The Gambia-Helen Jones-Florio & Jason Florio's photostream

www.hfgallery.org/exhibitions/2011_07/2011_07-jf-1.html

ATLANTA, June 29, 2011 – Hagedorn Foundation Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of images by award winning photographer Jason Florio. Florio, whose artistic oeuvre is funded by his commercial and photojournalistic work, presents a remarkable series of classic black and white portraits of villagers living near the sacred forest of Makasutu, and five rich color prints of village elders, produced during 12 years of travels by foot through the small West African country of The Gambia.

Resonating with a lushness and interior investigation of his subjects, as seen in masters such as Irving Penn, Jason Florio’s elegant series is immensely enriching. Each very personal image is shot in an outdoor studio jerry–rigged in available spaces and formalized with a black linen sheet, which the artist hangs in the trees to provide an isolating and focusing scrim. Members of the small Makasutu community are pictured in the execution of their duties -- night fishers, oyster gatherers, rat-catchers, ceremonial leaders. Concurrently, Florio came to know the elders of every small village in Gambia and made their formal portraits, much like a “presidential portrait,” with important appurtenances at the ready, Florio imbues his subjects with a quiet dignity, warmth, and shimmering beauty unique in photography today..........

www.hfgallery.org/press/2011-07-01_jf.html

www.hfgallery.org/exhibitions/2011_07/2011_07-jf-11.html

www.hfgallery.org/press/2011-07-01_jf.html

www.floriophoto.com/#/news%20and%20awards/news%20and%20aw...

Travel Africa Magazine - ‘One Foot at a Time’ Read about our 930km walk around The Gambia, West Africa - with two donkeys, a cart and a camera. Words: Helen Jones-Florio Images: Jason Florio & HJF
Available on line and from: W.H. Smiths and Stanfords Bookshop

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Please visit the website to see Jason Florio’s award-winning series of portraits, of Gambian chiefs (‘Alkalos’), from the expedition:

www.floriophoto.com/#/projects/930km%20african%20odyssey/1

930kmafricanodyssey.tumblr.com/

www.floriophoto.com/#/projects/makasutu/1 more from the series by Jason Florio on the website