taylor wessing portrait prize finalists

Every year the National Portrait Gallery exhibits outstanding photographs for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize. Selected anonymously from over 5000 submissions, judges choose images they feel are the most captivating of 2013. This unique selection process results in an extensive collection of portraits in editorial, advertising and fine art from around the world. Among the four shortlisted artists, the winning photographer will be awarded £4,000 and a commission from the National Portrait Gallery. These four finalists will show with 60 other photographers from November 14th, 2013 to February 9th, 2014 at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. 
 - Feature Shoot

The Twins, 2013 by Dorothee Deiss

Katie Walsh, 2013 by Spencer Murphy

Mamta Dubey and Infant, 2013 by Giles Price

Kofi Annan, 2013 by Anoush Abrar

iphoneography

Here are some pictures I made recently. Each shot with the Hipstamatic application on my iPhone.

New Orleans

London Tube

London Sky

bringing it all together: new work from uganda

During my travels, I was influenced, moved, challenged and inspired not only by the people I met, but also by the music I heard, the books I read and the art I saw. It was quite a significant convergence for me to experience.

The book that stirred me deeply was Abraham Verghese's Cutting For Stone.

One of the exhibitions that had a huge effect on me was "A Visionary Modernist" by Sudanese artist Ibrahim El-Salahi.

When I read the following words by El-Salahi on one of the text panels, I was stopped in my tracks:

The subjects are looking at and through me, as if trying to remind me, through their perfect silence, of what I had failed to see.

With that, I'd like to share some of my new work. (Please excuse the repeats.)

lisa stokes

Self Portrait with Clown Face, 2013

Today I saw the BP Portrait Award exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London. It was impressive, to say the least - and very inspiring.

One of my favorite pieces was this self portrait by a UK painter named Lisa Stokes. It actually moved me to tears - the first time I've cried since I left Uganda. (I never know what is going to trigger that deep sense of sadness I feel upon leaving the children at St.Mary Kevin.)

I went to Stokes' website and was not disappointed.

take a snap!

Natural History Museum

On my way home from Uganda, I have stopped off in London for a few days. Eddie used some frequent flyer miles to meet up with me. It's a very special way to transition back to my real world after the journey to Uganda. I feel quite lucky.

Today is my birthday! To mark the day, I have chosen to post pictures that celebrate photography - something I have loved for as long as I can remember.

I took these pictures yesterday as we toured some of London's well known sites. Across the world, there were more pictures taken yesterday than during the first 100 years after the invention of photography.

Shoot on!!