TOP 10 reader submissions of 2019 - photography to change perspectives

in addition to the numerous architecture and design projects, our readers have also delighted us with a variety of intriguing photography series in 2019. not just beautifully composed images, over the past year we have enjoyed many submissions that also alter reality, raise awareness of a specific social issue, or simply take us on a journey to a certain time and place. 

thanks to our readers’ and the open dialogue we strive to maintain, we have received several thousands of projects, from which we have gladly shared a handpicked selection. from the nostalgia of 1970s tokyo to an incredible overview of barcelona’s urban fabric, we highlight our TOP 10 reader submissions of 2019 – photography to change perspectives.

1 – tokyo in the 1970s, a pre-blade runner city, amazing unseen photos by greg girard

to mark the release of his latest book, ‘tokyo-yokosuka 1976-1983’, greg girard shared a collection of largely unseen images offering a nostalgic glimpse of the japanese capital before it exploded into the hyper-modern metropolis we know today. using a combination of color and black and white compositions, the photographs perfectly depict the ‘pre-blade runner’ era. capturing both the people and the urban landscapes of tokyo and yokosuka, the series transport viewers back in time – evoking a sense of what it was like to visit, or live in, japan’s cities during the 70s.

read more here

2 – a reflected world of venice is captured in mayank thammalla’s latest photo series

for his latest project entitled ‘echoes of venice’, mayank thammalla took viewers on a journey through the canals of the famous italian city. after visiting several times, the london based architect and photographer became captivated by the blurry shapes and vivid colors reflected on the water that surrounds the venetian architecture. inspired by the sense of calmness that can be found by gazing into the water, thammalla began to question the line between imagination and reality. with this in mind, this photo series depicts numerous watery scenes of the city, aiming to capture the ‘motionless yet flowing’ character of the reflections.

read more here

3 – ‘neon rome’ by m²ft architects envisions italian landmarks lit with neon signage

the ‘neon rome’ project by m²ft architects envisioned some of the most famous buildings in the italian capital adorned with brightly-lit signage. the concept proposed by the practice aimed to play with the meaning of urban transformation by showing historic architecture in stark contrast with a contemporary element – in a state between the real and the surreal. the neon aesthetic was selected with the intention to create the impression of something alien – a foreign intervention against the backdrop of these well-known landmarks.

read more here

4 – ‘barcelona from above’ by márton mogyorósy captures the architecture of the city

budapest-based photographer, márton mogyorósy, utilized drone technology to create his new photography series entitled, ‘barcelona from above.’ the project comprised of aerial images of the spanish city, forming a detailed appreciation of it’s architecture and coastline. from ricardo bofill’s ‘walden 7’ to the unmistakable ‘eixample’ district envisioned by cerdà, the collection highlighted the vibrant colors and diverse geometries which make up the urban fabric of barcelona.

read more here

5 – jonathan lipkin captures the ocean’s fleeting nature in composite photo series

over the past seven years, photographer jonathan lipkin captured the emotional resonance of the ocean, exploring our perception of the sea and its fleeting nature. recreating the psychological space of the ocean, his composite photographs are created by leaving the camera’s shutter open for several seconds, and then printed in monumental scale to immerse viewers into the limitless horizon.

read more here

6 – the ‘belted survivor’ series transforms real seatbelt wounds into badges of honour

liam woke up from a coma the day before his daughter was born. if he hadn’t been wearing a seatbelt, he wouldn’t have woken up at all. he’s one of ten young men from new zealand featured in the ‘belted survivor’ photography series: a collection of portraits of real crash survivors, that turns the distinctive wounds left behind by seatbelts into badges of honour. around 90 people die on new zealand’s roads every year because they’re not wearing their seatbelt, with young males making up the majority of these fatalities. in an effort to encourage seatbelts to be used, the project was initiated by NZ transport agency and clemenger BBDO wellington.

read more here

7 – photographer captures cholets, bolivian style houses that represent success in the andean region

in el alto, bolivia, a growing economy and a renewed sense of indigenous pride have led to the rise of a new style of architecture which introduced some color in the city of el alto. during a trip to bolivia, yuri segalerba retraced the streets of el alto to discover and photograph these buildings.

read more here

8 – emilie möri captures the fluid movement of fabric under the monsoon rains of thailand

for one of her most recent projects, graphic designer and photographer emilie möri presented the ‘red stole’ series, which was shot entirely on iPhone. taken during a wet monsoon day in thailand, möri perfectly captured the ethereal movement of her daughter as she swims in a pool, in the rain, holding on to the titular red stole. 

read more here

9 – ‘shanghai streets’ by cody ellingham captures the city’s historic lane houses

cody ellingham explored shanghai and the intricate communal shikumen lane houses that are unique to the city’s oldest districts. as part of his ‘shanghai streets’ series, the new zealand based photographer set out to capture the historic homes before they are torn down and replaced. with newer buildings seen rising distantly in the background, the images highlight the smaller scale of the older lane houses amongst a rapidly changing city. 

read more here

10 – romain veillon travels across europe to photograph fresco paintings in abandoned buildings

for his latest series – titled ‘the imaginary museum’ – french photographer romain veillon took viewers on a journey through the abandoned buildings of europe to capture the beautiful paintings that have been left behind by their owners. documenting a bygone era when art was a symbol of wealth and importance, the collection of images makes us imagine what the frescos looked like in their heyday, before they became worn and faded over time. 

read more here

see designboom’s TOP 10 stories archive: