Jordi Ruiz Cirera

My friend Claire sent me a link to London-based Spanish photographer Jordi Ruiz Cirera’s website, because she knew I would love his photographs.  She was right – they are beautiful – and I’m particularly taken with his portraits of Mennonite families in Bolivia. One of the images, a camera shy lady sitting at a table, won Ruiz Cirera the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize in 2012.

The pictures form part of the photographer’s long-term project to document the daily life of this religious community. The project was particularly challenging, as the Mennonite religion forbids the creation of images and many members were reluctant to appear in photographs. However, having travelled to their villages in South America on two occasions, he gradually won the trust of several families living south of Santa Cruz.

The Mennonites’ uneasy relationship with the camera is reflected in the winning portrait of Margarita Teichroeb at her table; "She seems to be afraid of the photographer, unwilling to expose herself to our gaze. Her awkward expression says a lot about the tradition, isolation and lifestyle of this community," says Ruiz Cirera.

Tim Coulson: The Nursery

I didn't post much last week as I was away in London. While I was there I was lucky enough to attend a photography workshop with Tim Coulson called The Nursery. Although I had lost my voice and had to speak in croaks and whispers, the workshop was brilliant. In one day, Tim explained so many things that had previously confused me about taking pictures and his advice will definitely help me to use my camera properly. In the morning, Tim discussed the emotional and technical aspects of photography in a very down-to-earth and common sense way. Then, following a leisurely lunch we stepped outside to practice what we had learned. My pictures above are of Tim's wife Kesh and their lovely son Roo. The Nursery is a real family affair and I am delighted that I was able to be a part of it. Thanks Tim and Kesh!

You Are My Wild

I am fascinated by documentary photographs, particularly by those that manage to capture the everyday so beautifully. That is why I am excited to hear about You Are My Wild, a new project which brings together fourteen photographers, each taking a weekly portrait of their children. This is the first week and new images will be posted every Tuesday. I look forward to following and seeing how the project evolves over time.

Images above by Rebecca Conway, Meaghan Curry, Ryan Marshall & Shelby Brakken.

www.youaremywild.wordpress.com

Book: New Gypsies

Iain McKell's photographic portraits of travellers exude a sense of family, community and freedom. These new Gypsies are here by choice, not heritage. Unrelated to the Roma, the movement began in 1986 when a group of Post-Punk, Anti-Thatcher protesters headed out of London into the English countryside. McKell followed these New Age Travellers to the West Country and over the years, watched them become a hybrid tribe - the new gypsies - present-day rural anarchists, living their subversive lifestyle in elaborately decorated horse-drawn caravans. Known as 'Horse-drawn', these new gypsies share a desire for sustainability, a love of self-reliance and a disdain for the trappings of contemporary life. To see more of McKell's romantic, strange and beautiful photographs, check out his book The New Gypsies.

iainmckell.iainmckell.com