steve daubs photo

Well, I’m obviously back in the USA, feeling more than a...

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:14:00 -0400

Downtown Richland Center, Wisc., at dusk.

Morning fog, as seen from the deck of my parent's house.

Grassy field in morning.

Rolling cornfields of Wisconsin.

The classic American farm.

Well, I’m obviously back in the USA, feeling more than a little trapped in rural Wisconsin as I visit my parents before moving to Florida. But I finally upgraded my camera and need to figure out its idiosyncrocies, so I’ve been heading out into the countryside every morning and evening to shoot.

It’s not exactly the bustle of Kharkiv, and everywhere I go people stare at me. In fact, after I took the first photo in this gallery, a young guy accosted me and demanded to know what I was doing. He had driven down the street as I finished shooting a few more frames.

“Just shooting a few photos,” I said.

“That’s weird,” he said.

Ahh, Wisconsin…

"With these photographs, I have attempted to show a cross-section of the American population. My..."

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:52:58 -0400

“

With these photographs, I have attempted to show a cross-section of the American population. My effort was to express it simply and without confusion. The view is personal and, therefore, various facets of American life and society have been ignored. The photographs were taken during 1955 and 1956; for the most part in large cities such as Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and in many other places during my Journey across the country. My book, containing these photographs, will be published in Paris by Robert Delpire, 1958.

I have been frequently accused of deliberately twisting subject matter to my point of view. Above all, I know that life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference. Opinion often consists of a kind of criticism. But criticism can come out of love. It is important to see what is invisible to others—perhaps the look of hope or the look of sadness. Also, it is always the instantaneous reaction to oneself that produces a photograph.

My photographs are not planned or composed in advance and I do not anticipate that the on-looker will share my viewpoint. However, I feel that if my photograph leaves an image on his mind—something has been accomplished.

”

- Robert Frank “A Statement” (1958)

Some images from Odessa this summer.

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:53:45 -0400

Some images from Odessa this summer.

anyonecanshootthisshit: they will suck you out to the other...

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 03:57:33 -0400

anyonecanshootthisshit:

they will suck you out to the other side…

great use of reflections!

Sometimes Kharkiv can look quite beautiful!

Tue, 29 May 2012 05:35:01 -0400

Flowers at Schevenko Park.

Reflecting pond and fountain.

Sometimes Kharkiv can look quite beautiful!

Some of the cool Soviet-era cars I’ve seen in Ukraine. Can...

Fri, 25 May 2012 04:08:00 -0400

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Some of the cool Soviet-era cars I’ve seen in Ukraine. Can you name the makes and models? Post your answers in the comments!

futurejournalismproject: Journalist Security Guide The...

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:29:59 -0400

futurejournalismproject:

Journalist Security Guide

The Committee to Protect Journalists just released an extensive online guide for journalism security:

This guide details what journalists need to know in a new and changing world. It is aimed at local and international journalists of varied levels of experience. The guide outlines basic preparedness for new journalists taking on their first assignments around the world, offers refresher information for mid-career journalists returning to the field, and provides advice on complex issues such as digital security and threat assessment for journalists of all experience levels.

Topics covered include:

Basic Preparedness

Assessing and Responding to Risk

Information Security

Armed Conflic

Organized Crime and Corruption

Civial Matters and Disturbances

Natural Disasters

Health Epidemics and Mass Hazards

Sustained Risks

Stress Reactions

Check it. Share it. Great stuff.

My redesigned website--check out my older and larger projects!

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:48:04 -0400

My redesigned website--check out my older and larger projects!:

This site represents my news, documentary, travel work over the past few years. I’d love to get some feedback!

The two padlocked doors of a public toilet in Kharkiv.

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:44:23 -0400

The two padlocked doors of a public toilet in Kharkiv.

Sunlight reflected off windows.

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:54:37 -0400

Sunlight reflected off windows.

Mother and son on the metro.

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:30:00 -0400

Mother and son on the metro.

Buying apples on the street.

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:18:05 -0400

Buying apples on the street.

Radion’s favorite place at the window in his living room.

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:15:31 -0400

Radion’s favorite place at the window in his living room.

Hare Krishnas dancing in the streets of Kharkiv.

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:12:00 -0400

Hare Krishnas dancing in the streets of Kharkiv.

At least 300 people gathered in downtown Kharkiv today to...

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:41:00 -0400

A sign protesting EURO 2012.

A boy holds a "green front" flag.

Boycott EURO 2012 poster.

"Protect animals-A matter of honor."

Photos of dogs killed.

A protester with a photo of her dog.

A boy holds up a protest poster.

More than 300 people marched in protest.

A protester of the Kharkiv Vet School.

"Stop poison. Stop Killing."

At least 300 people gathered in downtown Kharkiv today to protest the treatment of cats and dogs before the upcoming EURO 2012 championship. Organized by the Animal Help League, the protest promoted the sterilization of stray animals rather than killing them, the sterilization of pets to avoid creating new stray animals, and decrying the cruelty of poisoning stray animals to get them off the streets before the tourists arrive for the football championships.

Participants chanted “Stop Killing Animals” as they marched from Constitution Square to Freedom Square.

Just What makes a Document?

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:50:00 -0400

A document is a piece of evidence or proof of something; to document is to create the evidence or proof of something. So when we talk about documentary photography, we are talking about providing proof of something; but of course, a photograph is always subject to interpretation, to justified skepticism of the photographer’s intentions and perspective. But when we come to the question of truth—does this photo represent the “truth” of a situation—we can see that a photo can represent truth just as easily as propaganda or distortion.

I approach the idea of documentary photography as both an art and a fact-finding mission. I strive to present beautiful photographs that show the truth—as I see it—of lives of ordinary people. These photographs are documents of life as I see it, trying to understand and incorporate the ideas and values of the people I include in my photos. It is not comprehensive, as no single person can show this, but rather it is very personal. Does this make it propaganda? Or distortion? I’m curious about your thoughts on tumblr. Please feel free to respond and comment.

The glamorous style of many young Ukrainian women stands in...

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:25:00 -0400

The glamorous style of many young Ukrainian women stands in stark contrast to the hard lives of the elderly women who sell berries and vegetables on every street corner. Weren’t these elderly pensioners once the glamorous young women of Ukraine?

Girls talking near the steps of a Novosibirsk metro station.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:50:00 -0400

Girls talking near the steps of a Novosibirsk metro station.

Woman selling candles on Sumskaya Street.

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:32:00 -0400

Woman selling candles on Sumskaya Street.

Two girls walk past a arch in old Kharkiv.

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:41:00 -0400

Two girls walk past a arch in old Kharkiv.