A state of flux is an odd place to find oneself. And yet we are all there at some time or other throughout our lives. Wether we arrive there as a result of our own actions or those of others (often beyond our control) or simply through circumstance, we all traverse through this in-between place. Sometimes it can be a good place to be, but for the most part, humans have always grappled with change and it rarely seems to come easily or naturally.
Certainly the photographers featured in this, our final, issue have interpreted the theme in various and interesting ways. One simply needs to sit down with a good glass of wine and meander through the slideshows to see for themselves.
A seemingly 21st century pre-occupation of photographers is the emphasis on the theme of communities, in various states of change or development whether positive or negative, only time will tell. The work of Tamas Deszo, Tom Williams, Jagath Dheerasekara along with Alan Hill and Kelly-Hussey-Smith speak of the conundrum of connection in seemingly disordered environments. Daniel Farnum and George Voulgaropoulos take a more personal and introspective view exploring the invisible layers of things that make up our identities. Jack Picone paints a beautiful yet vivid picture of the reality of a country in transition. Using the small Fuji X100S, he delves headlong into the bustling everyday of the resilient Burmese people. And Tamara Voninski bravely ventures in to the great beyond with her young son in their Gypsy caravan – a journey of the spiritual self as well as a documentation of life on the road.
Finally in the last of our Q&As, Sarah Rhodes interviews William Yang about being at the crossroads – of identity, of sexuality and how he has negotiated belonging in his life.
But this is the stuff of life – a tumbling and beautiful mess. It constantly moves, its rhythm a certainty like the sun rising and setting each and every day. How we move through life and negotiate the challenges put before us are however what occupies these photographers. And like all good photographers, it becomes not only about the pictures but also about the journey – theirs into the depths and far-flung corners of their chosen subjects as well as the revealing of their encounters for those that weren’t present.
Timemachine Magazine has had the great fortune and honour to have published just some of the world’s best photographers (about half of whom we have proudly presented from our very own shores in Australia). There are countless more out there no doubt and wearing my editor/curator’s hat, I’m excited for the future of photography. There will always be more to see, more to vicariously wonder about. The glut of images today, is not in my mind a bad thing. Great images stand out and speak for themselves, as can be attested in our various online issues
But like all good things, our time-travelling team has decided to take a spell from exploring and to take some time out on the homefront. Indeed there is much to see and do here and both Sarah and I, as photographers ourselves, are inspired and refreshed by the energy and commitment to photography that our featured artists have demonstrated. We’re revving to pursue our own projects with the same gusto that these photographers have.
So stay tuned to this corner of the planet. Our Timemachine is in the garage for a much needed tune-up, but this isn’t to say that it won’t venture out again for some new adventures. The future is chock full of possibilities, but in the meantime we wish to thank all of our readers for their support and interest. We will keep up our social media presence on both Facebook and Twitter but for now and in the words of Edward R. Murrow, we bid you “good night and good luck”.