Simon Norfolk:Simon Norfolk:A British A British PhotographerPhotographerBorn 1963

Background Background InformationInformation

• Born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1963Born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1963• Educated in Britain at Oxford and Bristol Educated in Britain at Oxford and Bristol

UniversitiesUniversities• In 1994, left career in photojournalism to pursue In 1994, left career in photojournalism to pursue

photographyphotography• Focuses on war and its effects on different things, Focuses on war and its effects on different things,

such as the physical shape of our cities and natural such as the physical shape of our cities and natural environments, social memory, the psychology of environments, social memory, the psychology of societies; especially the Middle Eastsocieties; especially the Middle East

• Gradient pink, purple and blue sunset dominates most of the frame but don’t distract; adds color as well

• The poles create value against the sky and The poles create value against the sky and emphasize the perspective and great depth of emphasize the perspective and great depth of field. field.

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•The remains of a The remains of a trolleybus terminus trolleybus terminus at Gulf Bagrami on at Gulf Bagrami on the outskirts of the outskirts of Kabul. Kabul.

40”x540”x50”0”

• The interior of the destroyed Presidential palace at The interior of the destroyed Presidential palace at Darulaman, damaged firstly by the Soviets and later Darulaman, damaged firstly by the Soviets and later in fighting between Rabbani and the Hazaras in 1992. in fighting between Rabbani and the Hazaras in 1992.

• Shadows create valueShadows create value• Although light isn’t directly on the subject(s), they Although light isn’t directly on the subject(s), they

are still lit to varying degrees by daylightare still lit to varying degrees by daylight

““ChronotopiaChronotopia””

Apartment Apartment building and shops building and shops in the Karte Char in the Karte Char district of Kabul. district of Kabul.

• Interesting slant of the left half of the buildingInteresting slant of the left half of the building• Shepherd’s red shirt adds color and stands outShepherd’s red shirt adds color and stands out• All the sheep are blurred as a result of their All the sheep are blurred as a result of their

motion and slow shutter speedmotion and slow shutter speed• Bullet holes are visible in the buildingBullet holes are visible in the building• 40”x50”40”x50”

• Soviet cluster Soviet cluster bombs lying on bombs lying on the grounds of the grounds of Olang Olang Elementary Elementary School School

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•Bombs fulfill the shape element, rust adds color to Bombs fulfill the shape element, rust adds color to the metalthe metal• Grass, dirt, groundcover adds textureGrass, dirt, groundcover adds texture•The fact Norfolk included the child’s feet makes a The fact Norfolk included the child’s feet makes a statement about violence and is an unusual statement about violence and is an unusual component for a picture of weaponscomponent for a picture of weapons

Israel/Palestine: MnemosyneIsrael/Palestine: Mnemosyne

• Palm trees against Palm trees against the sunset create the sunset create valuevalue

• Colors on the Colors on the planes are planes are eyecatchingeyecatching

• Planes create a Planes create a sort of “pattern”sort of “pattern”

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• Gradient purple, orange, pink, and yellow in the sunset add more neat color• The setting sun, although small, still manages to catch your eye and adds dimension to the picture

• Brickmaking Brickmaking “factories” at “factories” at Hussain Khil, Hussain Khil, east of Kabuleast of Kabul

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•Cool contrast of smoke against the sky•Shadowy mountains in the background•Can “see” the sunset reflected on the brickworks

The north The north gate of gate of Baghdad in Baghdad in 2003, about 2003, about 10 days after 10 days after the statue of the statue of Saddam Saddam

came down.came down.

40”x50”40”x50”• Interesting shot of the sky and clouds; sky Interesting shot of the sky and clouds; sky looks bigger and closerlooks bigger and closer

• Eyes are drawn to the vivid green grass Eyes are drawn to the vivid green grass and treesand trees

• Archway has interesting architecture; add Archway has interesting architecture; add to the shape element of the pictureto the shape element of the picture

• Old biplane on a display plinth at the Exhibition Old biplane on a display plinth at the Exhibition Grounds in Kabul. Grounds in Kabul.

• Are a source of great pride to Afghan men, but Are a source of great pride to Afghan men, but were banned by the Taliban as un-Islamic. were banned by the Taliban as un-Islamic.

• Neat shape and textureNeat shape and texture• Old man with birdcage provides an interesting Old man with birdcage provides an interesting

contrast against the planecontrast against the plane

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My favorite My favorite picture!picture!

• Balloons used to be illegal under the TalibanBalloons used to be illegal under the Taliban

• Bright colored balloons contrast with the neutral desert Bright colored balloons contrast with the neutral desert tonestones

• Teahouse structure makes for good line elementsTeahouse structure makes for good line elements

• Depth of field makes sky appear “bigger and closer”Depth of field makes sky appear “bigger and closer”

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Former Former teahouse in a teahouse in a park next to the park next to the Afghan Afghan Exhibition of Exhibition of Economic and Economic and Social Social Achievements Achievements in the Shah in the Shah Shahid district Shahid district of Kabul.of Kabul.

ReferencesReferences

• www.guardian.co.uk/.../oct/23/photography-iraq www.guardian.co.uk/.../oct/23/photography-iraq

• http://halsey.cofc.edu/PalimpsestAfghanistan/http://halsey.cofc.edu/PalimpsestAfghanistan/sn_images.htmsn_images.htm

• www.slightlylucid.com/beauty-is-a-tactic-the-www.slightlylucid.com/beauty-is-a-tactic-the-war-photographs-of-war-photographs-of-norfolknorfolk-and-nachtwey/ -and-nachtwey/

• http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photographer-photography/photographers/photographer-simon-norfolk.htmlsimon-norfolk.html