Exhibition

Fotografiska

The guidebook puts fotografiska museum in its top 10 places to visit when you go to Stockholm.  I need very little encouragement to view the work of other photographers especially when I realised one of the exhibits at the museum during my stay last week was that of photographer Pieter Hugo.   My introduction to Hugo was from his project “the hyena and other men”.  Since then I have continued to be inspired by his work.  The images are powerful wether they are those of the hyena men or those of family and friends the images all make you want to know more about their lives.

The other two photographers featured at present are Marcus Bleasdale and Helmut Newton.  Showing at the gallery was a film by June Newton that presented an intimate look at the Helmut as she knows him.  I came away with a totally different opinion of him.  She showed him as a thoroughly likeable chap who clearly adored her and preferred to live a very ordinary life in many ways, despite the perceived glamour of the lives of the rich and famous he photographed.

I didn’t know Marcus Bleasdale’s work before this exhibition.

Image Marcus Bleasdale from fotografiska website

The body of work titled “farming out of poverty” both stills and a short film, focuses on how helping small farmers in Africa and South America changes lives.  The majority of the farmers are women and what they make from their small plots of land feeds the family and educates the children.  His images not only tell the stories of the people but were absolutely beautiful.  The colours and the light just draw you in.  Bleasdale is now on my list of photographers  to follow.