Underdogs 7

UNDERDOGS

photography magazine / issue_7

Amanda ElledgeJean-François FlameyEmily HansellJack HubbellAndreas KaiserJoakim KocjancicDominik SchmittYannic SchonStavros Stamatiou

Curator/Editor/Designer: Isa GelbGuest curator: Christian Conrad

Cover & back cover: Stavros Stamatiou

All images and text published in Underdogs are the sole property of the featured photographers.NO image can be reproduced, edited, copied or distributed without the express written permission of its legal owner.NO part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher.

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In the editorial to Issue 4 of Underdogs, I opened up the possibility of producing an issue of black and white photography. It surprised me how deeply this idea stuck in my mind, since I am primarily, and almost solely, a color photographer. I soon became committed to the idea.

On taking my first steps to realize this project, I discovered that color and B&W are like two differentlanguages. If color is my first language, B&W is a second language I am not as fluent in. Recognizing

this deficiency, I sought the help of Christian Conrad (www.zimmer117.de) to jointly curate this Issue 7 with me. I warmly thank him for his involvement and the time he dedicated to this issue.

My collaboration with Christian served as both a dialogue and a lesson in the language of B&W photography.For my part, William Eggleston’s maxim “The world is in color” is my vantage point, and best describes

my intuitive relation to color. My relation to B&W is more studied. Prior to working with Christian, my main point of reference for B&W photography as a genre was the works

of masters such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Garry Winogrand, and others. However, contemporary B&W photography inspired by such masters did not particularly appeal to me. The B&W work I admired

always seemed to be a one-off.

Working with practicing B&W photographers helped me to better understand the possibilities residing within the medium. The world may still remain in color—but what is photography in black and white?

I still speak in my second language, but I can now say—and I believe the photographs within this issue will illustrate—that B&W has a unique capacity for dramatic, theatrical, elegant,

and simply powerful imagery. Its detachment of the image from its ordinary conditions of color brings us to pause, look again, and observe the image on its own terms.

A word of advice given to photographers is to resist describing themselves with adjectives—for example, as a “street” photographer, “art” photographer, or—looking at myself this time—as a “color” photographer.

Although we all must work within our own limits and within the limits of the medium, I agree that such adjectives often act as preemptive and immaterial limitations. In other words,

they can keep us in our comfort zones. Looking back, I am glad that I took this opportunity to work in an area of photography that I have not always felt comfortable in.

Finally, I should keep things in their proper perspective. Regardless of how the curatorial work in this issue might reflect my personal growth, my first duty as a curator is to the work presented.

The curatorial dialogue between Christian and me is only derivative of the richer language of the photographs themselves, which we share with you in this Issue 7.

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UNDERDOGS

ISA GELBwww.flickr.com/photos/isagelb/punkroyaltiger.tumblr.com/

CHRISTIAN CONRAD, GUEST CURATORwww.zimmer117.de/category/photographer/christian-conrad/www.flickr.com/photos/yschon/albums/72157639796935775

THANKS TO JOHN KOCH FOR HIS HELP IN DRAFTING THE EDITORIAL.www.flickr.com/photos/orphotographer/

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AMANDAELLEDGE

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HER CAMERAS There is a mixture of digital and analog,including: a digital Canon EOS 7d, a lomo l-ca an epson scanner (to scan items for texture)and even an Iphone 4s camera.

AMANDAELLEDGE

Lille / France

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JEAN-FRANÇOISFLAMEY

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JEAN-FRANÇOIS FLAMEYNamur / Belgium

HIS CAMERAFrom digital (Nikon D610 with old mounted lenses) to cheap analog cameras (Yashica Electro, Ricoh KR-5). Also toy cameras (Lomo LCA, Holga), Polaroid, Brownie and homemade pinhole.

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EMILY HANSELL

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EMILY HANSELL

Brisbane / Australia

HER CAMERAS Canon Eos 600d, (and on occasion I use my ipad)

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JACK HUBBELL

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HIS CAMERA Sony RX1R with 35mm lens

JACK HUBBELLOmaha, Nebraska / USA

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ANDREAS KAISER

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HIS CAMERAS Canon EOS 5D Mark II & Fuji X100S

ANDREASKAISER

Ottweiler / Germany

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JOAKIM KOCJANCIC

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JOAKIM KOCJANCICStockholm / Sweden

HIS CAMERASI use many different, but always 35mm and with black and white film.

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Joakim’s book ”Paradise Stockholm” is available here:http://joakimkocjancic.com/buy-book

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DOMINIKSCHMITT

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DOMINIK SCHMITTHeilbronn / Germany

HIS CAMERAS Nikon F100, Nikon D700, Contax G1 and Contax T2

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YANNICSCHON

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YANNIC SCHONBerlin / Germany

HIS CAMERASLeica M6,Contax T3

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STAVROS STAMATIOU

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STAVROS STAMATIOU

Thessaloniki / Greece

HIS CAMERASPentax K-30, Rollei SL 60

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MANY THANKS TO

AMANDA ELLEDGELille / France

www.flickr.com/photos/x99elledge

JEAN-FRANçOIS FLAMEYNamur / Belgium

www.nimisatree.tumblr.com/ www.nimtree.be/

EMILY HANSELLBrisbane / Australia

emilyjhansellart.tumblr.com/ www.flickr.com/photos/127654673@N06/

JACK HuBBELLOmaha, Nebraska / USA

www.flickr.com/photos/cyclops-optic/

ANDREAS KAISEROttweiler / Germany

www.flickr.com/photos/andreaskaiser/

JOAKIM KOCJANCICStockholm / Swedenwww.joakimkocjancic.com/www.vimeo.com/108223142

www.galerie-intervalle.com/artiste/joakim-kocjancicwww.cargocollective.com/oon

DOMINIK SCHMITTBerlin / Germany

www.flickr.com/photos/schnauzbr/www.dominikschmitt.tumblr.com

www.cargocollective.com/dominikschmitt

YANNIC SCHONBerlin / Germany

www.zimmer117.de/www.flickr.com/photos/yschon/albums/72157632475560565

www.cargocollective.com/yannic

STAvROS STAMATIOuThessaloniki / Greece

www.flickr.com/photos/30872393@N05/www.stavrosstam.weebly.com/

Next issueApril 2016

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