Foto8, our favourite photojournalism magazine/gallery/bookshop, has just re-launched its website with loads of new features. Check it out: www.foto8.com

Cool new Flickr group here.

I’d been looking forward to the Teamphoto exhibition ever since hearing Brian Griffin mention it at a BJP event last year, but I somehow missed out on the news that it had opened in September, and only stumbled upon it by accident a few days before it closes, as I was killing time waiting for a train at the newly renovated St Pancras station (nice brickwork, shame about the half-mile walk to the tube station).

Griffin was commissioned to document the building of the High Speed 1 rail link to the Channel Tunnel, “the UK’s first high speed railway for over 100 years”. The result is a monumental series of portraits which really lives up to my expectations of it.

I had a great time wondering around and around the show, looking and looking again at all the photos, and it’s one of the few photo exhibitions where I have actually laughed out loud. Griffin’s photos fall roughly into two categories: his portraits of the workers are epic, mainly black & white studio portraits. In a similar manner to much Soviet artwork, they clearly portray the worker as hero. By contrast, the photos of management are very much in the style which Griffin utlised during his many years as photographer for Management Today: the subjects are placed in Kafkaesque scenarios where they seem unsure or unaware of what’s happening to them and what they’re supposed to do. Even more than with the Management Today photos, I was left wondering “how the hell does he get away with it?”

For the rail project’s American project managers, Griffin had reserved an even more bizarre approach: they were captured in what seem to be half-staged, half-candid poses which remind me of nothing quite so much as Twin Peaks. Their American suburban location adds even more to the strange disconnect from anything to do with the UK-Europe rail link.

There were also a few group photos styled as Frans Hals paintings. On their own these seemed a little uninspired, given the frequency with which photographers seem to be ripping off the Old Masters nowadays, but thrown into the melange of strangeness which made up the Teamphoto exhibition, they added a little extra spice.

It’s a very daring move from Griffin’s corporate client, and one which leaves them open to ridicule, but I’m very glad that they’ve apparently allowed him free reign on this project, and I think the results are something of a landmark.

As I was walking around the exhibiton, I overheard one woman saying to another “The only thing I would have done: I would have kept it all black & white, I wouldn’t have had any colour. I think that would have been really powerful”. That made me laugh nearly as much as the photos did.

If you’re in London, get yourself down to the Gymnasium (in between St Pancras and King’s Cross) sharpish: the exhibition ends on 16th November.

Flickr have, without warning, deleted the account of Gail Orenstein, one of the few genuinely interesting and unique individuals I have had the pleasure to bump into on there (oh yeah, and also the only person to have written me a Flickr testimony).

For those unfamiliar with Gail, she is a working photojournalist, who has covered conflicts around the world, but more recently has turned her attention to the sex industry in London. Her photos, usually of London sex workers, are invariably accompanied by headlines, plucked from global newspapers or websites, which at first seem to bear no relation to the image. However, the photos of semi-naked women draw the crowds in, and the headlines get them talking (usually) about current affairs. Gail's photos are, with the exception of Shhexycorin, probably the hottest talking points on Flickr. Her 3,451 photos have had over 1 million visitors served, and she herself had 150 testimonials. 40 of her pictures had over 1,000 comments.

So last night, I got this email from Gail:

:: Flickr has taken me down

Flickr took me down in the middle of the night without warning and without ability to retreave my work.

Please alert others I have already restarted my site at:
www.flickr.com/photos/gailorenstein/

We are going to rebuild very quickly.

Please spread the word and let other know

Please join this group on my coming back to life
www.flickr.com/groups_members.gne?id=371420@N23

Please check out Gail's photos, join the group, and cast disapproving glances in the general direction of Flickr, for their daring to try to silence one of the heros of the Internet in such an underhand way.

If you don't like reading long articles, here's the gist: I'm publishing two books of my photography, but I need pre-orders so that I can afford to publish them. You can buy either/both books with 33% discount AND get a personal dedication in the book(s) if you order from me WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.

