Fashion photography centered on African themes is often so fetishized or romanticized that it becomes less about representing a continent or a people than it is about being exotic for the sake of exoticism.  So much so that the personal touch Viviane Sassen injects into her work goes miles to separate her from others who travel to the continent as visitors.  Sassen, a Dutch fashion photographer who lived in Kenya as a child, has a way of making her portraits feel authentic despite how highly stylized they are.  Even the most obviously posed portraits have an almost candid quality.  And throughout, her love for Africa and affection for the people she shoots come through as vibrantly as the rich colors she favors.  Sassen is also creating an alternative view to what many outsiders think of Africa, in a way that only an insider can.  As she told Karin Nelson of the New York Times, “People in the West have a quite limited idea of what the place is about.  Hunger, war, AIDS … It’s so much more diverse and exciting.”  See more of her work after the jump.

The photos of mine that I like best always have a sense of juxtaposition, whether it’s an object in the foreground slicing through the background, man-made structures in an otherwise natural environment, or, as in the photo above, something rough and destroyed in a beautiful setting. My friends and I came across this totaled car while on a bike tour of the Aran Islands, off the coast of Galway, Ireland in 2006. Whatever damage that may have occurred in an accident was helped along by stones thrown through the windows and garbage piled up inside.  I like how the bay in the background, the stone walls that have been standing there for decades (if not longer) and the general tranquility of the scene contrast nicely with the demolished car abandoned in front.

Graffiti artists have been going mainstream for years, from Cope2 designing Chuck Taylors, to Claw Money’s successful clothing line, BNE given the New York Times profile treatment and Christina Aguilera buying up Banksy prints.  And while most of these artists still hang on to their “Fuck The Man” mentality, there is something to be said for the no-name kids out there today, tagging walls (and people’s front doors) in the original wild style spirit inherited from the greats.  Graffiti certainly has its detractors, but for me it’s something that is so integral to city life — a point supported by simply taking in the spray painted walls and urban structures all over the world.  I’m always drawn to graffiti whenever I travel, and make it a point to document what I see, from the political to the personal.  After the jump and above, I’ve included a sampling from four cities I’ve visited over the past few years, including Dublin, Lisbon, my own New York and San Juan, PR.   Enjoy.

This was a throwaway shot from my hotel window during my last trip to Rome a few years back. I recently rediscovered it while going through some old photos, and it’s become one of my favorites again. The stillness, the fluorescent light on the cobblestone, the Vespas — it reminds me so much of the city I called home for five months when I was 21. My memories of Rome are always more sensory than my memories of other cities; the smells, the sounds, that distinct almost-quiet that fell upon the city at night, interrupted by a growling motorino or animated conversation echoing against the travertine walls. Not as silent as the suburbs, but without the constant noise of New York or London. This shot was taken a few blocks from where my apartment was in Trastevere, but on the other side of the river, close to Largo Argentina.  Click to enlarge.

Terry Richardson has one of the most instantly recognizable and oft-imitated styles in contemporary fashion photography, marked by harsh lighting, suggestive poses and a general air of dirty old man-ness.  And now he has a Tumblr!

As The Cut pointed out, Terry’s Diary is packed with pics of Richardson and his famous friends.  After all, he is one of the few photographers who can count President Obama, Megan Fox, the entire cast of Jackass and young Macaulay Culkin among his subjects.  But, it’s the everyday sort of shots that make the blog particularly interesting, with everything from Richardson’s trademark flannels to his childhood photos chronicled for fans to peruse.

My personal favorite, though, is his mother.  I won’t say anything bad about her, because she’s his mother and I’m sure she’s a nice lady.

On a completely unrelated note, has anyone ever seen The Hills Have Eyes?

All photos taken Nov. 15, 2009 — for more, see s. dool photos.

1.) Still from Rihanna’s upcoming video for “Hard”
2.) Prince Pelayo takes on Mickey Mouse
3.) Teenage photography phenom Eleanor Hardwick

The Moment has a great post today about legendary photographer William Klein and his classic photography book “Rome.”  Documenting the Eternal City in it’s pre-Dolce Vita days, Klein captured some deceptively simple shots of everyday life with such mastery they still brim with life over 50 years later.  It must have been an amazing time to be in Rome, as the Old World charm of the city collided with a new, modern age that in some ways still eludes it to this day.  With an ease and grace, Klein’s work in “Rome” is an inspiration to photographers documenting city life anywhere across the globe.