David Samuel Stern was born in 1982 in Highland Park, a suburban city in Lake County (IL, USA). He got an MFA at the Washington University in 2006 and now lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

As a child, he didn’t think about art much until taking a darkroom-photography course during a high-school summer break. From that moment on, thanks to that summer course and once learned the medium, David began to take art seriously.

Work

His latest work, Woven Portraits 2020, is the result of photographic prints on translucent vellum. David physically cut and weaved together by hand two portraits of the same person. He then merges them into one another to create an exciting pattern and incredible texture. Finally, carefully cuts them apart. The attempt he aims at by doing this is to give portraits a sort of abstraction to allow the subjects to hide within themselves. He indeed states on his website: “In hiding something we reveal others.” Also, to David, the process of making something is as necessary as the thing itself.

Technique

Each piece of the Woven Portrait series is a physically unique and one-of-a-kind portrait. The photographs, all taken in a lighting studio and printed on vellum, are all large-scale prints.

The palette of light and the delicate contrasts maximize the effect of overlapping two sides of a human being. By doing this, David generates two different emotions. The portraits are caught in one mid-motion, a mix of two attempts of an action.

David transforms the photographic prints by creating a painterly atmosphere. His method is simple yet powerful. However, the abstraction of his work hides elements and details of the portraits as well.

David features in several creative international magazines and has already exhibited both in various solo and group shows.

Discover more about David Samuel Stern here.

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Alberto Seveso’s story begins in Milan, Italy, where he was born in 1976. Growing up in Sardinia, a region known for its serene landscapes and rich culture, Seveso’s environment undoubtedly shaped his creative mind.

From a young age, Seveso was drawn to the visual arts. Pencils and sketchpads were his constant companions, but it wasn’t just traditional art forms that captured his attention. As a child of the 80s, he was mesmerized by the explosion of graphic design in pop culture—think neon colors, bold typography, and eye-catching album covers.

Alberto Seveso’s Influences from the Digital Era

The rise of the internet and computer graphics in the 90s marked a pivotal point for Seveso. It was a time when technology changed how art could be created and consumed. The fusion of art and technology became his playground, with programs like Photoshop opening up a world of possibilities.

For Alberto Seveso, the transition from traditional mediums to digital art was both challenging and rewarding.

He initially worked with analog techniques, experimenting with photography and graphic design. But it was the allure of digital tools that ultimately pulled him in. Learning to manipulate images digitally was like discovering a new language, one he quickly became fluent in.

His early experiments caught the attention of the online art community. Websites and forums dedicated to graphic design showcased his innovative use of color and form, sparking interest in his work.

Alberto Seveso’s artworks are an explosion of colors and textures that feel organic and otherworldly.

The “Dispersion” Effect

Seveso is best known for his dispersion technique, where images appear to break apart into vibrant particles. This effect, often used in portraits, feels almost like a burst of creative energy frozen in time.

One of Seveso’s trademarks is blending photography with graphic elements. His portraits often start with real photographs, which he then transforms into surreal compositions using digital tools.

Alberto relies heavily on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, but he’s also known to experiment with 3D modeling software and other design tools to achieve his visionary results.

Over the years, Seveso’s work has found its way into magazines, advertising campaigns, and even album covers, solidifying his status as a modern art icon.

His collaborations with international brands like Adobe, Nikon, and Bacardi have not only expanded his audience but also showcased the versatility of his art.

Seveso’s work in the music industry deserves special mention. From designing vibrant album covers to contributing to music videos, his influence on pop culture is undeniable.

Go here to discover his portfolio on Behance or follow Alberto non Instagram >>>

The post Alberto Seveso | A Digital Explosion of Colors and Textures appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Born in Milan in 1982, Andrea discovered photography as a simple passion. It eventually took all his interest, and so the camera became inseparable. Despite not being a professional photographer, he puts everything in the frame and lets the image go beyond his profession without seeking a label.

Hello Andrea. When or how have you understood you wanted to become an artist?

About six years ago, I got bored of seeing only stupid pictures on social media, so I started looking for something more interesting by myself.

Can you briefly tell us more about your technique and what drives you to make art?

Street photography as it is invariably sincere. I love watching people. I aim for the beauty and the ugly of the mundane.

What is the main feature that has changed in your works or practice?

