Lastly this week we present Zed Nelson’s project ‘Love Me’.

All photos © Zed Nelson.

‘Love Me’ looks at the beauty industry and the impact of the culture of body improvement on a wide variety of very different individuals from many countries and cultures.

‘Love Me’ is available as a book.

Today we feature some intimate landscapes from Helena Kvarnström:

All photos © Helena Kvarnström

From her series ‘Forks of the Credit 2006′.

More here.

Another photo essay selection today, this one from Michael Mullady who documents how pollution from the local metal smelting plant affects the lifes of the inhabitants of La Oroya, Peru.

All photos © Michael Mullady

More here.

Our first selection this week is a photo essay from Chloe Dewe Mathews - ‘Bangor Boys of Britain’:

All photos © Chloe Dewe Mathews

More here.

Our final pick of the week is a gallery showing the work of Ken Kitano. This particular photo is from his work ‘City Flow and Fusion’.

Tokyo Dome

© Ken Kitano

The gallery and photographer profile is presented by Japan Exposures.

The largest ever UK exhibition of the life and work of photographer Don McCullin is opening tomorrow (6th Feb) at the Imperial War Museum North.

The exhibition contains more than 200 photographs, many of which are on public display for the first time.

Don McCullin with Delta Company, 1/5th US Marines during the Battle for Hue, Tet Offensive, Vietnam, February 1968.
Photograph © Nik Wheeler

The exhibition runs until 13th June and then moves to Bath and then London. Full exhibition details here: Shaped by War: Photographs by Don McCullin.

For more on Don McCullin, ‘John Tusa Interviews Don McCullin’ via AMERICANSUBURB X.

And the Today programme presents an audio slideshow.

Our pick today is a somewhat surreal, but rather compelling image from Luca de Marchi:

© Luca de Marchi

More here.

Our pick today is a series by Angus Boulton:

All photos © Angus Boulton

More here.

Our pick today is a photo essay from Mark Power/Magnum in Motion.

The shipping forecast and the names of the shipping areas are part of British public consciousness. In practice for most listeners the shipping forecast and conditions at sea have no meaningfull impact on their lives.  However, as a child I remember listening to these mysterious names and wondering what it must be like for the people who were riding out an increasing gale force 9 in German Bight.

The essay from Mark Power explores “the clash between the pictures built up in his imagination since childhood and the reality of the places he found”.

It’s a wonderfully atmospheric piece, enhanced by the forecast soundtrack. The only minor negative is that some of the photos linger all too briefly.

Click here for the essay.

For the first POD for each month I think we’ll get into the habit of looking back at some classic photography. So to kick off February I’m delighted to present this quietly intense portrait from Paul Strand:

More here.