Dima and Sergey, Ukraine, 2006
Another photographer I recently found through Aperture is Michal Chelbin. Here are three from the series Strangely Familiar. This work is just so, so good. Perplexing and gorgeous.
Angelina with her Father, Israel, 2005
The writing about the work is really strong, too. An excerpt from Chelbin’s statement:
“My playground lies between the private and the public, between fictionand documentary. For me, the image is just the tip of the iceberg; it’sthe gate to a story waiting to be told and which I try to depict in anappealing yet troubling way. This story is about a life full ofcontradictions on the battle ground between fantasy and reality. Manyviewers tell me that the world discovered in my images is strange. Ifthey find it strange, it is only because the world is indeed a strangeplace.
I just try to show that.” 
Roman and Natasha, Ukraine, 2006
I really appreciate you blog. I am loving the wide variety of imagery you are showcasing. Thanks and keep up the fabulous work. I really like Michal Chelbin. Thanks for the introduction.
Hi Rachel,
I am probably THE most ignorant reader of your blog. Mainly because I rarely see in these photographs what you see. At least thats the way it seems to me.
My humble request to you is that you give more detailed explanations of what it is that you see in these photographs. What is it that makes you go… “This work is just so, so good. Perplexing and gorgeous.”
I am sure, that like me, there are may others who have become photographers in the age of microstock. To us, getting an image technically correct is the most important issue. But I guess thats not how the world sees it. I have read on many occasions that photo editors and art buyers think the work on the usual microstock sites is “crap”. Unfortunately, we don’t know why. I guess we got our introduction to photography all wrong.
The summary of all that is, please continue your awesome blog. Please let us know what exactly you see in the photography in more detail. It will help us see these things too.
Thanks!
Khoj Badami
I saw Michal Chelbin’s work over on Nymphoto. There’s a great interview on the blog.
http://nymphoto.blogspot.com/2008/09/conversation-with-michal-chelbin.html
Love your blog, Rachel!