I’d say that color consciousness is something I improved and that I adjusted in my work.  

Which artist primarily inspires your work? And is there something else, outside visual arts, that keeps you motivated?

Garry Winogrand for his ability to find something interesting in the everyday.

How would you like people to engage with your work?

I push people to simply imagining the situation they are staring at in the image, to live it with empathy, figuring out how the character could have been before or will be after that actual shot.

Follow Andrea Lo Maglio on Instagram.

The post Andrea Lo Maglio | The Beauty And The Ugly Of The Everyday appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Marco Castelli lives and works in Firenze, Italy. His personal and documentary research moves through a deep interest in the human environment and life, looking for different approaches to visual art and creative communication.

His works have been awarded, published, and displayed internationally.

Re/De-constructing SKG

Searching for a definition of urban memory, the challenge is to apply the concept of time to the spatial context. The idea of change, especially if operated through human intervention, is not always easy to position in the field of individual perception, giving the contemporary glance a sense of missing identity. However, the natural instinct of adaptation brings our mind to use a quite practical analytical tool, built on a process of deconstruction and reconstruction: it’s basically a synthesis filtered by experience, historical knowledge and personal observation. This way, public architectures and archaeological ruins become an open scheme for proactive discussions, based on the primordial willingness to look beyond pure bricks, in a constant implementation of framing new and enriched perspectives. Somehow, even the concept of beauty itself loses its meaning when compared to the deep significance of this practice itself.
Following Eadweard Muybridge and David Hockney’s works, the focus is now shifted on the interactive aspect of creative research: the invitation for the observers is to play with all the pieces and merge their own, distinctive views, in order to fully understand how the dynamics of a generative system can lead to growth and development in subjective awareness.

ShooTrain

ShooTrain analyzes the idea of journey in its most essential form: movement. Space distortion and time expansion are just the result of a traveling self-projection. Twilight is transformed by speed: color streaks and indistinct shapes overlap with passengers’ world, creating a deep bond with the individual spatial reality.

The post Marco Castelli | Urban Memories and Twilight appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Monique Belier (1971) is a Dutch visual artist currently studying at the Fotoacademie in Amsterdam. 

Since 2017, she has been a dance teacher and choreographer and has run her studio for 17 years. But after experiencing burnout, she shifted to writing and photography as a creative outlet. She always loved writing and frequently dabbled in photography before pursuing it more seriously.

In 2018, Monique began studying at the Fotoacademie and published her first short story in a collection of stories. That same year, she decided not to return to her dance studio and instead focused on becoming a professional photographer. Drawing on her experience as a choreographer and dancer, Monique approaches photography to tell stories through raw emotions. She is particularly drawn to natural light and strives to capture the same storytelling aspect in her photography, seeking a balance between truth and aesthetics.

We had an exclusive interview with her!

Hello Monique! Let’s start from the basics. Where have you grown up, and how have you understood you wanted to become an artist?

I grew up in The Netherlands and decided to become an artist very early.

Please briefly describe your technique and tell us what drives you to make art.

I use a digital camera. I make art to express, to show what I have no words for. That can be an emotion but also a theme or a story.

What is the main feature that has changed in your work or practice?

I found out about my individuality. Hence, I am no longer just busy making something others think is beautiful.

Which artist primarily inspires your work? And is there something else, outside visual arts, that keeps you motivated?

Many artists inspire me. It also changed over the years. But photographers like Sally Mann, Raymond Meeks, and Alec Soth always inspire me. Also, dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch. The diaries of Nijinsky, music from Olafur Arnalds, and many more.

How would you like people to engage with your work?

I am in love with books, especially photo art books. I would love to exhibit or publish work related to the books I wish to create.

Spread the word! Do you have anything exciting on the horizon?

On May 24th, I look forward to graduating from my study at the Fotoacademie in Amsterdam. I am also part of the graduation exhibition with 31 other students from the 25th to May 28th. My first art photo book, ‘Where the Spirit meets the Bone’, will also be on show.

Follow Monique on Instagram on go to her website here >>>

Read similar interview on Hue&Eye >>>

The post Monique Belier | Writing Stories Through Photography appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Born in South Africa in 1979, Matthew Willman still lives there while traveling worldwide for his photography. “My work reflects an innate desire to understand how we relate to the real and imaginary worlds we inhabit, especially the role body language plays in expressing emotions and telling stories, ” he says.

