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Street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson called it the “decisive moment”— the captured instant when all the photograph’s elements come together to tell a story in a way a text narrative of thousands of words could never begin to. It is what hooks people, both practitioners and advocate-devotees, on the art form. It is uniquely completely immersive in life— step out into the streets— in which the moment of artistic epiphany can never be guessed at until it suddenly happens. When it is properly mastered, it is as pure as the dawn of each new day, as true as the living organism of a teeming street scene catching a breath as one.


It's no easy task to pull a book together for publication and "The New Street Photographer's Manifesto" currated by Tanya Nagar (`tanya-n) is an excellent first effort for a first time book editor and publisher. Let's celebrate this devious success story with an interview and feature on all of the artists involved.
















It embraces and runs with the idea that in street photography the best camera is the one that you're holding, whether it be a mobile phone or dSLR. This perspective makes the book, and the genre-at-large, accessible to everyone. My photos that are included in the book reflect this as some were taken with a film RF, some a digital EVF, and some a phone. I feel truly honored to have been asked to participate in The New Street Photographer's Manifesto, especially since I am a believer in its core concept.

Brian Quentin Webb
`bQw















The street was my school of photography and i wish i had had the opportunity to read a book like Tanya's at the time i started taking photos, it would've saved me a lot of time figuring out what was good and what wasn't! Although it gives a very wide range of how street photography can be like, the quality of each reference or contributor is really inspiring and i'm honored to be part of this book.

Charlotte Gonzalez
`Gonzale











Interviewwith Tanya Nagar




1



$techgnotic:
What is it about capturing a moment in time on “the street,” a record of a single blink in what is a daily river torrent of information flowing over our most surface human interactions? Why is this important?


`tanya-n:

I've always had a fascination with different cultures and human behaviour. I studied Psychology at university as a result, and found that photography is a way of being able to document human behaviour in the most obvious and simplest form. It's subjective and objective at the same time and the possibilities are endless. For me street photography is about observing and capturing the fleeting every day moments all around us, which can so easily be lost among the noise of daily life.






2



$techgnotic:
What is so enjoyable about what you do?


`tanya-n:

What appeals to me most about this type of photography is the spontaneity of it; you can't predict what's going to happen on "the street". It's impossible to get bored of it because there is literally so much to capture which could be lost in the blink of an eye. It's challenging, requires quick reactions and when done right, can produce some fascinating insights into the world around us, which most people may ordinarily ignore or not notice. I love capturing those kind of scenes - the ones that are a true reflection of our society.




















A few years ago, one of the only places I could look to for quality, contemporary street photography was deviantART. At this point, the only books out there on the subject were very outdated and didn't feature modern life at all. Seeing the work of Tanya and Severin on dA inspired me, whilst getting feedback on my own images was a big step in my progression. It's amazing that I can now walk into my local bookshop and see our images together in print. I think the book is a great resource for beginners of the medium and I hope it gives others the confidence to get out with their cameras and share their visions.

Claire Atkinson
~hardtomakeastand









3



$techgnotic:
What is it not so enjoyable, that has ever made you consider giving up photography (at least of the street variety)?


`tanya-n:

I don't think I've ever felt anything negative towards street photography. It's a lifestyle more than something I consciously aim to do. I don't decide 'OK today I'll do some shooting'. I try to have my camera with me when I'm out and about, and some days I'll shoot a lot, and other days nothing at all.






4



$techgnotic:
Have you ever felt you were in real danger?


`tanya-n:

I've had people threaten me before and once got pushed by someone (not a subject but another photographer at a protest I was shooting), but on the whole I restpect and reason with people who object to being photographed. I just don't see the point of arguing - why would I want a photo of a moment that's now lost because the subject has objected? I've shot in supposedly dangerous parts of India, the West Bank and Uganda, but so far haven't been faced with anything too serious.


The one time I was in real danger (through my own doing!) was when I was hanging out of a moving train in India trying to shoot a man a carriage down who was also leaning out of the train. I was using a manual film camera and had to focus, compose and shoot using one hand, while holding onto a pole with my other hand. Trains in Mumbai don't have doors (security is lax, to say the least!) yet I didn't really register the danger until after - I guess adrenaline takes away fear in these situations.
















5



$techgnotic:
What is the main equipment you use?


