PLATFORM Magazine Issue 07: Still Life

PLATFORM

Issue 07: Still Life

Vanessa ReesDawn WhitmoreBachar SrourNewbold BohemiaMauela Henao RestrepoAlison BettlesRich CutlerPippa DrummondMichael Dietrich

Welcome to Issue 07 of PLATFORM Magazine - 'Still Life'. Unbelievably, it has beenjust over a year now since PLATFORM began. Over this time we've unearthed sometruly inspiring photographers and had the pleasure of sharing them with an evergrowing and always supportive fan base. It's been an exciting and memorable year

indeed, and we thank all you readers for helping PLATFORM grow.

We hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas (or a wonderful holiday just, ifyou do not celebrate Christmas as such) and that the new year brings you all the best!Why not begin it with a hot chololate in hand (or perhaps a cooling beverage if you'rejoining us from the sunnier lands) computer at the ready, and enjoy the lovely work we

have to share in issue 06.

We welcome all feedback and encourage you to share, like, tweet and/or subcribe. Asalways, we hope that you enjoy.

Happy looking,Kerry Grainger

Editor

PLATFORM Magazinewww.platform-mag.co.uk

To begin this issue we'd like to stray slightly from the traditional format, in order towelcome/ introduce the newest memeber of the PLATFORM team: Emily Leonard, our newAssistant Pitcure Editor (intern). She has a great eye for photography (both for sourcingexciting work and producing her own photography). We asked her to fill out the contributorquestionnaire to tell everyone a little bit about herself. . .

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do/ study? Or what do you want to do?

I graduated from Norwich University of the Arts in June 2013 where I studied photography. Iam obsessed with publication. I spent the majority of my time at university becomingentranced with photobooks and the power that they have given the artist. Having the abilityto show a portfolio/ project or collaboration of work in one flexible format. I fell in love withthe endless possibilities that publications are capable of, whether that be in books, magazines,zines or photobooks, the layout sequencing and design is something that has infiniteoutcomes. I still find it incredible that where you choose to place an image on a page canchange the meaning of the image. This is why I am looking forward to delving into thepublication industry.

Tell us a little about your photography.

The vast majority of my work is shot on film. I do this because I feel that film is more tactile,beautiful and most important of all; involves more work. It's too easy for me to shoot digital.Film involves work after shooting and I love that, it feels like I have earned the images. So,the reason I shoot film is for that feeling of satisfaction. I started shooting probably when Iwas about 7 and my mum would give me and my brothers a disposable camera when wewent on our annual holidays around the UK and Ireland, but I think a lot of people had thatexperience. I started getting serious about photography around the age of 16 which promptedme to study photography at A-Level and practically live in the darkroom.

Which photographers/artists inspire you?Rinko Kawauchi, Marten Lange, Jordan Sullivan, Agatha A. Nitecka, Wolfgang Tillmans, LiHui, Stephen Gill, Aline Diepois & Thomas Gizoline.. .Too many, an ever growing list.

Photography is.. . .an escape, an infinate source of therapy. A way to continually ask questionsand challenge ideas, a celebration of the senses.

Please visit Emily's site to see more of her beautiful work. If you have any PLATFORM relatedcomments, you can contact Emily directly on [email protected].

[email protected], www.emilyroseleonard.com, @emily_leo, http:/ /petite-fox.tumblr.com/

Emily Leonard21, London

Rich Cutler50, from London, lives in Brighton

Photography is.. .the means by which I communicate visually my thoughts, opinions andobservations concerning the world around me. For many, photography is simply the creationof a visually arresting image – but I find such photographs boring and vacuous. For me, a

good photograph is one that places primacy on concept and meaning, and plays to the uniquestrength of the medium – it’s connection with reality, as famously noted by Susan Sontag: ‘Aphotograph is not only an image (as a painting is an image), an interpretation of the real; it is

also a trace, something directly stenciled off the real, like a footprint or a death mask.'

[email protected]

www.linkedin.com/ in/ richcutlerhttp:/ /brighton.academia.edu/RichCutler

“I have a degree in chemistry. That might not be the most obviousstatement with which to announce my interest in photography – butwhat draws me to science lies at the heart of my fascination with

lens-based images.”

“There is the natural connection between the two of silver, but it istheir common drive to explore and understand that compels me.

Complementing this background in science, I hold a master's degreein photography.”

“Compelled by images of time and symbolism and relationshipsbetween the historical and the current and between the sciences andthe arts, my photography blurs the border between documentary

and fiction.”

Alison Bettles48, from UK, lives in Brighton

Photography is.. .for me, a method of creating stories and fictional scenes.

[email protected]

' 'I started photography when my children were born documentingtheir lives and the chaos and domestic elements that surround

motherhood and parenting.' '

' 'I studied at Brighton University where I recently completed my MAin photography. I now work in a gallery as exhibitions assistant and

in house photographer.' '

' 'There are many photographers whose work I admire and myinspiration comes from various sources including film, historical

paintings, sculpture and novels. ' '

Manuela Henao Restrepo26, from Spain, lives in London

Photography is.. .an interpretation of reality trough the photographer's conception of the world.It is not neutral, is not the reality, is a visual reflection of a way of thinking of the artist. It is atreasure that the photographer is looking for, it is the mixture of a moment or social situation

in reality with a quick trained eye and a thirsty mind.

[email protected]

@mannyhphoto

Newbold Bohemia48, from Evansville, Indiana, lives in Albany, New York

Photography is.. .an art medium and a vehicle for ideas, similar to painting and sculpture. Iconsider the entire process of creating a concept, hiring models, building sets, lighting a scene,clicking the shutter, editing the image, choosing a print substrate, and presenting the final image

all to be part of photography. The camera is involved in only a tiny part of the process.

[email protected]:/ /www.newboldbohemia.comfacebook.com/newboldbohemia

Bachar Srour27, from Lebanon, lives in Beirut

Photography is.. .beautiful.

[email protected]

Dawn Whitmore30, from Maryland, lives in Washington, DC

Photography is.. .the visual manifestation of curiosity.

[email protected]

DawnWhitmorePhotography.blogspot.com

' 'Photography is a tool that helps me to understand and processpeople and life. I received my first camera when I was 8 years old – itwas a gift from my grandfather. Him and I would drive to new faroff places every Saturday, oftentimes train yards or obscure sectionsof Baltimore, Maryland, to explore. He taught me to adventure and

to be curious about how things work.' '

Pippa DrummondFrom Auckland, New Zealand, lives in Brooklyn, New York

Photography is.. .a tool.

[email protected]:/ /pippadrummond.com/

@pippadrummondinstagram: @pipp_seen

Michael Dietrich28, Vienna, Austria

Photography is.. .a constant way of telling moments.

[email protected]

www.michaeldietrich.tumblr.com

Vanessa Rees27, from Blacksburg, Virginia, lives in New York City

Photography is.. .pretty damn fun.

[email protected]

https:/ /www.facebook.com/vkreesphotography

' 'My dad gave me a DSLR camera when I was 14 years old. Iremember he gave me a 1 GB card with it and I thought it was soooo

fancy. Then I went to college for photography. I started takingphotography seriously about 3 years ago. I had a day job that I hated

which motivated me start my own business. ' '

PLATFORMVisit www.platform-mag.co.uk to find out more about PLATFORM Magazine andto get information about becoming a contributor or joining our friendly team.

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