Daniel Lillie

All images © Daniel Lillie

I got introduced to Daniel Lillie at Chris Steele Perkins´ book launch a few weeks back. Let me just say, not only is he a delightful young chap but his work, for which he won the August edition of theprintspace competition, is outstanding. The images shown here are taken from his project I´ll see you on the far post... and this is his introduction to the series:

"Historically, socially and culturally the working man has been seen as a figure of strength and integrity, a foreboding presence both in the family and the community. These images are about what men do with their time, be it with their family, friends or alone. They are about working and not working. Work is not guaranteed for these men, it is insecure and transient.

These images also offer a portrait of a small estate in Newport, South Wales. They look at the ideals of family, friendship, kinship and the intimacies and relationships which are formed in a close knit community. They also look at the changing domestic role of the male within the family, as the roles clash and men re-negotiate their lives and relationships after the prospect of industrial stability has waned. They are about the in-between times, time spent in the company of other men. They’re about killing time; or time killing us".

Daniel was born Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1986 and graduated with a B.A Hons in Documentary Photography from the University of Wales, Newport in 2008. He has been working on the project I’ll see you on the far post… almost exclusively since 2007 but he also works as a freelance assistant in London. The project has been published in Black and White Photography Magazine, winning their reportage assignment and also came second place is Ag magazine’s ‘Brilliant Book Awards.’ He has been invited to present the work at The Photographers Gallery in 2009 and had a solo show in Exit Gallery at Claire de Roeun Books, in London. He is also a shortlisted finalist for the Magnum Expression Award 2009.

Wayne Mitchelson

All images © Wayne Mitchelson

Congratulations to Wayne Mitchelson, July´s winner of theprintspace photography competition.

Writing about his project, here is a condensed version of what he is trying to do with his work:

"The 19th century German Romantic painters inspired me into my current and ongoing practice, particularly Casper David Friedrich. I was fascinated by his landscape paintings, the mood, light, compositional devices and the mystery surrounding each one. I initially started to create Friedrickesque images using photographs but 2 years on the influences from cinema directors including David Lynch, Ridly Scott and Roman Polanski, and in literature, Franz Kafka, J.G Ballard and Samuel Beckett have become more prevalent.

For example, in Kafka’s series of short observational writings called Meditations he writes about everyday situations but from a philosophical direction. In The Men Passing By, the inspiration for my Two Men Running, the narrator meditates on the vision of a man running down the street in the night. He imagines several scenarios involving the man and another man chasing him, leaving the reader to imagine these outcomes. This idea is now echoing Kafka’s musings and developing into One Frame Cinema images, a frame of an unmade film like the works of Gregory Crewdson."

Wayne Mitchelson was born in Leicestershire in 1972, growing up obsessed with fantasy and science fiction art of the 80s. Upon leaving school, he spent a while being a graphic designer until starting at De Montfort University in Leicester in 2005. After completing a foundation in Art and Design he progressed on to B.A Fine Art, graduating in 2009 with first class honours. He has work on display at the moment at The Ingenious Media offices in London and a solo exhibition at De Montfort Hall in Leicester.

Evan Baden

All images © Evan Baden

Congratulations to Evan Baden who was June´s winner of theprintspace photography competition - portrait theme. After spending a long time reviewing all the entries the judges managed to narrow down the finalists and eventually agree that Evan Baden´s series The Illuminati merited the top slot. Speaking about the project, he says:

"In Westernized cultures today, there is a generation that is growing up without the knowledge of what it is to be disconnected. The world in which we are growing up is always on. We are continuously plugged in, and linked up. We take this technology for granted. Not because we are ungrateful, but because we simply don’t know a world without it. From our earliest memories, there has always been a way to connect with others whether it is Myspace, Facebook, cell phones, email, or instant messenger. And now, with the Internet, instant messaging, and email in our pocket, right there with our phones, we can always feel as if we are part of a greater whole. These devices grace us with the ability to instantly connect to others, and at the same time, they isolate us from those with whom we are connected. They allow for great freedom, yet so often, we are chained to them. They have become part of who we are and how we identify ourselves. These devices ordain us with a wealth of knowledge and communication that would have been unbelievable a generation ago. More and more, we are bathed in a silent, soft, and heavenly blue glow. It is as if we carry divinity in our pockets and purses."

Born in 1985, Baden attended the College of Visual Arts. In 2007, he graduated with a BFA in Photography. Since then, he has exhibited work in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. His work has been added to the collections of the Walker Art Center, Milwaukee Art Museum, and The Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago. In November of 2008, he was named as one of the five Jerome Fellows for the 2008-2009 year. He received $10,000 to continue and make new work. The work that he is currently making will be exhibited at the MCAD Gallery in October of 2009.

theprintspace Photography Competition

theprintspace is running monthly competitions via its Facebook group of the best photos that you enter, to be judged by an expert panel of professional photographers and industry experts.

Each month will have a theme according to which you can submit your images (a max. of 5 images per person per month please!) - the winner will get a highly coveted mounted 20x24 inch print of their choice from theprintspace studio.

All of the monthly winners will be included in theprintspace's next grand bi-annual group show at the gallery in East London! This will consist of a big opening night with free alcohol, high profile guests and the opportunity to gain extensive exposure!! The exhibition will run for 2 weeks, and will be the perfect opportunity for aspiring photographers to showcase their talents to the world.

Prizes:
* a 20x24 inch print of the winning image on the paper type of your choice, mounted on the most innovative & cutting-edge material used in print mounting from theprintspace: Acrylic Reverse.
* The winners will be featured in our next grand bi-annual group show at renowned theprintspace gallery in East London
* Extensive exposure from theprintspace
* Special feature on 1000 Words Photography Blog

Panel of judges:
- Tim Clark
Editor & director of 1000 Words Photography Magazine
www.1000wordsmag.com

-Julia Fullerton-Batten
Globally renowned and award-winning professional photographer
www.juliafullerton-batten.com

-Harry Borden
Award-winning & internationally acclaimed portrait photographer
www.harryborden.com

-Rob Jarvis
Photographer and administrator of the Facebook group "Photography"
www.robjarvis.co.uk

Theme for June:
To be announced 1 June!

Of the competition, theprintspace´s Marketing Executive Geri Tuneva says: "The main goal behind this competition is to find and encourage talented amateurs and up-and-coming photographers to begin working more seriously with photography, and not necessarily to award the most polished work. We want to award images which are authentic, imaginative and capture the essence of the monthly theme in the most interesting and exciting way."

Click here to find out more information and enter the competition. Good night and good luck!