2023 photography favourites
It is that time of year again when I share my favourite photographs and photographers whose work I've enjoyed over the past year.
2023 was a year of turmoils and changes. In the past couple of years, I've looked at photography that exited and energised me. looked for the raw moments packed with emotions. This year, however, I was looking to find peace and quiet - both in my own photography and in those of others. A photographer whose work I've enjoyed most of all these year has to be Michael Turek, as I finally got myself his Siberia monograph.
Turek's work exudes peacefulness and represents an artistic and almost spiritual approach to photographing people and places. It is as cliche as it gets to say, but I often feel his photographs capture the "feeling" of a place. I can almost smell the ocean as the wind rustles the leaves in Mozambique, or feel the chill of a late afternoon in a Siberian apartment.
On almost a daily basis, I continue to be amazed by the work of Emile Ducke. I have no freaking idea how he does it (and am incredibly, incredibly frustrated by the fact that I know he's the same age as I am), but he depicts an abhorrent conflict through moments of peace and stillness. His work is, to me, a constant reminder that peace, love, and compassion can be found in the darkest of places.
It is hard to put into words how I feel about the work of Giulio Di Sturco, but both his "Ganges" and "Cashmere" series left me with profound appreciation for still moments and early mornings.
I found myself lost in Trent Michell's underwater work again and again this year. Underwater photography is something I’ll sadly never get to explore, so this hits hard.
In March this year, I went to Madrid and in researching it found the work of Ben Roberts. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet, but he was very generous with his time and gave me so many great tips for Madrid that I'll never forget it, just for that.
Finally, I found myself really enjoying the work of Willem Verbeek. I try to shy away from "liking" the works of "influencers", hence I've never really looked at it in more detail, and I found myself sucked into his landscapes. Especially the one linked here. Maybe one day I'll watch his YouTube videos too?
Last but not least, a huge respect and thank you to all journalists still working day in and day out in Ukraine and Gaza. They are continuing to put their life on the line in order to document the atrocities happening. People like Motaz make sure their voice are not forgotten. When places are turned into 'a place of unbearable sufferings, which only a human being, whether free or subjugated, is capable of causing and undergoing', it is imperative to have such brave souls document it.
