I placed this video on youtube sometime back and its attracted all manner of comments, usually passionate and often profane, which has led me to censor what gets published.
But this caught my interest, profound in thought. Why we fight is the disease and the panacea of our unsettling minds involved in dispute.
The pioneers of a warless world are the youth that refuse military service. -Albert Einstein -
They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason. - Ernest Hemmingway
If those at war only knew what they was figthing for.. -------
David adds: Strong comments indeed..... Pics by Yannis Kontos
Acclaimed and multiple award winning photojournalist, Yannis Kontos work is explored in installation form - a section of that, the video, is posted here.
A seven minute version of this was shown on giant screens (above) in Amsterdam at the World Press Photo Awards whilst Yannis collected his prize for first place contemporary issues for an assignment in Sierra Leone Yannis Kontos at the awards.
For more visit his website YannisKontos.com and on viewmagazine.tv you can find other promos, by entering Yannis' name in the search
I have removed the different states I've been working the format to for a presentation next week. If you're on a real fast connection you may stumble across something.
For this production, the rostrum effect is minimum. Yes, you could do the same in Soundslides, though I'm using AE and FCP, Director and Flash action scripting .
Please be advised a couple of the images are disturbing.
Image courtesy of Yannis Kontos, his award winning photo set, Amputees, for the World Press Photography Awards, contemporary issues. Please note, Yannis' images are not part of the exhibition
If you're at an end of sorts about what to do this weekend and care for a walk to the South Bank then I'd recommend the world press photography exhibition.
A collection of the best of the best, though you could always argue your own favourite contemporary snapper was not included. However this exhibiton drips with emotion.
No wonder you're met with a bold sign saying some of these photos are unsuitbale for children.
Those exhibiting were chosen from around 78,000 entries from 124 countries. Difficult choices. They include Joao Silva, South Africa, The New York Times and his photos from the US Marines patroling Northern Iraq; Brit Alex Livesey's Getty photo of an acrobatic football kick for Sports Illustrated; and US Spencer Platt's almost surreal image of chique Lebanese women driving around rubble in bombed Southern Lebanon during the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict.
Couple of observations about trawling for online information, it's very scant and makes part of my point when it comes to using the web and IPTV within the arts. I'll be posting the video film on Monday: who's killing the arts.
Meanwhile the world press site quite rightly bans anyone from using their images. I suspect if I were writing an article I'd be on to them to contact the photographers for permission to use their image, but I'm short of time.
However if photographers want publicity, and most do, there should be a creative common license that allows the 'proper 'promotional use of images in bespoke terms and conditions.
Yannis Kontos, a world press photographer winner last year is selfless with his images that way and I find his spirit and understanding enlightening.
Which is why we've been able to collaborate on several photomontages, where he is credited appropriately.
If you're a photojournalist and I clearly understand the issues of rights, which is why I'm not using any images here from the exhibition, it's worth looking at.
The expression is:"let go". The more people that see your images the better.
A further observation is that there could be a little more creativity in publicising these images online. Don't be put off by the front page of the South Bank's site. One of the posts I came across was lamenting the cropping of the main "sell" image online.
As a webby person I might think why that would have happened, particularly if you're working to a template site ( no idea whether South Bank's is) but still pictures are there to be looked at. Give them the same attention in the gallery online and chances are that will woo some more punters.
Here's Yannis photomontage. See you next week as I'm off for a few days.
In a couple of weeks I'll be redoing videos on viewmag so you'll be able to watch this in far superior quality at twice, almost three times the size.
