With 100,000 objects dating from ancient times to the present, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in the western United States. For one of their current exhibitions LACMA uses Viewbook to show a selection of art works from Los Angelenos/Chicano Painters. You can visit the the LACMA page here.

In this first post of our portfolio series, we’ll show you three portfolios. Using low-fi techniques and without uncovering the scratches the following artists create ‘unpolished’ and very atmospheric images.

Jeffrey Engel engelfoto.viewbook.com
Jeffrey uses an interesting combination of cameras and techniques to create his high-contrast apocalyptic like images. He uses a hard-to-find 4×5 (large format) infrared film on a Graflex Speed Graphic modified to use an old giant WWII-era airplane reconnaissance camera lens. A digital camera that was modified internally so that the sensor only captures infrared light and an old Soviet-era medium format camera with a broken lens that gives weird focus / de-focus effects much like a large-format camera.

Adriano Sodré cassiopeia.viewbook.com
The Holga is a cheap, medium format 120 film toy camera, made in China, appreciated for its low-fidelity aesthetic. Adriano creates simple personal, silently framed, sometimes utter sweet pictures (see the ‘natureza viva’ series).

Gabriele Rosso gabrielerosso.viewbook.com
Gabriele Rosso shows you graphic design, photography, illustration and clothing, leaving the rough edges in place.

Interested in getting your portfolio here? Drop us an e-mail with the link to your Viewbook portfolio.

Our very first featured consists of Mamabart, a contemporary artist from the Netherlands who’s work seems to coax a head-turn out of anyone who tries to understand it. Playing with his audience, Mamabart approaches from a seemingly familiar angle, only to have you step back a second later and realize he had you where he wanted. Take another look.

Also, read about graphic designer Paul Swagerman (OOPS Design), who we’ve asked to explain his methods and ideas on the road to a successful design.

We hope you enjoy the read and check out the links we’ve provided if you want to see more of Mamabart or Paul Swagerman.