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Welcome to FILE magazine. We publish images that treat subjects in unexpected ways. Alternate takes, unconventional observations, odd angles -- the photographs in the collection reinterpret traditional genres. The pictures say this better than we can.
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Notes from the Editors
Lashed. The Internet community's brew-ha-ha d'jour over Flickr's decision to allow video uploads proves that old saying that No Good Deed Goes Unpunished. We have sympathy for the well-intentioned gang at Flickr; we learned the hard way that Flickr users can be a tough crowd. We're not too exercised over the "issue" either way, but the solution proposed by FILE contributor Firda Beka has a certain elegant simplicity that we can get behind.
A Grand Contributor. Elsa Kawai has the great honor of being our 1000th contributor. She was therefore entitled to choose from our catalog of FILE Swag. Didn't know we had swag? Check it out.
How Cool Is This? FILE contributor Robert Dow just shared this great news with us: "I was contacted awhile back by Random House because one of their graphic designer guys found a photo of mine here at FILE and wanted it for a book cover (guess they know where the good stuff is...) They ended up using it all the way around (front, spine and back) and the book is due for release by March 8th." We are thrilled for Robert and pleased that we played a part in helping him get noticed. This one of the things that makes our work at FILE so rewarding.
A New Partner. FILE is thrilled to announce that the gang at Flak Photo have agreed to join FILE and Coudal Partners in the good times that will ensue during the 36 Exposures Challenge. We have long admired Flak's work; they share a photographic sensibility that is very much in the spirit of FILE's and run a very tidy and tightly run ship. Welcome aboard!
Leaked Information. FILE Contributor Aline Smithson is featured on the cover of Issue 8 of Lightleaks Magazine. Check it out and congratulations to Aline!
Face Time. Just to show that we are bleeding edge and whatnot, FILE has created a Facebook group. Join it if you dare.
Express Train. FILE Contributor Michael Hoefner's photo, Traveller, was selected for National Geographic's Daily Dozen for October 24. Congratuations, Michael!
How to Avoid Anonymity. In this last few weeks, you may have noticed more Anonymous Postings. This is often due to the vagaries of Gmail or our own sheer incompetence, blah, blah, blah, but often people get too creative in the naming of their files (e.g., this guy I saw while walking to the store.jpg) or too generic (e.g., tree.jpg). As a result, it is hard, if not impossible, to find the notifying e-mail with the information that we use to give people their due. A couple of simple tips to avoid this: (1) Make the file name unique, but (2) not too unique, (3) keep it under 20 - 25 characters and (4) do not use spaces. Thanks!
Cowabunga. FILE Contributor Ryan Cardone has an article of tips for better surf photography Ventura Life and Style. Congratuations to Ryan!
Scary Good. FILE Contributor Thomas Krueger's "Ghost Bike" will be published in Issue #10 of JPG Magazine. Congratuations to Thomas!
Ah, That Salt Air in the Morning. FILE Contributor Marshall Sokoloff's Salton City photographs were published on The Morning News. Congratuations to Marshall!
Pardon Our Schadenfruede. The most recent version of LIFE Magazine, a hokey Parade Magazine-style newspaper insert, will be taking a dirt nap starting April 20. We hope Time-Warner's next attempt to milk this old cow, slated to be "the preeminent destination to view the most important photography of our time, both archival and contemporary," doesn't cause any customer confusion. We'd hate to have to be petty and release our attorneys from their kennels.
Missing Persons. Every once in a while, due to the vagaries of Gmail or our own sheer incompetence (usually the latter), we lose track of the artist behind a photo that we want to publish. Fortunately, this is a rare occurance, but we still have a few lonely strays that we would like like to match up with their owners. Check out our "Anonymous" contributions and help us give the photographers the credit they deserve. Let us know if you figure one out, and if you are right, we will give you an exciting prize.
Unsolicited Advice. This site looks 'way better on a Real Browser. Firefox is free, standards-compliant, and recommended.
It's All about You. We encourage submissions from all photographers. Submit image(s).
Some Tactful Begging. FILE costs money to run; you may
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Old News is Good News. Got some time on your hands? We have a created an Notes from the Editors Archive.
