Mr. Toledano is that exception. His subjects are interesting, his creativity matches, and his work is legit. Check it out:

GAMERS

I’ve never been very interested in straightforward portrait photography. I often feel that it reveals nothing other than the photographer’s intentions, and a topographic record of the effects of time.

But what of hidden emotions and feelings? Characteristics that are usually secreted from the world? How do we record those?

I wondered if there was a way to unconsciously tease out aspects of people’s personality, and capture it on film. So I had them play video games.

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PHONESEX

A contract of mutual self-delusion exists between the caller and phone sex operator. The caller imagines he is speaking to his most secret fantasy-and the operator willingly plays the part.

A phone sex operator must be able understand the caller’s wants. But more importantly, they must be able to decrypt the unspoken desires. Those things that are too preposterous, too scandalous, or humiliating to articulate.

From a few mumbled words, a phone sex operator must weave and finely detailed fantasy encounter. It requires a vivid imagination, acting ability, and above all, a deep understanding of the human appetite. What do we crave? What words have the maximum yield? What tone will most effectively reach into a man’s trousers?

Phone-sex is theatre. An artificial passion-play in real-time, directed by a skilled verbal fantasist, with only one possible conclusion.

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DAYS WITH MY FATHER 

My Mum died suddenly on September 4th, 2006

After she died, I realized how much she’d been shielding me from my father’s mental state. He didn’t have alzheimers, but he had no short-term memory, and was often lost.

I took him to the funeral, but when we got home, he’d keep asking me every 15 minutes where my mother was. I had to explain over and over again, that she had died.

This was shocking news to him.

Why had no-one told him?
Why hadn’t I taken him to the funeral?
Why hadn’t he visited her in the hospital?

He had no memory of these events.

After a while, I realized I couldn’t keep telling him that his wife had died. He didn’t remember, and it was killing both of us, to constantly re-live her death.

I decided to tell him she’d gone to Paris, to take care of her brother, who was sick.

‘Days with my father’ is a journal.

A record of our relationship, and the time we spent over the last three years.

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Check out all of Mr. Toledano’s work, especially Bankrupt, on his website here

]]> http://ivybetty.com/toledano/feed/ 0 http://ivybetty.com/giuliano-camarda/ http://ivybetty.com/giuliano-camarda/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:04:56 +0000 Adam IVY http://ivybetty.com/?p=8072

Resiliency in the face of opression, displacement, and relocation of the Arab al-Jahalin tribe located in the West Bank desert between Jerusalem and Jericho. Giuliano Camarda’s visuals are definitely candid and unapologetic.

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More of Giuliano Camarda’s work (Check out Jeruslaem Drag Queens) here

There’s no length requirement. We’ll be looking throughout all of February. We’re looking forward to hearing from all of you. Thanks everyone.

(click on pics to view full size/gallery

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