Sitting, waiting for the others in a church in Northern Rwanda, my eyes wandered, taking in the room. To tell the truth I was tired and bored and in need of a day off. Over the other side of the room sat this young man, alone. I’m not sure what he was doing there. Waiting for his Mother maybe? I wondered, should I take a shot? If he saw me it could be really uncomfortable. I mean I was really close and I couldn’t pretend I was photographing anyone else. Anyway I thought, ‘I’ll sneak a shot in.’ So, I raised the camera and started to muck around with the shot. And then he looked up. I cringed behind the lens and just sat there, frozen. He didn’t divert his gaze. For several seconds we stared at each other me on one side of the camera, him on the other. Finally I pressed the shutter. His expression remained exactly the same. I lowered the camera and returned his stare, this time with no mechanical device between us. It sounds corny but something travelled between us. An absolute realisation that we were right there, in the same place at the same time. He didn’t dismiss me or put me down. He stood right on the same level. It was unique.
This shot is one of my favourites because it tells such a story. In the forground is a wallet being held by one of my colleagues Bart. He is buying the basket being held by the Rwandan woman in the middle of the shot. All eyes are on the transaction. This represents life and death in Africa as much as any other portrait. It is positive, but you can also feel the tension, the need, the hope. All proceeds to charity. I might even buy this myself. – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Black & white photography – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Monotone photography
I was in northern Rwanda in April 2007 as a volunteer with an aid group and we had stopped to talk with people at a local church. The town was Rhuengeri, it sits close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and has the unfortunate reputation as having been home to a number of those who perpetrated the horrific genocide of 1994. / The atmosphere in Rwanda is one of pervading ‘brokeness.’ Millions of orphans live side by side with those who tortured and massacred their families 14 few, short years ago. Millions more suffer the newer enemy – HIV Aids and countless others wander ghost like in a state it seems of perpetual shock, haunted by the past and overwhelmed by the concept of a future. / This was April. The official month of mourning. When people publicly face what privately never leaves them. / I was sitting on a step tired and desperate for fresh air when I looked into the crowd that inevitably gathered wherever we were. / This woman, is by my guess perhaps 30 and she is as are most, dirt poor. / I was absolutely transfixed by her and her child. / She seemed to me to sum up so much of what I saw. / Love and desperation and yes, compassion. / Her breast is bone dry and cracked and yet she tries to feed her baby. Perhaps it is the hope inherent in the action which feeds her. / At the same time, she looks totally preoccupied by her struggle for survival. / What is she thinking as she gazes into the middle ground? / My thought is, ‘where is the next meal.’ Where will she get it from? How will she share it? And upon finishing it, where will she find the next one? / I was overwhelmed by seeing the reality of those who live literally from hour to hour, day after exhausting day. / It confronted me then. / It continues to confront me now. / – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Black & white photography – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Monotone photography
Shadow of a lamp on a tipical mediterranean pastel wall.
Picture taken in summer 2007 at my friend Patty-Lou’s summer house who was empty as she was fighting a breast cancer. Now she’s done with chemo and the tumor has been totally removed. She will be back this summer and this is the most fantastic news I ever heard. This work is dedicated to her, her husband and their two daughters.
In the old Greek Quarter of Bergama, Turkey
Taken in Brisbane, Australia at Brett’s Wharf with a Canon DSLR EOS 350D camera.
FEATURED IN ’’Shapes & Patterns – Limit of 2 images per day’’ GROUP – JUNE 2009 FEATURED IN ’’First Things’’ GROUP – JUNE 2009 FEATURED IN ’’European Everyday Life’’ GROUP – JUNE 2009 CAORLE – NORTH ITALY
A typical Venetian window, this one I loved with the Bottle bottom look stained glass. The Shutters and glass is close to true colour. I brightened up the wall colour, the original was a little more washed out.
Windows & Shutters Series /
FEATURED in “I LOVE ITALY” Group – “ITALIAN DETAILS” Series #1 – AUGUST 2009 FEATURED IN ’’European Everyday Life’’ GROUP – JULY 2009 FEATURED IN ’’Italy and all Things Italian’’ GROUP – JULY 2009 FEATURED IN ’’Rusty, Crusty and Falling to Bits’’ GROUP – JUNE 2009
Windows & Shutters Series
A companion piece to our very popular Doors of New Mexico poster, this grande dame of a poster will look fantastic anywhere in your home. Like a walk through the French Quarter, you’ll find all kinds of fun and mystery in these beautiful photos featuring colorful, washed out, or just plain fascinating porches and doors.
An old window with green shutters in the historic Italian town of Albenga. Below the window are the remnants of a painted sign advertising a coffee house
Oko opens his shutters and lets the beauty of the world in…...........Big Island Hawaii…..... / / There is a story about this painting…...... / I had a showing at a Gallery last year at Arizona State University….. / I offered a gesture to one of my gurlz (Minerva is married to my eldest boy) to pick a painting of one she liked….... / Well she went around and said “I like this, I like this , I like this, etc for many paintings…..... / Then she comes to this one and say “BUT I WANT THIS” / I had just finished it and had not even signed it or doved it yet….I was in a hurry to get it to the show…...... / / What was I to do ….my gurlz knows me so well and have me wrapped around their pinkeyz….........their blinking of their eyes helps them too…. / So needless to say This piece proudly hangs in their house. / / acrylic on fabric. / each shutter is hinged and moves independently. / / / Mahalo For Playing…... / / ORIGINAL NOT AVAILABLE
Photograph of the original print. / January 2009 / Size of original print is 22.5cm x 30cm This is a reduction woodblock print which involved 6 passes (6 separate colour passes) and Chine Collé. A combination of oil-based and water-based inks were used. First colour printed directly on Zerkall Etch 250g, with subsequent colours over Chine Collé (Japanese Tissue Paper used for the Chine Collé). Because this was a reduction process, the original block is completely destroyed and no further prints can be run from that block. One Artist’s proof and one final original remain from this process.
Windows of Europe
STOCKHOLM.sweden
Greece’s typical blue & white – I found these shutters just simply irresistible :) Canon EOS450D with kit lens (18-55mm)
City Life Series Streets of Moscow City Life – “Balconies, Windows, Shutters” p.3 was featured in the group Light and Reflection City Life Series / / / /
All photographs and artworks in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Anne Staub. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from myself is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Another sleepy old hotel a stones throw from the beach…..... / Puerto Penasco Mexico….commonly know as Rocky Point / just a 4 hour drive from Phoenix….......... / Acrylic on Fabric / Original NOT….....for Sale / /
Ok…......there is always a story behind every painting…....... / The Original Oko’s Open Shutters was created for a special showing and was swooped up by one of my Gurlz…............ / Story behind this one is that a very special friend Janis Zroback told me that if it wasn’t gone she would buy it…... / I suggested I re-create another one…...... / Every one of my paintings are original and I wanted to make this the same but different…...ya know what I mean?? / So after back and forth conversations we negotiated a price that was fair and acceptable to both of us….. / Remember my paintings are like puppies and it is more important that they go to good homes than the price….. / I Practically and Literally give my originals away…...... / So if you are interested in an original…let’s talk…..!! / That’s What Friends Are For click on the video / / acrylic on fabric…..... / Oko’s Farm upcountry Maui…
City Life Series Streets of Warsaw, Poland
RedBubble is a great place to find art, design, photos and writing from over 80,000 talented people.
On stunning greeting cards, awesome t-shirts or beautiful prints to hang on your walls.
It’s really simple. If you’re not happy with your purchase for any reason, we’ll fix it.
Since February 2007 we’ve shipped over 327,100 items to more than 70 countries around the world.
Sign up for your free account, upload your work, join some groups and share your creative genius with the world.