Exhibition #2
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Mara Zaslove/Returning to the Earth
FIRST PLACE

JUROR'S STATEMENTS:

Lori Pond-


"When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement." MARY OLIVER

"Mara Zaslove's photograph of a nude, elderly woman half-dissolved with plants and flowers makes me think of Mary Oliver's poem, "When Death Comes." The poem demonstrates so well what the viewer sees in the photograph: a person not resigned to death, but rather comforted by it, knowing she lived a full life. The impermanence of all things is also explored in this image when looking at the model's transparent body.  When I look at this image, I wonder: Is she already gone? Has she melded with the plants and flowers? Are the plants and flowers gone, too?"

Ellen Friedlander-

"Mara Zaslove's photograph "Returning to the Earth" is a profound exploration of the human condition that left me emotionally stirred and deeply reflective. While more literal than many submissions, its raw honesty and unflinching portrayal of life's journey are undeniably compelling. There's a palpable bravery in the way Zaslove confronts the viewer with the inevitability of mortality, yet amidst this stark reality, there lies a resounding beauty that is both captivating and haunting. Each layer of the photograph serves as a metaphor for the layers of existence, echoing the complexity and fragility of life itself. The interplay of light and shadow not only signifies the passage of time but also underscores the transient nature of our existence. Through this composition, Zaslove invites us to confront our own mortality and contemplate the intricate dance between growth and decay. “Returning to the Earth” resonates long after the initial encounter, encapsulating the essence of the human experience with profound depth and poignancy."
https://www.pasadenaphotographyarts.org/who-we-are

Additional Juror Review by Carl Shubs-
"For me, this image portrays the fragility of life, beyond the common idealizations and tropes of wisdom, good judgment, valued experience, and worthy of being venerated for their various hoods: godhood, goddesshood, sagehood, etc..  Those are all attributes we will have left behind, if we had them and shared them with others.  And it also conveys what lies ahead, “Returning to the Earth,” dust to dust.  Well done."
https://www.carlshubsphotography.com/

----------------------------------
Jurors Ellen Friedlander and Lori Pond ask Mara Zaslove:
"How did you originally convince your friend Ingeborg to pose nude?"

Zaslove says, "Our 2nd shoot took place in a friend’s backyard.  Out of the blue, Inge asked if she could take off her clothes.  This request caught me by surprise, but I was delighted with this unique opportunity. Initially, Inge’s movements were spontaneous and candid.  As we worked together, a collaboration evolved with both of us being open to each other’s suggestions."
 
Friedllander/Pond ask, "How did Ingeborg feel about doing this shoot? How emotional was it for you both?"
 
Zaslove say, "Inge seemed totally at ease with disrobing and was completely comfortable with her nudity as was I. The fact that our friendship and collaboration was at its inception did not interfere with how relaxed we both were in each other’s presence.  Her nakedness and fluidity when ‘dancing’ around the yard was a joyful experience for us both."
 
Friedlander/Pond say, "Have your feelings about death and dying changed since you did this project?"

Zaslove says, "This is an interesting question and one that I have thought about while creating this series. Early on in my life, I was unexpectedly confronted with a life-threatening illness. I faced it head on and was fortunate to have it arrested.  I have always felt like a survivor no matter what the obstacle and this attitude has carried me through many difficult experiences. My positive attitude and appreciation of the beauty in the world also happens to mirror Inge’s lust for life.  Having Inge as a mentor through this inevitable aging process has buoyed me.

I have never taken life for granted and this project has only solidified how I feel about death and dying. I find that it is critical to accept the various stages of life by adapting rather than resisting the inevitability of death. While acknowledging the fragility of life, embracing each moment allows me to deeply appreciate the time that I have left."

Zaslove elaborates on her project: The images in 'Cycle of Life'' are from a project that I have been working on for the past 10 years with my muse, Inge. We met in a Chi Gong class and after some time, I approached her, asking if she would collaborate with me. During this process, we have become very close friends. Documenting how gracefully she has aged has been a highlight of my photographic career. These six images illustrate a type of chronological order of her journey from her youth to 95 years old."

Mara Zaslove is a fine art photographer who thrives on creating visual conversations that embrace the diversity of the human spirit, the universality of aging and the beauty of the natural world. 
She received a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and later, a Teaching Credential at U.C.L.A.  After completing her MA in Counseling and Guidance from California State, Northridge, she became a Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist.

Her background as a therapist informs her photographic work and brings a heightened sensitivity to how she perceives the world. It also assisted her in developing coursework to teach photography to typical and special needs children at a variety of institutions. Mara has acted as a volunteer photographer for the Inner-City Arts program as well as the Donna Sternberg Dance Company.  She also served as the Staff Photographer for Diavolo, an internationally renowned dance company based in Los Angeles.

Her photographs have been exhibited in juried group shows both nationally and internationally in such venues as Los Angeles Center for Photography, Gallery 825 (LAAA), Photo LA, Griffin Museum and the SC Center for Photography as well as other venues around the world. 
 
