EDITORS’ PICK

An Atmosphere of the Marvellous

URBAN LIFE

Urban Life Editors’ Pick

“The life of our city is rich in poetic subjects. We are enveloped and steeped as though in an atmosphere of the marvellous; but we do not notice it” – Charles Baudelaire

Following Peter Funch’s selection of winning images for our ‘URBAN LIFE’ theme, this compilation of 20 images, selected by the Life Framer editors represents some of the other talented photographers whose work struck us and left a mark. Some are more literal representations of the theme, and others are more abstract, but each one is a stunning image worthy of exposure and attention.

These are intended to be a conversation starter… so feel free to join the discussion on our social networks.

Banner image and text courtesy of Maarten Vromans from his series ‘Urban Erosion’.

“Over time our urban environment evolves. And gains in beauty far beyond the imagination of its designers. Since 2014 I have been exploring the impact that people, nature and weather have on urban development. For my project ‘Urban Erosion’ I mainly work in my hometown of Rotterdam, but occasionally I work in other European cities”.

www.maarten-vromans.format.com and Instagram: @maart_en_vromans

Image and text courtesy of Vassilis Triantis from his series ‘Points of View’.

“Urbanization is a modern calamity affecting more than 50% of the human population. It is predicted that by 2050 about 64% of the developing world and 86% of the developed world will be urbanized, leaving behind a hemorrhaging rural culture which has been widely documented. The effect of urbanization goes beyond environmental mis-balances and financial consequences, to social and psychological attributes such as distant bloodlines, unfamiliar relations and competitive behavior. In addition the way we perceive and sense our environment is also affected by urbanization since the subjective perspective is overruled by a common point of view and the human brain is becoming numb to details and individuality”.

www.vassilistriantis.com

Image courtesy of Parvathi Kumar.

www.parvathikumar.com and Instagram: @parvathi_kumar_photography

Image courtesy of Kari Bjorn Thorleifsson.

www.karibjorn.com and Instagram: @karibjtho

Image courtesy of Camilla Ferrari from her series ‘BXL’.

www.camillaferrari.it and Instagram: @camillaferrariphoto

Image courtesy of Gilad Shachar – ‘Baku, Azerbaijan’.

Instagram: @gilad_shachar

Image and text courtesy of Cat Wilson from her series ‘Casas Blancas, Cielos Azules’.

“Casas blancas cielos azules is a series of large-scale digital collages utilizing architectural photographs as well cyanotype reproductions of pencil-line drawings of traditional Islamic patterns from the Maghre, Morocco and Andalusian Spain. From its French colonial past Casablanca is now the economic capital of Morocco, with a vision to establish itself as an economic hub for the region. Tension between the drive towards modernity and the desire to hold on to tradition is strongly felt there as it is all over Morocco and indeed the world.

White French Art Deco buildings photographed against clear blue skies represent the aspirations of the city. Everything is beautiful in Casablanca as long as you are looking up. Fragments of these white buildings are taken, mirrored and repeated using the same principles applied in traditional Islamic design. The process abstracts the buildings from their original form. There are hints of their previous identity but these are not easily recognizable.

This new entity floats in front of blueprint reproductions of pencil-line drawings of traditional Islamic patterns. These patterns form a kind of grid structure that holds the buildings in place. The use of cyanotype with its past application as a means of reproducing architectural plans alludes to the traditions that underpin and stabilize the fabric of society”.

www.catwilson.net and Instagram: @thefullcatastrophe

Image courtesy of Thibaut Derien – ‘Osaka, 2016’ from his series ‘Où Mes Pas’.

www.derien.fr and Instagram: @thibautderien

Image courtesy of Emily Garthwaite – ‘A Taxi Driver in Mumbai’ from her series ‘A Portrait of India’.

www.emilygarthwaite.com and Instagram: @emilygarthwaite

Image and text courtesy of Guilherme Marcondes from his series ‘Half-Light’.

“The main focus of this work is on urban spaces and intimate situations that allow me to extract from city life a sense of theatricality (occasionally including images of literal artistic performances), surrealism and mystery without resorting to bizarre, exploitative imagery. I am searching for the universal in the specific and the dreamlike in the mundane. Nocturnal and indeterminate, my photos invite you in to create your own interpretation”.

www.guimarcondes.com and Instagram: @gui_mm

Image courtesy of Alicia Rius.

www.aliciariusphotography.com

Image courtesy of Chloe Beale.

www.chloebeale.zenfolio.com and Instagram: @running__joke

Image and text courtesy of Stetson Hayes.

“I took a trip through Ecuador recently to visit family and I was struck by the colors – often faded and once-bold but still pervasive and vibrant”

www.stetsonhayes.com and Instagram: @stetsonhayes

Image courtesy of Meryem Foughali.

Image and text courtesy of Sai Min Htet Oo.

“What I saw in Myanmar, when I visited to my hometown”.

Instagram: @saiminhtetoo

Image and text courtesy of Ingrid Gielen.

“This image was made in Krakau. It’s a reflection in water of window dummies”.

Instagram: @gieleningrid

Image courtesy of Christopher Turner.

Instagram: @chriscturner87

Image courtesy of Giancarlo Zuccarone.

www.giancarlozuccarone.com and Instagram: @jean.jax

Images and text courtesy of Servaas Van Belle from his series ‘Wintertijd als Stille Getuige (Wintertime as a Silent Witness)’.

“A series about the diversity of Belgian electricity houses from the last century”.

www.servaasvanbelle.be and Instagram: @servaas.photography

Image courtesy of Jonathan Bensimon.

www.jonathanbensimon.com and Instagram: @jonathan.bensimon

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