ever read the Magnum Photos blog? neither had I, until today (of course it’s only been around since December 06, but still… why didn’t anyone tell me sooner!)

martin parr, dubai, 2007
(photo by Martin Parr, c 2007)

a photo at the top of every post (see above!) sucks you in, and while the posts might number as few as two/month, Magnum have employed nearly 20 of some of their best photographers and photojournalists (and others) to double as bloggers; I found their blog through another post about Martin Parr, an artist and Magnum photographer whose work has managed to both excite me and nearly induce vomiting over the years. his employment of saturation is key to this effect.

although these images (above and below) aren’t typical of his luscious content, there is a slight sinisterism to them that nonetheless arouses one’s suspicion: the many bags abound; the Arab in the traditional white garb talking to the scantily clad high-heeled lady; the logos everywhere; the sunglasses tucked away in the cleavage; the astroturf (?!); and what appears to be a white picket fence in the background?

martin parr, dubai, 2007
(photo by Martin Parr, c 2007)

in the first image silver and reflection play a key role to decoding the image, but in both images bags are present, and one immediately becomes aware of the signified: wealth. In the one the lady even has two bags, including one with the official logo of the “DIFC gulf art fair” event on it (she bought something! proper! or was offered something all courtesy-like. and in case you were wondering, that’s Dubai International Financial Centre… yeah, exactly). See the… administrators… of Dubai, are well-aware that in order to compete for title of Cultural Capital it has to establish several markets. It’s already doing pretty good with real estate, what with that whole The World project and all. With architecture they’ve already established some credibility, home to the world’s only ‘seven-star hotel’, the Burj al-Arab and also home to the future tallest everything building. And now with the Louvre and the Guggenheim moving into the neighborhoods, they’re really starting to eat it up. Art, that is.

But don’t get too distracted – let’s bring it back shall we!

The Magnum Photos blog is terrific, and occasionally you’ll even find comment-replies, meaning the photographer-author-bloggers actually check their blogs, which is encouraging. And as is always the juicy content is a little hidden, but some digging in the form of mouse-clicking can land you upon some pretty substantive visual content, my favorite being the work of Simon Wheatley in Blois, France and also E14 London.

Related websites:
Bling bling blog post by Martin Parr which inspired this post
Interview with Simon Wheatley on Magnum Photos blog