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An Ongoing Feature on FILE
The Lensbabies Gallery
The Lensbabies Gallery is a living project sponsored by the makers of Lensbabies, Selective Focus SLR lenses. Check out the entries in the gallery, and if you dare, submit your own.
Featured Project
Doubleheader
By John Loomis
Doubleheader is a series of images by John Loomis that document the transformation of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome from a baseball field to a football field. John explains that "The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is home field for the Twins, Vikings, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, as well as dozens of other local youth and high school sporting events and Minneapolis community activities. On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006, the stadium hosted three important athletic events (two Twins vs. White Sox games that sealed the baseball playoff race, and a Minnesota vs. Michigan college football showdown) all within 29 hours."
The Polaroid Portrait Challenge
Together with our friends at JPG Magazine and Flak Photo, we threw a going away party for our old pal Polaroid. Even though the days of Polaroid film may be numbered, we celebrated in style. Polaroid photos are almost magical: the whir of the camera gears moving, the slow process of the image appearing, and the beautiful softness and color palette of the final image all make the process distinct. We invite you to see how we celebrated the wonder of Polaroid in the Polaroid Portrait challenge.
Projects - From the Vaults
Lettermade
By Bradley Dicharry
Lettermade is a project by designer and photographer Bradley Dicharry that features a wide range of found typography. Bradley explains that his project, started in 1998 is "an ongoing project aimed at documenting, appreciating, and recontextualizing vernacular letterforms and typography. The bulk of these photographs, taken on a 16,000 mile road trip in 2002, encourage the viewer to examine weathered typography and foundation lettering on a level beyond that of pure information." The variety and beauty of these images is stunning; the only bad thing we can say about this work is that it leaves us wanting to see more.
A FILE/CP/Flak Joint
The finalists have been selected from the over 200 entries for the 36 Exposures Challenge. Byron Barrett, Jeremias Paul, Glenn Twiggs, Jay Westcott, and Andy Cutraro have been sent their film and some of the swag pictured above. Thanks to all who entered, and stay tuned for the final results. We and our friends at Coudal Partners and Flak Photo can't wait.
Projects - The Most Recent
Surreal Line
By Chutney Bannister
Surreal Line is a series of images by photographer Chutney Bannister that feature advertising photos juxtaposed with riders on the London Underground. Chutney tells us that "I'm interested in how these advertisements, specifically designed for delivering one message, can have that story completely hijacked, often by the mere framing of a window, creating an entirely new context. Commuters, who are somewhat static, withdrawn, and locked in their own private routines, are oblivious to these momentary collisions." Chutney's images, with their often-ironic juxtapositions, illustrate how the ubiquity of advertising has consequences that are often laughably out of sync with the world it inhabits.
You Stinked
By Andrea L. Casiraghi, Christian Lunghi, Gianni Romano, Cristina Scalabrini, and Domenico Scorsetti
You Stinked is a series of haunting black and white images of pigs in an abattoir by photographers Andrea L. Casiraghi, Christian Lunghi, Gianni Romano, Cristina Scalabrini, and Domenico Scorsetti, who are represented by Studio Fahrenheit. Cristina tells us that "When we work as a group, we choose a subject and take pictures together, obtaining very different and personal results. We do not want to convey a message: no pity, no sadness, nothing at all. The only unifying feature must be the printing of the pictures in order to have a final homogeneous work." These pictures, shot on film in black and white, have an undeniable nightmarish quality, but there is a touching and almost tender quality to the portraits of these doomed creatures.
Refinery Flock
By Massimo Cristaldi
Refinery Flock is a series of photos by photographer Massimo Cristaldi showing a flock of birds hovering around a refinery. Massimo says that "In winter afternoons, thousands of birds, attracted by the warmth of the Refinery, start a dance that lasts until dusk. They arrive, converge, take warmth, and fly away. Two magical hours, a time to admire the strange relationship between Nature and men: a synergy that, sometimes, is possible." The interplay between the flock and the refinery create delicate abstractions that contrast beautifully with the hard industrial shapes.