What's amazing about photography is it's ability to capture a moment for an eternity. A handful of iconic moments caught on camera that spring to mind...
...Robert Capa's Spanish soldier in the last moments of his life...
Robert Capa
...Robert Doisneau's candid snap of 'that' kiss...
Robert Doisneau
...Martin Luther King arm out stretched, mid speech...
...the destruction of the Stalin monument; any of the World Trade Centre photos. The list is endless.
Each of us probably has a photo that is dear to our hearts of a captured moment never to be revisited. For me it's a photo of my Grandparents with their friends at a party that I'll never know more about. They look so happy and stylish that I can't help but smile when I see it.
That's my Nana Jean and Grandad Len on the right (Nan'll kill me if she finds out I put her up here)
In times gone by many great photographs would have been lost to the dust of an attic or the relics of a museum archive. But now, and with thanks to the digital age of photography, we can all enjoy the treasures captured by the quick thinking and brilliant eye of photographers worldwide.
Step forward Flickr "almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world" - their words not mine but I would be inclined to agree. Flickr is a great idea and that's pretty much all I want to say about it. What I am interested in is what Flickr holds; it is a portal into the mind of photographers from all backgrounds and levels of experience. Some of my favourite Flickr discoveries would have to be:
Paula Banks (Ireland)
Not only does Paula Manage to capture a moment but I swear she gets time to stand still. Just take a look at her amazing shot of Ardanary Beach, Brittas Bay.
Michelle (Ireland)
Michelle has been blessed with an eye for colour and combines it with her appealing sense of fun to take magnificent shots like this Macro.
If his photo's are anything to go by the 'be*curious' lives a life I only dreamed could exsist. Check out this breathtaking image of starlit skies above observatories, which in turn appear to be above the clouds. There are also shots of lush, green mountains with the shadows of clouds sweeping across on his Flickr page. I am in awe of this guy's life let alone his photos.
Be*Curious
Philip Klinger has an eye that Escher would be envious of; check out his shot of dancing shadows.
All in all Flickr is a great outlet for photographers to showcase thier work and to create an instant portfolio . However, I implore that you don't become content with flicking through Flickr whilst avoiding more productive task such as work and that you show your support for these artists of the eye by going to their shows (that's right step away from your laptop) and purchasing their prints. Concerned that it won't be an investment? Maybe it won't, be but what's more important to you: having something that is worth so much you're scared to take it out of the safe of having an breathtaking, mindboggling, thought provoking photograph that gives you endless enjoyment?