                    ——————————–

And here's the long version…

The first book will feature a selection of photos from a project provisionally called "Party People". They will mostly be selected from the photos shown here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gulch/sets/72157594150691342/

(I am hopeful about getting a small selection of my Party People photos exhibited at Sheffield's Site Gallery next February as part of the city's not-quite-biennial festival "Art Sheffield 08").

The second book will feature images and text from my project "Ponderosa (traces of crime)", all selected from the photos shown here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gulch/sets/72157594571034741/

(I am currently talking to the UK charity Victim Support about the possibility of arranging an exhibition of these Ponderosa photos, in conjunction with a recruitment drive/fundraising for the charity).

The books will be published by Photobox - they are very good quality for an off-the-shelf product, and very fast turn-around. The books will each be 20 pages long (I would like to do more, but can't afford it). Detailed technical specs of the books are available here in case you're interested.

I haven't selected all of the photos, or designed the layout yet, so please feel free to contribute your thoughts/suggestions/preferences.

I need to publish these two books VERY soon: at the beginning of May, I’m opening up my house and showing off my work as part of the Open Up Sheffield event. I plan to have the books on sale during the event. You are, of course, welcome to visit me during the open studios, my details are here.

I need pre-orders to help pay for the print-run, so for one week only I am offering the books at a special reduced rate of £24 each (or €38 or $50). At Open Up, I will be selling them for £36 each.

I hope to be able to include within the books a personal dedication to everyone who pre-orders a copy.

Just think: for the same price as an evening out, you will become the owner of one of a very small number of my first ever photobooks! In years to come, this will be worth thousands

I need to move very quickly on this, and so if you are interested then you MUST email me by next week (22nd). I then need payment by 25th.

So… if you want to order, please email me ASAP with details of:

• which book(s) you would like
• how many copies
• whether you would like a dedication in the book, and if so, who to

I will then reply to you with instructions for payment, and I will send the completed book(s) to you by 5th May.

And while I have your attention, please take a look at my new party photographer website.

Please feel free to re-post this message on other websites, or to email to potentially interested parties, and please email me by the 22nd if you're interested.

Thank you for listening, and now back to the art…

IN FOCUS is a London-wide contemporary art project, curated by Predrag Pajdic, relating to the Middle East. It will include:multimedia art exhibitions, series of film and video screenings, live art performances
& interventions as well as more than 100 educational activities, that will take place across London, during the spring/summer of 2007

Tate Modern, Opening May 4th 5 – 7pm with a live art performance
Make Me Stop Smoking by Rabih Mroué, in addition to THIS DAY, a series of 8 film and video programs, until May 13th 2007

Contemporary Art Platform, THE BREATH, multimedia exhibition, Opening on June 22nd
7 – 9.30pm, until September 7th 2007

Dazed Gallery, UNDO, exhibition, Opening on June 07th
7 – 10pm, until July 11h 2007

The ongoing events in the Middle East produce a flow of images that are often of war, destruction and conflict. Channelled by the media, these images remain in the subconscious, coming to mind whenever the term ‘Middle East’ is mentioned. IN FOCUS hopes to challenge these representations by showing 65 international contemporary artists whose work relates to the region but defies stereotypes. The project incorporates film, video, digital technology, conceptual work, installation photography and a number of live art performances and interventions.