Willman specializes in creating rare images.

As Annie Lennox rightly said “Matthew is passionately connected to the complexity of his existence…. he connects with his passion…the rest just follows”

Willman served as commissioned photographer for 10 years to Nelson Mandela, building a remarkable library of images detailing the incredible life and times of Nelson Mandela. He holds the last private portrait works of Mandela regarded as the most intimate photographic collection in the world. As a documenter his vast experience has built a magnificient body of rare works that also include private commissions with Barack Obama, Annie Lennox, The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to name a few.

To meet Willman is to meet the world!  Now for the first time Willman is lighting a bale fire for collectors and those who see opportunity in owning and trading in unique NFT photographic fine art work.

Over time Willman will reveal his collections, creating an individual voice and strong narrative of each image.  Only the most celebrated fine art photographs are being released.

The human being inspires Matthew profoundly in all its shapes and conditions. Exploring body language compels him to travel the world, working to date in 48 countries, photographing people and places and communities to deepen issues like who we are and how we shape ourselves.

Following is an exclusive interview with Matthew Willman for Hue&Eye.

–

Hello Matthew. When or how have you understood you wanted to become an artist?

I have been into art since I was 12 years old. I grew out of being a ballet dancer into photography. Both disciplines have the human-being and their body language in common indeed.

And how would you like people to engage with your art?

My main interest is to explore the human condition in all its forms. So I’d say that I want to see the human story and reactions my creations may generate. 

Can you briefly say something about your creative technique and tell us what drives you to make art?

Photography is how I communicate, how I touch and feel others. I use the image to share stories of who we are and what we shape ourselves to be.

Which artist primarily inspires your work? And is there something else, outside visual arts, that keeps you motivated?

Herb Ritts, Ruven Afanador, Patrick Demarchelier to name a few. Outside of photography, dance and history encourage depth and motivate my research.

As a digital artist, do you feel you’ve been waiting for something like NFTs for a long time?

YES, no question about it. It’s the first time I can make my work eventually unique, one of one. It’s my ultimate goal.

And how do you see the NFT world will benefit your professional career?

The NFT Art marketplaces are the first platforms where I can combine a powerful narrative with creativity and iconic or historical images. 

Spread the word! Do you have anything exciting on the horizon or something special you wish to share?

I am currently launching The Willman Collection of 1/1 NFTs and stories, from Barack Obama to Nelson Mandela, Ballet to nudes.

View More

Visit The Willman Collection to know more about the NFT project.

To go to Matthew Willman’s website click here or follow him on Instagram. 

The post Matthew Willman | Body Language Photography appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Victoria Vykhodtseva is a talented street and travel photographer, succeeding in several photography awards to acknowledge her skills.

She initially worked in TV and video production as a director and producer, when a decade or so ago, she chose to move her focus towards digital photography. She believes photography adds freedom and liberation to the creative impulse, as one can travel and communicate without boundaries. Be it remote corners of the world or in the surroundings of her hometown, Victoria continues to pursue her interests in street, and documentary photography, which often allows her to seize the unexpected instants and charm of the world. She has always been a keen observer, and although some themes, subjects, or characters may pique Victoria’s curiosity spontaneously, it’s the choice of light and composition that transforms her discoveries into images.

Hue&Eye had the wonderful chance to interview her to explore the reasons that drove her to become an artist.

–

Hello Victoria, when or how did you understand that you wanted to become an artist?

I wanted to become an artist as soon as I realized that documentary and street photography allowed me to capture unexpected moments and the magic of life.

May you briefly describe your technique and tell us what drives you to make art?

Realistic photography, as an art form, does not create or alter reality; rather, it becomes a medium through which I share my subjective feelings with viewers. While themes, subjects, and characters catch my eye spontaneously in the beginning, it’s the choice of light conditions and composition that transforms them into expressions of my visual perception.

What is the main feature that throughout the years has changed in your works or practice?

I hope I have become more confident from the technical point of view. Also, new project ideas seem to come to mind more easily.

Which artist primarily inspires your work? And is there something else, outside visual arts, that keeps you motivated?