`tanya-n:

I've mainly used a Canon 350D digital SLR and a Nikon F3 film SLR. I also have a Canon 5D which is heavier and bulkier but I absolutely love using the 50mm f/1.8 lens to its full-frame potential on it. The 50mm f/1.8 is my favourite lens on both film and digital. For street you don't need fancy equipment - the aim is to capture raw moments as they are, so using HDR photography kind of defeats the purpose.





7



$techgnotic:
What is your next project – and how will it involve your fellow community members of deviantART.


`tanya-n:

I'm working on a couple of other book ideas - slightly different but not completely unrelatted to street photography - and I've already been in talks with some deviantArt members about this as I really feel their work should be showcased and is a valuable source of information to others. So watch this space!








6



$techgnotic:
How did deviantART and the dA community help in propelling your artistic inaterests forward? Tell us about creating and publishing your book on street photography.


`tanya-n:

DeviantART was initially my biggest inspiration when I started off shooting, as I hadn't developed any notable style and was still at the point of not even knowing what I enjoyed photographing. It's where I discovered street photography, and I spent a lot of time back then communicating with other photographers in the dA chat rooms and talking about photography. It was a forum where I could experiment, debate, get feedback and advice from like-minded people, which was hugely important in my development as a photographer.


The majority of contributors in my book are also members of deviantART, a number of whom I've had the pleasure of meeting and shooting with in person.


The book itself came about as I wanted to bring street photography to a wider audience - not just people who necessarily spend time online in search of information. A publisher was interested in my work and book idea, and it all took off from there.
















Mega Giveaway!! CLOSED

Journal Entry: Mon Feb 25, 2013, 11:27 AM
Mega Giveaway! Is Now Closed! No more entries will be accepted! Thank you to all that participated and those that won~ Another will be held again in a few months ;D Be sure to keep an eye out.

This journal will be deleted in a few days!


Feb. 25th - Martch 15th
=TouchMySitar and I only ship within the Continental USA 48 States!! :'D Sorry.
Not in the USA? - Enter and you can still win points or art instead of the keychain or buttons!!
No double/fake/side accounts!! 

Buttons able to win = [link] Marceline, Hello Kitty (Nerd), Tony Stark, Captain America, Tim Drake in Robin outfit, Damian Wayne in Robin outfit, Alucard, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Finn and Jake (Large 3"),

The more participants equals better and more prizes!! Ex. Win the giveaway at 100 participants and you can still have a chance to win the next giveaway at 250, 500, 750, and 1000!! 

50 = 50:points: = WINNER IS ~Draw2134

75 = 75:points: = WINNER IS ~ThatBadKitty 

100 = 100:points: = WINNER IS ~MartiniCup

250 = 250:points:

500 = 1 month premium membership (or 396:points:)

750 = Chibi Keychain  with no shipping fees from =TouchMySitar (contact for further details)

1000+ Particpants = 2 Winners!! = Each winner would receive two real prizes (shipped to them at no charge). 
-----The first winner will have first pick; they can either have the large (Finn and Jake) button and 2 smaller (or) 3 smaller buttons
-----The second winner; can choose two smaller buttons (or) if the first didn't want the large and 2 smaller, they can have that instead.

How to Enter

Just copy and paste the info below in quotations about the store and this journal thumbnail, post it, then fav~! And you're entered for one chance to win! You must have this info in your post!! =
Luvit!, luvit.storenvy.com , is a brand new store sponsored by Storenvy. Currently selling anime, movie, video game, and other merchandise - with more coming soon. 
"

Additional Entry Points

Twitter - 1 point

Facebook - 2 points

Tumblr - 3 points

Youtube - (will be determined)

Winnable Keychains
Tony Stark , Rainbow Dash , Fluttershy , Hello Kitty Nerd , Captain America , Marshall Lee , Fionna ,
More to come (check back soon)~




Congratulations to Lisa Berczel (^Battledress) and Adam Chilson (*Doomsday-Dawn) for their upcoming print publication in the July 2009 issue of Heavy Metal magazine!

The tribute image to the anime "Ghost in the Shell" features the bodypainting of Lisa Berczel, photography by Adam Chilson, and model Melodie Gore.

The image is printed in the Table of Contents spread, one of the most desirable locations in the magazine, with Lisa being named as a "featured artist" of the month's issue.