Represented artists and IN FOCUS this summer 07 in London are: Mohamed Abdulla, Abdellatif Abdul-Hamid, Anthony Abou Khalife, Mania Akbari, Akram Al Ashqar, Yasmeen Al Awadi, Mounira Al Solh, Rowan Alfaqih, Doa Aly, Omar Amiralay, Ayreen Anastas, Ziad Antar & Rasha Salti, Oreet Ashery, Mireille Astore, Maja Bajevic, Tim Blake, Ali Cherri, Hassan Choubassi, Tareq El Ghosein & Chris Kienke, Roza El-Hassan, Hala Elkoussy, Shady El Noshokaty, Shadi Habib Allah, Khaled Hafez, Mohammed Hammed, Susan Hefuna, Hilda Hiary, Mahmoud Hojeij, The Infinity Project, Hisham Jaber, Lamia Joreige, Annemarie Jacir & Nassin Amaouche, Emily Jacir, Ahmed Khaled, Nesrine Khodr, Khorso Khosravi, Nedim Kufi, Rabih Mroué, Vesna Milicevic, Enas Muthafar, Diane Nerwen, Khalil Rabah, Ayman Ramadan, Khaled Ramadan, Mario Rizzi, Paul Ryan, Jackie Salloum, Lina Saneh, Larissa Sansour, Wael Shawky, Emilia Telese & Guyan Porter, Sadegh Tirafkan, Milica Tomic & Branimir Stojanovic, Vladimir Tomic, Jalal Toufic, Sharif Waked, Rachel Wilberforce, Akram Zaatari and Sameh Zoabi.A full colour catalogue will accompany the exhibition, with essays by Predrag Pajdic & Paul Ryan, Olivia Snaije, Mahmoud Hojeij, Jalal Toufic, a forward by Sacha Craddock, an introduction by Charles Asprey and interviews with selected artists.

For further information please visit: www.infocusdialogue.com

Riverside view of Old Billingsgate, London – Courtesy Old Billingsgate, Photo David Thompson

photo-london and Paris Photo join forces
On November 2006, photo-london was taken over by Reed Exhibitions, owner and organizer of Paris Photo, now the most important photography fair in the world.

photo-london is held in the Spring, and Paris Photo in the autumn. The Paris Photo team will be managing photo-london with Daniel Newburg, photo-london’s founder, in the role of creative director.

A new concept: Contemporary photography since 1970
While Paris Photo offers a panoramic overview of fine art photography from its early days to the most contemporary production, photo-london will now focus exclusively on contemporary photography since 1970. It aims to show the diversity of subjects, concepts, styles and techniques explored by photo-based artists from documentary work to conceptual art photography, as well as image combined with media such as audio, video, and installation. photo-london will provide a unique platform to highlight the latest international trends and expressions available in the medium of photography.

A new venue: Old Billingsgate
The fourth photo-london will take place from 31 May–3 June, 2007 in a new and exceptional venue, Old Billingsgate, a magnificent 19th-century market building designed by Sir Horace Jones and entirely renovated in 1988 by acclaimed architect Richard Rogers. At the foot of the City, next to the Tower of London and facing the Thames, Old Billingsgate is within easy access of Waterloo Station.

With its 7,800 square metres of floor space, photo-london will host some 60 exhibitors – international galleries and publishers.

A strong commitment to quality
A selection committee made up of international art dealers will choose the participating galleries for photo-London 07, according to criteria based on the quality of the specific projects submitted and on conformity to the new concept of the fair.

“Zoom in” programme for collectors
The “Zoom in” viewing programme will offer invited collectors and art professionals VIP access to the latest on the photography scene in London. Coinciding with photography auctions taking place in the capital, photo-london will open privileged access to photo-related events and locations, from the V & A, to the Tate and East London.

photo-london details

Dates: 31 May – 3 June, 2007
Opening by invitation only: Wednesday 30 May from 7pm to 10pm
http://www.photo-london.com

Private View
Tuesday 20th March 2007
In 1968 Magnum photographer Paul Fusco accompanied the body of Robert F Kennedy from New York City to its final resting place in Arlington Cemetery, near Washington, DC. Transported by train, the coffin was placed in the last of 22 cars and elevated so that it was visible through the large observation windows. But it was what lay outside the train that interested Fusco most; the track-side mourners who, silent, curious and patient, waited to pay their respects.

A uniquely profound record, RFK Funeral Train is an oblique chronicle of the tragedy and trauma of
Robert F Kennedy’s assassination. In tribute to RFK’s raw empathy and his determination to make lives better across the social spectrum, hundreds of thousands of people stood patiently in the searing heat to pay their respects.

More Info

Bee Flowers’ new exhibition Liberation - Women and Abu Ghraib is simultaneously beautiful, shocking, funny, wonderful, terrifying, thought-provoking and incredibly insightful, everything that good art should be.

Showing at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art from 28th February to  28th March 2007.