I was once (and continue to be) very impressed by the works of Henri Cartier-Bresson, which oriented me towards realistic, documentary, and street photography. In his images, Cartier-Bresson examines the lives of common people in ordinary life situations. Also, the non-staged approach to photography further developed by some members of the Magnum Agency or such prominent figures as Robert Doisneau, Garry Winogrand, Robert Frank, and many others, is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for me.

How would you like people to engage with your work?

My photography ideas are spontaneous, born from interactions with people and surroundings, all happening in the moment. When lighting and composition align perfectly, I can capture the essence of a place in a single image. I hope that by looking at my pictures people will feel the energy and the atmosphere of the place exactly as I saw it.

Go here to visit Victoria’s website, or follow her on Instagram >>>

The post Victoria Vykhodtseva | Capturing the Spell of a Daily Scene appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Adedolapo Boluwatife is a photographer and film maker from Lagos Nigeria. Born in Ojodu area of Lagos, in 1996, he studied English Language and Literary studies at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

After years of being a writer, and a sketch artist, in the zeal to further explore more media of expression, Adedolapo joined the University photography club. There he served as the vice president after just a year of joining and had his first ever physical exhibition. It was at this community he was exposed to modernist/Avant Garde style of photography. He studied works of Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Man Ray, Ansel Adams, Viviane Sassen and Rotimi Fani Kayode.

We are excited to publish the interview Hue&Eye had with him.

Let’s start from the basics. What’s your name, and where have you grown up?

Hello, my name is Adedolapo Boluwatife, and I’m from Lagos, Nigeria.

Hello Adedolapo. When or how have you understood you wanted to become an artist?

Art became a very comfortable means of expression and communication for me at a very young age, for me being an introvert. I started drawing comics before my teens, then I started writing and doing a lot of calligraphy, until my encounter with photography in college. It became the most conducive atmosphere of expression for me.

Can you briefly tell us more about your technique and what drives you to make art?

My work is basically an expression of my thoughts regarding anything. Its an exposition of my opinions, beliefs, and struggles. It basically is a way of communicating for me. My works are metaphors but could be direct, depending on the depth of the message. The driving force towards my photography comes out of every time I have something to show or express.

What is the main feature that, throughout the years, has changed in your works or practice ?

Over the years, the major thing that seem to have changed is the awareness behind my photographs.

Which artist primarily inspires your work? And is there something else, outside visual arts, that keeps you motivated?

There are several artists who inspire my work, but the most is Dutch- South African female photographer Vivianne Sassen. Another thing that keeps me motivated is music and alcohol.

How would you like people to engage with your work?

I would like people to relate with my work with an open mind. I’d love my work to be defined in the most personal way possible.

To learn more about him, go here >>>

The post Adedolapo Boluwatife | Photography As A Mean Of Expression appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Arte Laguna Prize is an international contemporary art contest that welcomes artists of any age, country, and artistic background, without gender differences and with a free theme. The contest offers many opportunities to the participants, who can increase their network, get global visibility, and get access to precious resources to develop their careers.

With 18 years of history, the Arte Laguna Prize gives artists the opportunity to:

• Exhibit in Venice (Italy) at the Arsenale Nord;
• Win a cash prize of €10,000;
• Join a large network of collaborations around the world;
• Get free visibility;
• Sell their works on the online platform artelaguna.world;

The Prize is open to the following artistic disciplines: painting, sculpture and installation, photographic art, video art, short films, performance and acting (stage and film), digital art, digital graphics and cartoons, environmental and land art, urban art, street art, and design.

The International Jury

The jury selects the 120 artists that will exhibit at the Arsenale Nord in Venice. It is is composed of important curators and directors of museums operating in several countries, such as:

• Laura Barreca, Art Historian and Scientific Director of MUDAC Museum of Arts
• Giulia Colletti, Public Programs and Digital Sphere’s Curator at Castello di Rivoli Museo D’arte
• Contemporanea
• Krist Gruijthuijsen, Director of Kw Institute in Berlin
• David Max Horowitz, Assistant Curator at The Solomon R. Guggenheim
• Lu Peng, Academic Committee Director Of Chengdu Biennale
• Anushka Rajendran, Curator of Prameya Art Foundation
• Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, Curator, Educator and Architect

The Exhibition Venue

A symbol of the power of the “Serenissima” Republic, the Arsenale Nord of Venice is today a completely restored area. With its 4,000 square meters, the evocative spaces of the Arsenale Nord provide the ideal setting for displaying and promoting the finest creations of the contemporary art scene.

