Photographer Interview: André França

Barbie dolls frozen in water. These subversive and beautifully jarring images in fine art photographer André França's Vanishing series are what first drew my eye in to his talent.

Follow André França on Twitter @andrefranca and/or friend André França on Facebook.


D&B: Where are you from?

AF: I was born in Brazil, in Canavieiras, a coastal city in the state of Bahia. I have lived in Salvador (Brazil) since I was 14 years old, but I usually make my photography series in other cities and countries.

Interview with Mambu Badu Photography Collective

In this interview, I speak to 3 photographers: The founders of the Mambu Badu Photography Collective - they are Allison McDaniel, Kameelah Rasheed and Danielle Scruggs. A unique photography collective, these 3 women have organized to support, acknowledge and promote the work of other Black female photographers who often go unnoticed within this industry.

Follow Mambu Badu on Twitter @mambubadu.

D&B: Please introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about your backgrounds. (where are you from, where do you live, are you all photographers?)

DS: I was born and raised in Chicago and currently live in Washington, DC. I'm a photographer and on occasion, a writer.

KR: I was born and raised in East Palo Alto, a small town of 30,000 in the Bay Area, CA. On July 4, 2010 I made the big move to Brooklyn, NY. I am a self-taught photographer - mostly documentary projects and portraiture in the US as well as abroad in South Africa. I am also a writer completing a series of interviews with NY-based artists like Dread Scott, Jamel Shabazz and Akintola Hanif. Last, but certainly not least, I am a high school world history teacher in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

AM: I'm originally from Roselle, NJ but call the DC metro area home (for now). I stumbled upon 35mm photography in 2001 and have been utterly obsessed since. I'm also a writer, Associate Editor of Recipes for Good Living Magazine and a Graphic Designer when I find the time.

Fototazo Picks 100 Photographers Deseverving More Recognition

A few weeks ago I was approached by photographer Tom Griggs, founder of fototazo - a site that combines social giving and photography.

Tom asked if I would participate in fototazo's "f100" series.

Here's a description of the series:

fototazo has asked a group of 50 curators, gallery owners, blog writers, photographers, academics and others actively engaged in photography to pick two photographers that deserve (more) recognition - the under known, the under-respected as well as not-appreciated-enough favorites.

I am honored to be amongst the 50 asked to participate and would like to share with you my 2 "fototazo f100" picks of photographers deserving more recognition.

I want to know: What photographers would YOU have chosen? Leave your picks in the comments below!

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Interview with Photography Consultant Marc Prust

Photography Consultant Marc Prüst has created a unique career for himself working with some of the oldest and newest photo organizations. Here Marc let's Dodge & Burn pick his brain, sharing his personal journey on how he came to work in photography, sound advice for photographers and what he thinks great photo work should do.

D&B: How did you get started in your career within the photo industry?

MP: My start in photography happened unexpectedly. I graduated from university with a major in International Policy Studies and Japanese language. With an interest in photography, sure, but without real ambition in that direction. I had taken a few years amateur courses at a cultural centre in Groningen, the Netherlands, but was not a very talented student.

Photographer Interview: Nadirah Zakariya

It was Nadirah Zakariya's photographs of children that fixed my attention while aimlessly wandering the internet one night.

Seemingly frozen in time, each portrait captures the natural, uncorrupted beauty of Nadirah's subjects.

There's an innate sensuality in Nadirah's photographs and I think your eyes too will be seduced. Follow Nadirah Zakariya on Twitter or read her blog.

D&B: Where are you from?

NZ: Born in Malaysia, I had a childhood in Texas, bravely struggled through adolescence in Kuala Lumpur, found my path in Japan, and realized myself in New York. A lot of my work revolves around the theme of the absence of the concept of home.

D&B: What kind of photography do you shoot and how did you get started - any "formal" training?

NZ: I photograph mainly portraiture, especially of women and children. I do have a BFA in Photography.

Eve, Copyright Nadirah Zakariya