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60 years of the Universal Human Rights Declaration - photo slide show

Sun, 2008-11-30 18:54 — chief

Oeil Public, a French photo agency that I like to use for excellent photos of the Middle East, has a poignant and compelling slide show commemorating 60 years of the UN's Universal Human Rights Declaration. As you might imagine, from a photojournalistic/documentary agency, the photos almost all show violations of (not respect for) human rights. It's powerfully done. I rarely sit through online slide shows, but this one was riveting (the music adds a sense of urgency). Just click on the link above and it will start up. One of the photographers whose work appears in the slide show is Karim Ben Khelifa, whose photos I use occasionally for Middle East Report, and who focuses on Islam and the Arab world.

Cool Middle East design and visual culture

Sun, 2008-11-30 18:54 — chief

I stumbled upon the website for the Khatt Network for Arabic Typography again today and it is even more interesting than I remember (with a lovely new interface). "The Khatt Foundation is a non-profit cultural foundation dedicated to design research and cultural exchange between Europe and the Arab World/Middle East." You can join and become a member of the community, post announcements, notices, thoughts, designs. Check out the news section for events, conferences, calls for submission, exhibitions.

Return to blogging

Sun, 2008-11-30 18:54 — chief

After a long absence here I've decided to try blogging again. It will be different from my earlier blogging, which was done from Beirut during the year we lived there, 2007. Since January 2008 we've been back home in Baltimore, MD and I've felt less inspired to use this platform for expression. However, I'm not ready to give it up just yet. Posts will still revolve around photography and the Middle East, but fairly broadly. I hope you'll check in once in a while and see how it goes. Michelle

snapshots of Italy

Sun, 2008-11-30 18:54 — chief

snapshots of Italy

California wild

Sun, 2008-11-30 18:54 — chief

Dew on Mt. DiabloCalifornia poppies falling apart On Mt. DiabloOn Mt. DiabloMadrone tree in the Sierra foothillsA woodpecker's granary in a dead tree, Sierra foothills Shooting star, Sierra foothills Lichen and rocks, Sierra foothillsLayers of a redwood tree, Calavaras Big Trees State ParkSan Francisco shadows San Francisco, the Mission district San Francisco, the Mission district

New issue of Middle East Report out now - The US in the Middle East

Mon, 2008-11-24 00:14 — chief

The latest issue of the excellent quarterly magazine Middle East Report is out now. Ok, I'm biased, being the photo editor, but it is widely respected for its analysis and I do think the photos are fantastic overall. Photographers whose work appears in this issue include: Karim Ben Khelifa, Balazs Gardi, Eros Hoagland, Luiz Maximiano and Stephanie Keith.In this issue be sure to check out the illuminating book review by Waleed Hazbun on US foreign policy towards the Middle East.If you're going to the Middle East Studies Association conference in Washington, DC this weekend, stop by the MERIP booth in the book exhibit to say hello (and get issues of the magazine).

New Haven's Grove Street Cemetery

Thu, 2008-11-20 03:34 — chief

During a brief visit to New Haven a few weeks ago I took a walk in the Grove Street cemetery, established in 1797. Here are some photographs of things that caught my eye that day - Egyptian revival railings, a torn, worn American flag, weathered angels, and a Birch trunk scratched up by squirrels.

At home in Baltimore

Sun, 2008-11-09 19:53 — chief

It's autumn and the leaves are reaching their blazing, colorful peak after which they suddenly all drop to the ground. Everything has an ephemeral, somewhat melancholy feel, including the abandoned couch, upside down in the back alley.

NYC and Catherine Opie

Sun, 2008-11-09 19:53 — chief

We were in NYC for just an afternoon last week but we managed to squeeze in a visit to the fantastic B&H Photo store (professional photographer's heaven, if you have a little money to spend), a tasty lunch of mezze at a Turkish restaurant called Beyoglu, and a long visit to the Guggenheim to see the Catherine Opie exhibit of photos. Not much time to take photos, but here are two snapshots from the day. Lunch.

Images close to home

Thu, 2008-10-23 00:01 — chief

A few new photos from the house and garden. Close-up details, using a shallow depth of field. A bug's eye view perhaps.