U.S. photographer Anthony Suau wins World Press Photo contest

[johnnywalker]

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2009/02/13/worldpress-photo-suau.html

 

[wayne naughton]

it's a fine photograph and Suau's a very fine photographer. one of his pictures in his book on eastern europe haunts me (fasonovo, Bulgaria, 1994). it's a wicked indictment that the industry cannot support a man of his quality

 

[Colin Corneau]

I applaud him for finding a story (before almost anyone else did), pursuing it doggedly, and portraying it professionally.

That said, there's no blewdy way this is the best photo of the year. It's average, more of an outtake from a collection than a centrepiece.

 

[wrench]

he also happens to be out of work.

http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/esearch/e3i6a1d515f274b8d4ed8e195162b493e43

I think it's an unfortunate state of things. Being so highly regarded in your field and yet not being able to make a living off of it. Regardless of whether or not it's the BEST photo of the year, he's still an excellent photographer. And if he doesn't have the chops to make it, then who does? I can't imagine things are very pretty for those down in the trenches just starting out. Economic conditions like this will dissuade people from taking up photography altogether and with fewer people in the discipline and less competition to drive creativity and innovation, the quality of our visual culture could slowly erode.

 

[perkeleellinen]

one of his pictures in his book on eastern europe haunts me (fasonovo, Bulgaria, 1994).

Is it the picture of an outhouse with a horse running past?

It's been a few years since I looked in that book, but that photo stood out. I just checked prices for the book and they're steep:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0967796806/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

 

[wayne naughton]

Is it the picture of an outhouse with a horse running past?

/QUOTE]

that's exactly the one..... good get....except that it's a bus shelter in the fore ground with the horse galloping past a rather mean looking farmhouse. i managed to get a copy cheap last year at a local bookshop. guess i got lucky

 

[wayne naughton]

I just checked prices for the book and they're steep:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0967796806/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

160 bucks!!!!!! got mine for 25 aussies.......chuckle

 

[benjiboy]

It is a good press picture, I just wonder why the cop needs a gun to see if the evicted family have left the property ?

 

[perkeleellinen]

Is it the picture of an outhouse with a horse running past?

that's exactly the one..... good get....except that it's a bus shelter in the fore ground with the horse galloping past a rather mean looking farmhouse. i managed to get a copy cheap last year at a local bookshop. guess i got lucky

Outhouse/bus shelter, not bad for my memory, but I was sure that was the photo you had in mind.

Out of print photo books seem to often command high prices. If I was a gambler, it might be worth to invest in these books.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

It is a good press picture, I just wonder why the cop needs a gun to see if the evicted family have left the property ?

I think the concern is more that there might be squatters living in the house.

 

[benjiboy]

I think the concern is more that there might be squatters living in the house.

My initial surprise David, was because as you probably know the ordinary beat policemen in the U.K.who would deal with this sort of matter are not armed, It's only special armed response (SWAT) and regional crime sqad type units that are, and they wouldn't be used to evict squatters.

 

[Guillaume Zuili]

That said, there's no blewdy way this is the best photo of the year. It's average, more of an outtake from a collection than a centrepiece.

Colin, I wish you to do that kind of average photography, everyday. since at least 20 years, in the places where he was. This is more than picture framing, this is content.

 

[wayne naughton]

If you want to check out Suau's complete portfolio from which this picture was taken you can find it in the March issue of the digital journalist. The picture is much stronger when put in it's proper context.

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/

wayne