My Three Picks from “The Calvert Journal”

Cruise

by Ieva Ruadsepa

These images are taken from the book Cruise by Ieva Raudsepa and depict teens from Riga, the capital city of Latvia. The setting of all photographs is a ferry traveling from Riga to Stockholm by night. I was immediately drawn to the seemingly amateur photographs. I like that they could just as well be random party snapshots. However, they create an authentic viewpoint and convey a message of youthfulness today that evokes a feeling of nostalgia.

Kontakt

by Máté Bartha

This photography project by Mate Bartha is very thought provoking. The photographer spent 18 months at a military youth camp in an rural area of Hungary. The composition of the images is constructed excellently and the colour palette is a very distinct feature that adds to the theme of the piece. The weapons, the uniforms and stern expressions tell a story of sorrow and force but after reading the accompanying article it becomes clear that the photographer is not trying to portray the camp as negative and speaks very nuanced about it. That is supported by the aesthetic appearance of the images. She claims that the camp gives these kids a sense of belonging and motivates them.

What is intimacy? 10 Russian queer women talk candidly about love

by Dasha Tchainki and Sasha Kazanteseva

This picture essay deals with the struggle of being in an LGBTQ+ relationship in Russia. Although the interview and the photos show the love between the couples it still becomes evident that most still have to put up with homophobia from their families and the Russian public and . This topic of intolerance is filled anger and sadness, however, I like that the photos’ primary focus is the intimacy and love between the couples. In my opinion it is a very well done portrayal as it conveys these aspects perfectly. Lastly, I really like the color scheme that the photographer chose, as it adds to the feeling of intimacy and comfort these couples feel when they are in private and by not photographing any of them outside in public, the project also conveys the lack of acceptance of their relationship in society without showing hateful images.