The July issue should hit the newsstand available for purchase sometime around June.
Featuring the winners of Literature's 8th dA Birthday contest are as follows!
First Place!!
8th Summer by ~TheObviousChild
:thumb95885518:

Second Place:
The Pill Bugs by ~tetemeko
:thumb94274367:

Third Place:
Camp Birthday by !WineWriter
:thumb94794090:


Congrats winners!!
Let's remind y'all of the prizes!

:star:Prizes!:star:

1st place: $40 DevDollars, Fella Plushie, journal feature from your GDs, a stamp, avatar and custom cursor made by !TheBigBadFish
2nd place: $36 DevDollars, dA Laynard, journal feature from your GDs, a stamp by !TheBigBadFish
3rd place: $16 DevDollars, dA button pack

Kiriban games 02

Journal Entry: Mon May 21, 2012, 8:44 PM

Changes!!!


Obviously not this isn't much of a challenge for you guys so the numbers are higher (except for the 10,000 pageview since it's close) Now I know there is no way people can make 5,000 pageviews happen that quick XD

NEW RULES PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BEFORE PLAYING!
Rules
1. You HAVE to be a watcher.
2. you  HAVE to favorite this entry.
3. ONLY send me a COMMENT (no notes) of you're win (because a ton of messages is a lot to go through)
4. If more then one person gets it, you'll have to split you're winnings.
5. If you do not follow all these rules you will not win.

List
7,000 = 50 :points:
8,555 = 50 :points:
10,000 = 50 :points:
15,000 = 50 :points:
20,000 = 50 :points:
25,000 = 50 :points:
30,000 = 50 :points:
35,000 = 50 :points:
40,000 = 50 :points:
45,000 = 50 :points:


CSS & Skin Design by ~pomppet
Patterns by ~Ransie3
Thanks for CSS support to ~Talei, ~lilmoonchild1
Ciel Phantomhive from Kuroshitsuji (c) Yana Toboso
It's worthwhile visiting these people and showing them some love!

:thumb88130187: :thumb91845413:




:thumb90665069: :thumb91656744: :thumb91746786:     

Please take the time to visit a few :)

To everyone I have added here: Please add this to your faveourite news - this will help to attract more attention here, therefore to your page =D
Going West is the first of a series of exhibitions to be held in the Putney Exchange, Putney. Going West gives five emerging and established artists based in East London the platform to exhibit their work to a new public in West London...

[http://www.allbuyart.com/art-news-195-darren-coffield-dawn-cole2010.asp]

Tricksters in Mythology and Folklore

Journal Entry: Mon Sep 24, 2012, 2:49 PM

Article Series: Tricksters in Literature, Part 1 of 5

________________________________

     Perhaps the most well-known trickster at present is Loki, the Norse Trickster god, thanks in large part to Tom Hiddleston’s brilliant portrayal of Loki Laufeyson in the blockbusters Thor and The Avengers. These films portray Loki as a scheming and manipulative, yet still sympathetic, character. But what was the real Loki like? And by “real,” I mean the Loki from Norse mythology rather than the character portrayed in popular media, which is meant to simply entertain.

 

Loki, Norse Trickster God

"LOKI" by Anna Khlystova (Spiritius) ~Spiritius

 

     To answer that question, we must first understand what a trickster is and the role tricksters play in the mythologies of various cultures. Essential to this understanding of the universality of tricksters is the fundamental knowledge of archetypes.

     The Trickster is one of psychologist Carl Jung’s most widely known archetypes. As defined by Jung, an archetype is a concept or model contained in the part of the unconscious mind that is common to all human beings, known as the “collective unconscious.” In other words, archetypes are the unconscious ideas that all humanity inherits, and these ideas transcend time and are found in the mythologies of all cultures.

     Archetypes are important because these unconscious roles are universally found in all cultures and are useful in the analysis of mythology, literature, art, and religion. (1) The Trickster archetype can be seen as an allegorical figure that illustrates ideas about the humans’ place in the world. Thanks to Jung, the Trickster archetype provides “insight into not only the literary conventions of a society, but also its deepest mores and mass psychological characteristics.” (2)

     Now that we understand what an archetype is and the function it serves, let’s explore the Trickster archetype in particular. In an overview for a mythology and folklore course, Margaret F. Crawford from the Houston Teachers Institute quotes Jean Hardy:

          “The archetype of the Trickster…is the existence of the unexpected as it appears

          in every human society, sometimes fully acknowledged, sometimes feared and

          hidden. He is the opposite of order – but then he is opposite of everything… He

          upsets normality and hierarchic order… He can change the expected world, and

          therefore be an agent of transformation.” (3)

     The trickster’s role in mythology is specifically to hinder the progress of the hero and generally to cause trouble. A perfect example of a mythological trickster is Loki. The trickster’s role in folklore is a little different as he is roguish and cunning, surviving the obstacles and dangers of the world with defense mechanisms of deception and trickery. He uses unconventional methods to elude adversaries with the aid of his shrewd intellect. Examples of tricksters in folklore are the Coyote and Raven spirits of Native American culture. (4)

     There are several characteristics that are common to most, but not all, tricksters. Tricksters are: ambiguous, amoral, almost always male, deceitful, shapeshifters, culture heroes, self-serving, solitary, less physically imposing, and boundary-crossers. (A more detailed list can be found here: [link])

     As you can see from the list I compiled ([link]), there are dozens upon dozens of fascinating trickster characters in various cultures; now that we have covered the most common characteristics of tricksters, let’s briefly meet a few of the trickiest tricksters in mythology and folklore: Loki from Norse mythology, Eris and Hermes from Greek mythology, and Coyote and Raven spirits from Native American folklore.

________________________________

      Loki is one of the best-known and, judging by the characteristics and the archetype of the Trickster, greatest tricksters in mythology. Proof of his ability to manipulate others is the fact that he was a giant, a jotunn, but managed to make his way into Asgard among the Aesir through his charismatic charm and wits as well as a close relationship with Odin, who had a deep respect for his cunning ways and slick tongue. (5)

     Loki exemplified nearly all of the common trickster characteristics. His original/true form was male, and he was a shapeshifter and a boundary-crosser. Snorri Sturluson recounted in his Edda (ca. 1220 AD) how Loki transformed into a mare, crossing the boundaries of both form and gender at once, to lure away the stallion Svaðilfari and later gave birth to the eight-legged Sleipnir. He was often depicted as being less physically imposing that Thor, Norse god of thunder, who was a friend and sometime adversary. He was amoral, playing the gods against one another without thoughts of morality, and he was deceitful and self-serving, using his sly tricks to wreak havoc on the gods to achieve his own ends and for his own entertainment. Loki was also ambiguous; at times his tricks seemed to be harmlessly entertaining, while at other times he is malevolently cunning. His ambiguity is evidenced by the fact that not even scholars can agree on the correct depiction of him. Folklorist and linguist Jacob Grimm called Loki a god of fire, equating him with Prometheus and culture heroes, while others perceived him as a “typical” trickster god. (6)

Loki, bound until Ragnarok

Loki by =BloodrainFireDawn

* "Loke och Sigyn" by Marten Eskil Winge (1863)

 

     Again and again, Loki tricked his way into trouble and had to think quickly to trick his way back out again. There was the time he thought it would be fun to cut off all the beautiful hair of Sif, Thor’s wife, and had to make a quick promise to get her hair that was even better to escape his wrath. Loki promised his head to the dwarf who could make the finest treasures for the gods (including Sif’s new hair, Thor’s hammer Mjollnir, and Odin’s spear Gungnir) and said dwarf sewed his lips shut when he realized he had been tricked. Or there was the time he attempted to steal Freyja’s necklace Brisingsamen, stole Mjollnir only to have to steal it back, and caused the disappearance of the goddess Idunn with her golden apples of eternal youth and their return through his trickery.

     Ultimately, Loki was too clever for his own good, as most wise fool tricksters are; the trickery that led to Balder’s death was the final straw to the Aesir and sealed his fate. He tricked the blind god Hod into shooting Balder with mistletoe, the only entity that had not sworn an oath not to harm him, and Balder was killed. For his punishment, Loki was bound underneath the earth by the entrails of his children and a serpent was set over him to drip venom into his eyes until Ragnarok. It is said that earthquakes are caused by his thrashing when the venom drips on him every time his wife Sigyn must empty her bowl of the poison it catches. The last laugh is going to be on the Aesir when Ragnarok rolls around, however, when Loki breaks free and fight on the side of the giants against them. (7)

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     While many females may appear to be tricksters, most use their beauty and sex appeal to manipulate others while only a very few females actually use cunning wits and deception; the most well-known of these are Penelope, wife of Odysseus, and Eris.