 
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Mara Zaslove/Dawn to Dusk
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Mara Zaslove/From the Beginning

IMAGES FOR SALE-

Dawn to Dusk - 11"H x14"W
Archival Paper
$350 unframed
Limited edition of 12
Signed on back

From the Beginning - 14"H x 11"W
Archival Paper
$350 unframed
Limited edition of 20
Signed on back

In her Youth - 14"H x 11"W
Archival Paper
$350 unframed
Limited edition of 12
Signed on back

Mirror Image - 14"H x 11"W
Archival Paper
$350 unframed
Limited edition of 20
Signed on back

On the Slopes - 14"H x 11"W
Archival Paper
$350 unframed
Limited edition of 12
Signed on back

Returning to the Earth - 11"W x 14"W
Archival Paper
$350 unframed
Limited edition of 12
Signed on back

Contact Mara Zaslove
zaslovemara@gmail.com

www.marazaslove.com
www.instagram.com/marazaslove4
 
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Mara Zaslove/In her Youth
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Mara Zaslove/Mirror Image
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Mara Zaslove/On the Slopes
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Marta Manning/Disappearing

Much of Marta Mannings photo work involves film and alternative processes, which she combines to create a specific mood in her photos. The art is enmeshed with introspective and psychoanalytical components, which allow Marta to explore issues such as traumatic memories, dreams and fantasies, family history, mental illness, and addiction in her work. Marta’s photography invites the viewer to look below the surface, using carefully directed lighting and symbolism to set the tone. 

Marta Manning was born in Poland and works as a market and science consultant. Marta has received B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She has also been working as a freelance photographer since high school, focusing on portraiture and fine art commissions.

Marta has exhibited in numerous juried group shows, including at the Charles Sumner School Museum in Washington, DC, the Darkroom Gallery in Essex Junction, VT, and the Quinebaug Valley Council for the Arts and Humanities in Southbridge, MA. 

Career Highlights -

Juried Group Exhibitions:
 "Chronograph", The Darkroom Gallery, Essex Junction, VT, January 2015 
“Portraiture: Expression and Gesture”, Photoplace Gallery, Middlebury, VT, February 2015
“Never Not Broken”, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI, March 2016
“emotion”, A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, September 2016
“What’s Certain About Uncertainty”, Midland, MI, July 2021


 
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Marta Manning/Just Breathe



 
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Marta Manning/Make a Wish

L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Marta Manning/Our Light
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Marta Manning/Passing Time
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Marta Manning/ Rainbow
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Martha Clarkson/ Birthday party at station

Review by Laurie Freitag, Director L.A. Photo Curator.

"Martha Clarkson's collection of six photographs not only celebrates the diverse stages of womanhood and ethnicities but also reflects her distinct leaning towards street photography. With an eye for capturing candid moments, Clarkson immerses the viewer in the vibrant tapestry of everyday life. Through the lens of street photography, she invites us to witness the beauty of womanhood as it unfolds in an urban landscape.

In one image, a young girl playfully wears a mustache, exuding a sense of innocence and whimsy that adds a touch of levity to the collection. This playful moment serves as a reminder of the joy and spontaneity that can be found amidst the challenges of everyday life. 

By incorporating elements of street photography into her collection, Clarkson adds a layer of immediacy and intimacy to her portraits, allowing us to glimpse into the lives of her subjects with unfiltered honesty. Each image tells a story that is as nuanced and complex as the women themselves, reminding us of the beauty that can be found in the most ordinary of moments.
 
Martha Clarkson’s photography can be found at NYC4paSE Center for Photography, Lightbox Photography Gallery F-Stop Magazine, Black Box Gallery, Sunspot Magazine, LensCulture, Light, Space, and Time Gallery, Ours photography magazine, Calyx, Junto.
 
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Martha Clarkson/ Career Chioices
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Martha Clarkson/Self- Portrait
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Martha Clarkson/Ponderance
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Martha Clarkson/Treats
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Martha Clarkson/Walking to the Party
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Never Edit/06
HONORABLE MENTION

Never Edit says, "Watching people has fascinated me since childhood... the variety of their looks, behaviour, expressions, and emotions. I tried to memorize what I saw, using my eyes as camera and my brain as hard disk. When I first heard of street photography a couple of years ago, it felt like I found "home". Saving that split second forever not only in my memory but as a photograph is what I've become addicted to.
 
When I go out, I have nothing specific in mind, I just shoot whatever I find interesting, and I prefer the candid spontaneous shot anytime over picture-perfect or posed photos.
 
Living in Germany, I feel restricted by the laws and the lack of good light, so I travel to other countries as often as possible to pursue my passion."
 
www.never-edit.com
www.instagram.com/never.edit
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Never Edit/01
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Never Edit/02
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Never Edit/03
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Never Edit/04
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Never Edit/05
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Nina Weinberg Doran /Castries Market

Nina Weinberg Doran says,"My work is about different aspects of my own personality.... But it’s always about connection, nuances, emotional dialogue, with others and self, touching on that which is familiar to us all rather than what sets us apart. When asked what kind of photography I do I often find it difficult to answer. My work is not rigidly defined, though I think there is a commonality of emotion felt in much of it.  

