AFP Archives - Exposed DC

Exposed Interview: Brendan Smialowski, Photojournalist

July 31, 2014 By Ben Keller

When I joined Agence France-Presse (AFP) in April 2007 as a computer technician and budding photojournalist, I asked the chief editor for names of photographers to keep an eye on. Some of the agency’s key players were a given, but she mentioned then-stringer Brendan Smialowski and stopped, as if there were nothing more to talk about. I asked why she’d name a stringer in such a crowded market as Washington, D.C., and not back her argument with an explanation. She simply replied, “Just go look at his stuff.”

Patrons listen to performers at the Marvin Bar and Restaurant April 2, 2014 in Washington, DC during the 7th annual Marvin Gaye Day celebration.
AFP Photo/Brendan SMIALOWSKI

A cursory Google image search of Smialowski’s work will leave you wondering. The pictures returned are simple D.C. photojournalism fodder of dreary politicos and pundits. They don’t even follow the trusty photojournalism formula of “establisher, medium, action, reaction, reverse, close-up, and closing.” I was thoroughly confused. Not until I visited AFP’s ImageForum (or Getty Images for distribution in the USA) did I get his full story.

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Friday Links

May 16, 2014 By Meaghan Gay

This week we have lots of great local events, news about the Corcoran merger, and amazing photos of the things you can carry on a motorbike.

26-year-old French photojournalist Camille Lepage was killed in the Central African Republic while covering fighting near the border of Cameroon. Lepage had been sharing photos on Instagram, but hadn’t posted since May 6.
The final details of the Corcoran, National Gallery of Art, and George Washington University Deal have been announced, and it looks like many Corcoran adjunct professors and university staffers will lose their jobs.
The Los Angeles Times has some stunning and frightening images of the fires raging near San Diego.
This weekend is the Worldwide Instameet, and there are several local events you can attend to celebrate.
Jill Abramson, who was fired from the New York Times this week, broke her silence with a photo. A pretty badass photo at that.
The Guardian examines Walker Evan’s little known magazine contributions. “His work for magazines adds another layer of understanding in terms of how an already great artist saw the world.”
Tomorrow the Pulitzer Center is hosting a talk at NPR headquarters called “Beyond Witness.” Three members of VII photo agency will be on the panel.
We are a little late to this party, but AFP has been posting photos on Pinterest.
Photographer Hans Kemp has been photographing all of the shocking things that fit on Vietnamese motorbikes. The dead shark is particularly alarming.
Here is a little nostalgia, with photos from a Game Boy camera.
“When he first posted his pictures online, he was called in front of the council of elders and forced to delete the images off his Flickr account in front of them.” Photographer Kelly Hofer photographed life inside his closed Hutterite community.
Jim Cummins’ rock ‘n roll photography was recently re-discovered. Hear both Cummins’ and curator Chris Murray’s perspective in this NPR story.
The DC F-Stop Group is holding a meeting Monday night to explore Outdoor and Indoor photo challenges.
And finally, just because your name is Tyga it doesn’t mean you should own a tiger.

Friday Links

November 22, 2013 By Meaghan Gay

From White House press photographers objecting to their lack of access in the Obama White House, to AFP and Getty stealing photos, to photos of indigenous cultures, and Tom Turkey fighting for his life, we have a bit of everything for you this week. Enjoy.

The aerial photos of the tornado destruction in the mid-west are incredible.
A book of 1500 mugshots from the early 20th Century sold at auction for $10,000. The images are fascinating.
A mysterious woman at a grave site is one of many recently rediscovered images from the Jordan Valley.
“But anyone who has followed the case can have no doubt: the behaviour of AFP and Getty has been both willful and reckless, not to mention thuggish and comically incompetent.” Add Getty and AFP to the long list of of people, agencies, and companies stealing photos.
Leica Store DC has announced their second Oskar Barnack Wall winning photograph by Dick Pitini.
Nine Inch Nails dedicated a song to ailing photographer and fan, Andrew Youssef.
Photographer Jimmy Nelson has spent the last several years photographing indigenous cultures. The results are stunning.
The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria is holding a workshop for photographers looking to show their work.
Sorry luddites, Fujifilm is discontinuing their 3×4 Instant black and white film.
The newest edition of the local magazine Worn is online. It’s filled with images by local photographers, so check it out.
PROOF interviewed Maggie Steber and Lynn Johnson about how being women has impacted their photography career, in both positive and negative ways.
Photographer Francois Brunelle created portraits of unrelated people who look nearly identical. We promise they look more alike than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
Old photos from the 1930s & 40s of turkeys getting ready to be a Thanksgiving meal. Let’s hope the turkey wearing a protest sign made it.
Balthazar Korab was working for Eero Saarinen when he created these stunning images of the architect’s work including shots of Dulles Airport under construction.
Cecil Stoughton was the official White House photographer working during the Kennedy assassination. Stoughton took the iconic photographs of Johnson being sworn in on Air Force One.
Speaking of White House photographers, Pete Souza’s images sure are pretty, but they aren’t proper news coverage. Journalists have been protesting what they believe is the White House creating their own Soviet-style news service, by barring journalists from Presidential events. The White House this morning provided this photographic retort.
And finally, we will end on a happy note the Little Rock Zoo announced the birth of two new tiger cubs.