      Eris (whose Roman name is Discordia) is the Greek goddess of chaos, strife, and discord. By some accounts, she is the daughter of Nyx (Night) and by others, she is the sister of Ares, god of war (which would possibly make her a daughter of Zeus); one of her favorite pastimes was to join Ares on the battlefields of the mortals and delight in the bloodshed and bitterness she rained down on both sides of the battle. Her wrath was said to be relentless, and not even her fellow Olympians wanted her around to ruin their fun with her troublemaking. This was the reason that she alone was not invited to the forced wedding of Peleus and Thetis which everyone else from Mt. Olympus attended. She decided to teach them a lesson by tossing the Apple of Discord into the party labeled Kallisti (“To the Fairest One”), which sparked argument between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite as to which of them was the fairest. The chain of events led to the Judgment of Paris, which initiated the Trojan War, and you can bet that Eris enjoyed every second of all of it. (8)

Eris, Greek goddess of chaos, strife, and discord

"Eris" by GENZOMAN *GENZOMAN

 

Hermes, messenger of the gods

"HERMES - GREEK GODS PROJECT" by isikol *isikol

 

     Hermes, Greek god of transitions and boundaries and god of thievery, as well as messenger to the gods, started his life as a trickster quite young…barely out of his cradle, in fact. According to mythology, as an infant Hermes used a lyre he made from a tortoise shell to steal Apollo’s oxen by herding them backwards to cover his tracks, and Apollo was so amused that he could not stay angry. Hermes also played a part in the punishment of humanity for accepting Prometheus’s gift of fire through Pandora; his gift for her box was lies, seductive words, and dubious character, and he was the one who delivered her to Epimetheus as his wife. Homer and Hesiod portrayed Hermes as a benefactor of mortals and the author of deceptive acts; a Homeric hymn to Hermes petitions him as one “of many shifts (polytropos), blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates…” He was also the father of Autolycus, Prince of Thieves, to whom he taught all of his tricks. As a god of transitions and boundaries, Hermes was able to move freely between the worlds of the mortals and the divine, a characteristic of the boundary-crossing trickster. (9)

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     Coyote is possibly the most famous trickster in Native American culture, seen most prominently in the Southwest. He is part human and part animal, able to take whichever shape he pleases. As with most Native American tricksters, Coyote combines the sacred with the entertainment because, as John Lame Deer said, tricksters “are sacred [because] we Indians also need their laughter to survive.” (10) He is another example of the wise fool as he is often outwitted by other animals (i.e., rabbits, birds, and even a donkey). As a trickster, he is often portrayed as greedy and insatiable. (11) In some stories, he is known as a creator or “Old Man Coyote” in which, like the Native American Prometheus, he brings fire and daylight to the earth and arranges the sun, moon, and stars in their places. In this way, as well as the way in which he is sometimes said to have arranged the land and fought monsters (with the aid of the Spirit Chief), he is perceived as a culture hero. In other stories, he is simply a messenger. He nearly always provides entertainment, usually with an added dose of trickery. (12)

Coyote spirits

"Magic Winds" by Laura Airey (MorRokko) *MorRokko

 

Raven spirits

* "The Twa Corbies" by Arthur Rackham (ca. 1919)

 

     Raven is the prominent trickster in Pacific Northwestern Native American culture. There is a recurring theme of Raven as king, and his constant search for food is a metaphor for his insatiable sexual appetite. (This is true for Coyote as well.) He is the manifestation of the self-serving trickster, whose deeds are primarily to serve his own needs; he punishes those who oppose him even when he performs a good deed.

     This is illustrated in the story in which he brings to the earth. He could not fish because light had not yet come to the world and it was too dark to see, so he impregnated the daughter of the Sky Chief with a cedar leaf into which he had transformed so that he could gain access into the Sky Chief’s home. Upon birth, the baby (Raven) manipulates the family into trusting him with the box of daylight, and he returns to the earth where he transformed back into his true raven form. On his way, he meets the Frog people who refuse to give him food, so he crashed the box against the rocks and released the daylight into the world, so that the Animal people could see to hunt and fish, but causing the demise of the Frog people at the same time. (13)

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:bulletpurple: For further reading about tricksters, visit this website [link] or just Google your favorite trickster's name.

:bulletgreen: Next article: Tricksters in Folktales and Fables



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