A year after photographer Karim Ben Khelifa and editor Tina Ahrens launched the Emphas.is platform, they are now partnering with Walter Tjantelé to bring crowdfunding to the photobook industry.

“To a certain extent, Emphas.is Publishing is the natural evolution of Emphas.is,” said Tjantelé, the firm’s new publishing director, in an interview with BJP last year. “We saw that a lot of people wanted to fund self-published books on our platform, so we started thinking about that. Then came the idea of our own collection of self-published books.” While the photographers get free rein to design the book they want, the cover will have an identifiable mark as part of the Emphas.is collection.

Emphas.is Publishing brings the concept of crowdfunding to photobook publishing – but with a twist, said Tjantelé. Funders will be able to purchase a limited-edition copy of the book at $100 to $150. “The books will come signed, numbered and with a print.” Then, an extra 1000 copies are also made to be sold via the Emphas.is platform. “We’re trying to minimise that risk by carefully selecting the books we wish to see published, because there’s a lot more work involved in getting the books ready in the first place,” says Tjantelé.

Emphas.is Publishing has 10 to 12 projects already in the pipeline, and has lining up three of them for launch – UK Uncensored by Peter Dench, Trading to Extinction by Patrick Brown, and Faded Tulips by William Daniels.
“We’ve been approached by some top photographers who have really good, finished work but can’t find a publisher to publish it,” said Tjantelé. “They tell us stories of very enthusiastic editors who would love to own their books but won’t publish them.” And for Emphas.is, it’s symptomatic of what has gone wrong with the industry. “There’s a big demand for photobooks, but publishers don’t seem to be willing to adapt to that demand,” said Tjantelé. “We’re trying to fix this.”

Words by Olivier Laurent @ The BJP

It is with great sadness that Magnum Photos today announces the death of American photographer, Eve Arnold, who passed away peacefully on 4th January 2012.

To view some of her most acclaimed works click here – http://www.magnumphotos.com/c.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.StoryDetail_VPage&pid=2K1HRGQXYZW

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1912, Arnold was a prominent member of Magnum Photos and the first woman photographer to join in 1957. She began her photography career whilst working at the Stanbi Photos plant in New Jersey in 1946, and in 1948 studied photography with Alexei Brodovitch at the New School for
Social Research in New York. Arnold moved to London, England in 1962 where she continued to live and work.

She will perhaps be best remembered for her exceptional photographs of people; the famous, politicians, musicians, artists and the unknown. Her intimate, sensitive and compassionate ten year collaboration with Marilyn Monroe has cemented her as one of the most iconic portrait photographers of our time, but it is the long term reportage stories that drove Arnold’s curiosity and passion.

Her first photo story documented African-American fashion shows in Harlem, New York in the 1950s and was the work that would gain the attention of Henri Cartier-Bresson and her inauguration into Magnum Photos. In 1969 Arnold was to spend an important period of her life documenting the ruling family and life in the Arab States, which was to be published in 1971 under the title ‘Behind The Veil’. During the late 1970s she completed a landmark project in China, becoming one of the first westerners to be granted a rare visa after America and China established diplomatic relations.

Eve Arnold is the publisher of over 15 monographs, including a new publication ‘All About Eve’ (TeNeues, January 2012). Of note is her 1997 book In Retrospect (Alfred A. Knopf) in which she recounts her life and career in her own words. She has been exhibited widely, mostly notably her Retrospective, originated by the
Barbican, London in 1996 which received 62,000 visitors and toured internationally. She was a regular
editorial contributor to global newspapers and magazines, in particular The Sunday Times where she was given unparalleled freedom in her projects.

In 2003 she was honored with an OBE in recognition for her services to photography.

Words taken from Magnum

As 2011 draws to a close here are some of the 45 Most Powerful Images Of 2011.

which images mean the most to you?. for me its number 24. The shape of things to come.

Click on the link to view the full set – http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-most-powerful-photos-of-2011

Now in its 155th year, the annual competition is the longest standing exhibition of its kind in the world. It aims to showcase a wide range of genres and styles of photography and celebrate the work of amateur and professional photographers alike.

Up to 125 prints will be selected for the exhibition and a selection of gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded, along with a total of £6500 cash prizes to be divided amongst winners and Olympus PEN equipment for the winner of the Under 25 Gold Award category.

The exhibition, sponsored by law firm Allen & Overy, will open in London in July 2012 and tour the UK for up to a year. All selected images will be reproduced in a full colour catalogue and photographers will also have the opportunity to sell copies of their prints.

The judging panel consists of Roger Tooth, head of photography at The Guardian and The Observer and a selection of photographers including Tom Hunter, Ian Beesley, Sandy Cleland and Vanessa Slawson.

The competition is open to all and the closing date for entries is 21 March 2012.

For more information visit – http://www.rps.org/international-print-exhibition

Words by Joanna Cresswell @ BJP.com

35 Magnum Photographers Give Their Advice to Aspiring Photographers.

http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/09/35-magnum-photographers-give-their-advice-to-aspiring-photographers/

PDF available here – http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3105959/Photography/Downloads/Magnum_Blog_Article_Wear_Good_Shoes_Advice_to_young_photographers.pdf