I rather see myself as fluid, like a rubber band that is always stretching itself to see in new ways, to find different ways to express what I experience and see, and not to be confined by any one style. This is not on purpose. It’s just who I am,and my own personality reflects the same.

It’s often difficult to stay on one thematic, so I work several at a time, because that is how life is, a mixture of moments coming at you from different angles all at once. I never try to make the shoe fit. I think in the end my work is two different things, responsive and compositional, and I believe when looking through my body of work one gets an essence of who I am and where my heart lies.

When I truly have something in mind,  I’ve  mostly begun with a single image. I am not thinking about a story line at this point. Rather it’s about seeing, composing, and getting that image. It’s only later that I start to see the threads and seeds of connection and may draw some correlations from my work and formally stitch thing together . I must look carefully, through the ripples and nuances of my work.

Clearly, if perusing my work...one can see I am most interested in portraiture, humanity, walking in communities, finding connections with people, stirring up conversations, and anecdotal moments and taking it from there. I love the kneading to release the essence of a moment.  Recently, I’ve been continuing my work in the West Indies, a place deeply personal and where a part of my heart lives, but there are many other works in the background."

It wasn’t until the age of 46 that Nina Weinberg Doran, a self-taught artist, discovered her passion for photography. Based in New York, she has been doing work in the Caribbean, Guatemala, Morocco, Mexico and the streets of New York City.

Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows at museums and galleries including, The Center for Photographic Art (CA), The Griffin Museum of Photography (MA), A Smith Gallery(TX), SoHo Photo (NYC) SxSE Gallery(GA), Lightbox Photographic Gallery(OR),PH21Gallery (Budapest), Center for Fine Art Photography (CO), The Half King (NYC), Dark Room Gallery (VT), Culture Lab, AHM Gallery (VA), Eyebuzz Gallery (NY)., she was included in Rising Waters: Photographs of Hurricane Sandy, an exhibition at both Governors Island and the Museum of the City of New York, a collaboration between the Museum of the City of New York and the International Center of Photography.

She recently won the grand prize for her work with New York Center for Photographic Art, and The APG Annual Photography Show, exhibiting in the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, and The Global Billboard Winner for NYC. 

Nina has received numerous honorable mentions, and has been included in several publications. Having won the Julia Margaret Cameron Category Award competition several times; her work was included in “A collection of works by women photographers”.

She is currently continuing her work in the West Indies, a place deeply personal and close to her heart.

http://www.ninaweinbergdoran.com
http://www.instagram.com/ninaweinbergdoran

 
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Nina Weinberg Doran/Lunchtime
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Nina Weinberg Doran/Untitled 1
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Nina Weinberg Doran/Untitled 2
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Nina Weinberg Doran/Untitled 4
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Nina Weinberg Doran/Untitled 5
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Norman Aragones/Cancer

Norman Aragones says, "The main paradigm in my photographic art revolves around the concept of depth (having some level of meaning within the photo and thus attempting to elicit a viewer's reaction through deliberate imagery). My hope is that the viewer comes away with some feeling, idea, and/or perspective from seeing my photo(s). The techniques I use in creating photographic images are not something specific. I just try to work diligently in creating something in particular (that I had envisioned previously in my mind's eye)."

Images for Sale-

Grandmother Praying
16" H x 20" W
Acrylic
$300 
Limited edition of 10
Signed on back


Expectations
16" H x 24" W
Metal
$400 
Limited edition of 10
Signed on back



Cancer
20" H x 24" W
Metal
$400
Limited edition of 10
Signed on back

Contact: Norman Aragones
norm560478@yahoo.com















 
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Norman Aragones/Expectations
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Norman Aragones/Grandmother Praying
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Polina Schneider/Eithel and Moishe

Polina Schneider was born in St. Petersburg during the harsh times of the Perestroika. With an upbringing marked by a mix of languages, cultures and religions has shaped her perception of the world, which bleeds into her photographic practice. She captures contrasts and processes that involve the search of identity, environmental themes and cultural and political issues. Her work has been exhibited internationally in Europe and the USA. Polina is co-founder of a photography collective that focuses on environmental photography.

www.instagram.com/polisnaps
www.polisnaps.com

 
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Polina Schneider/Izkor-Memory
L.A. Photo Curator: Global Photography Awards - 'Where Photography & Philanthropy Meet' Exhibition #2
Polina Schneider/Jacoov in Jerusalem

Images for Sale-

Eithel and Moishe
Fine Art Print Hahnemühle
$350 unframed
Signed on back


Tree of Life
Fine Art Print Hahnemühle
$350 unframed
Signed on back

 
Jacoov in Jerusalem
Fine Art Print Hahnemühle
$350 unframed
Signed on back

 
Sossenki Forest
Fine Art Print Hahnemühle
$350 unframed
Signed on back


Ethel's Jewelry Box
Fine Art Print Hahnemühle
$350 unframed
Signed on back


Izkor - Memory
Fine Art Print Hahnemühle
$350 unframed
Signed on back

Contact: Polina Schneider polina.schneider@posteo.de