tagged architecture, herzog & de meuron, iwan baan, modern architecture, netherlands, photography, zaha hadid

ward roberts is a colectivo futurist!

Ward Roberts is a young australian photography graduate who currently resides in melbourne. currently a student of communication at RMIT university, Ward is an award winning photographer who’s held exhibitions in places such as sydney, hong kong, new york, and london. mainly inspired by the stillness and (in)perfection of architecture, Ward’s photographs are an exercise in repetition and emptiness, a combination that struck our senses immediately after seeing his work. read our interview with Ward and check out his shots below…

WARD ROBERTS (photographer, Melbourne/Hong Kong)

website | flickr

* how did you get into photography? was there a specific event in your life that led you to it? or did you simply pick it up out of curiosity?

I shot my first roll of B&W film at a challenging time in my life. I must have spent every bit of spare time shooting, even time I was supposed to be working in the darkroom. I had previously found it difficult to express myself with words, photography seemed to be the bridge allowing me to express such feelings.

* how would describe your approach to photography? do you think compositions thru before shooting them, or do they come to life afterwards in the studio?

Depending on what feel/emotion I might be trying to achieve, I normally find myself drawn towards repetition in colour, shape, space and form. When it comes to shooting I am always trying to find the cleanest composition. It’s got to the point where I find myself somewhat obsessed with trying to get all the angles, colours and shapes to compliment each other. I can spend up to a few hours trying the get the most structured shot I can see. Other times, for different reason, I may only have a few minutes to shoot which can become quite stressful.

* what took you to hong kong initially? how much of an influence has it had on your work? the recurring theme on your shots seems to be emptiness & solitude, can you tell us where that comes from?

I have family living in Hong Kong, which is the main reason. I’m very inspired by the repetitive architecture in Hong Kong. I especially enjoy shooting in winter which is when the smog is most noticeable. My fondness for emptiness reflects an ambition to capture architectural perfection (if there is such a thing). I have found that having people in the image doesn’t work into this pursuit to capture architectural perfection, as their behavior is unpredictable. I find myself being most at peace in an empty space as there are no distractions.

* if you could soundtrack your work, what would you choose?

Patrick Watson – Mr.Tom
Antony & The Johnsons – Another World
Arvo Pärt – Spiegel Im Spiegel
Atlas Sound – Washington School
Bon Iver – Blood Bank
Foals – Spanish Sahara
Mew – Comforting Sounds
The Middle East – Lonely
Noah and the Whale – The First Days of Spring
Owen Pallett – Tryst With Mephistopheles
Rachel’s – Water From The Same Source
Sean Lennon – Parachute

* what is your favorite thing about melbourne/hong kong?

Melbourne: There is always something new to discover, Melbourne always seems to reveal new things. The hidden cafes in various lane ways also ad to its charm.

Hong Kong: I love the repetition in the buildings and architecture. I really enjoy the little local restaurants where you can have a tasty meal for under $6.

* tell us about your future plans, what kind of projects are you working on? is there anything in specific you would like to shoot?

I have a few new series in the pipeline. The one I’m most excited about is a series about different explosions of colour, which I am shooting at night. Its quite different from anything else I’ve shot before. I’m also very keen to get into music videos. I’d love to expand my vision into the moving image.