You’ll have the unique opportunity to exhibit in the iconic space of the Arsenale Nord of Venice from March 02 to April 01, 2024, during an international exhibition that welcomes more than 10 10,000 visitors each year.

The Network

Each year Arte Laguna Prize collaborates with high-level international partners to offer artists a wide range of opportunities around the world. The Special Prizes include collaborations with:

• art galleries, that will select an artist for a solo exhibition;
• art residencies in Italy and abroad, to provide artists with a multicultural and inspiring environment
• to create new works;
•  companies, to connect creativity with the productive sector;
• art festivals and exhibitions, to enhance the artists’ international visibility and create new projects;

Conditions of Participation

Applications have no restrictions and are open to all artists. The deadline is on October 26, 2023.

Fine their Terms & Conditions here.

The post Arte Laguna Prize 18th Edition | Open Call Ends 26.10.2023 appeared first on Hue & Eye.

After reviewing hundreds of stunning entries across 10 categories, the judges of the Best Photography Awards chose the winners who showcase the best in composition, lighting, and creativity. If you’re into photography, you know it takes dedication and skill to create the perfect shot. Whether the photographers entered as an amateur looking to gain valuable experience or as a professional photographers looking to expand their portfolio, participating in this competition will allow all contributors to compare their work with the best in the field. Winners should take great pride in their accomplishments as their photographs will now be featured in the competition magazine and online gallery, revealing their talents to new audiences. While only a select few can claim the top spots, each participant must experience a sense of accomplishment while pursuing their passion.

The Best Photography Awards Professional Photographer of the Year 2022 Award Goes To…

The Professional Photographer of the Year award goes to Alexandr Vlassyuk for his stunning drone photography “Beach Season”.

Author’s mention of the project:

 “During quarantine, no one could travel abroad, and that winter, ice hummocks on the Kapchagai reservoir near Almaty were very popular among the townspeople, filling social networks with pictures of ice hummocks. One evening, after talking with the girlfriend, I offered her to take photos on the ice hummocks from the drone. So early the next morning, we were on our way. We went to the most distant place where there was no one at all. I picked up the drone and preliminarily inspected the place from the air to choose the best location for shooting, and then start improvisation. The difficulty with this shooting was the cold and sometimes gusty wind, which, with small particles of ice, literally burned the body, and we tried to shoot as quickly as possible without spare takes.”

The Best Photography Awards Discovery of the Year 2022 Award Goes To…

The Grand Prix in the amateur photographer’s section won by Antonio Coelho with the photography series “Cities, one vision”.

The photographer talks about this project:

“I have a great fascination for cities, although I live in the calm of a small village in the north of Portugal.

 Cities are getting bigger, more populous, more polluting, and more consumerist. Each city has its specificity. This set of images points to just that. Since the massive use of iron and other metals, cities have grown, luminous and colorful, in height and in magnificent places that defy nature. Of course, for all this, there was the hand of architects,

 engineers, and builders. This series of images below features it all, including a tribute to the twin towers.

The connection to capitalism and the importance that each city has for the economy was also addressed in one of the images I presented. The complete series has more images. The series uses simple elements like screws, electronic elements, notes from my collection, and pastel pencils that I use in painting, arranged in a way to give the idea of ​​the skylines of big cities. I usually lay everything out on a glass platform and dark cardboard backgrounds.”

Ten photography categories conmpetiotion from all over the world

The BPA competition presented amazing results in these 10 categories: Advertising, Architecture, Portrait, Art Photography, Fashion, Nature, Animals, Nude, Documentary, and Open Theme.

We invite you to visit the winners’ gallery to see the works from the Professional and Amateur photography Sections.

Open Call – Season 2023

The unique medals of the BPA competition are a special, honorable, and exclusive thing that is intended for great talents from the world of photography! To have such a medal is a real pride, recognition, and also a reminder to photographers that they need to strive forward for new achievements.

In the 2023 season, the Gold Winners of the Professional category will receive such medals! BPA Awards has updated the list of the jury of the competition. The jury members are professional photographers from various genres of photography, as well as gallery owners, collectors, magazine editors, and other professionals.

Win valuable prizes and get the opportunity to become the Best Photographer of the Year! The open call will start on July 1st! Be the first to send an application to win!

Go here to discover more!

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