Yousuf Karsh is generally described as one of the greatest portrait photographers of the 20th century. The description is accurate. He created classically styled portraits of the rich and powerful and famous. His portraits were deliberately dramatic, rich in light and shadow, respectful of the … Keep readingYousuf Karsh
I was drawn to the title of Julie Blackmon’s recent photographic series: Domestic Vacations. It’s a whimsical contradiction. I’d never heard of Blackmon, but the title and the first photo I saw in the series was enough to intrigue me. I wanted to see more, … Keep readingJulie Blackmon
As he wandered around the San Lázaro Psychiatric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador, Japanese photographer Hiroshi Watanabe was followed by a woman patient. She nattered on about a toothache and he apparently didn’t pay much attention to her. As he was leaving, she asked him a … Keep readingHiroshi Watanabe
Two critical facts about William Christenberry. First, he was born in Alabama in 1936. He spent much of his childhood summers in Hale County, Alabama–a poor, rural county in the west central part of the state. Second, in 1944, when Christenberry was eight years old, … Keep readingWilliam Christenberry
The first time I heard the name Judith Joy Ross it was in connection to portraits of members of the United States Congress. It’s hard to imagine a less interesting photo series (at least that was my perspective), so I pretty much ignored her. Until … Keep readingJudith Joy Ross
Edward Burtynsky has been called the Ansel Adams of the ruined landscape. He creates large, stunningly beautiful images of nature, but not the organic nature celebrated by Adams. Burtynsky describes the essential theme of his photography as “nature transformed through industry.” Burtynsky was born in … Keep readingEdward Burtynsky
There is a romantic tradition in American popular culture of the itinerant adventurer. A man alone, traveling around the country, meeting people, becoming involved in their lives for a short time, then wandering off again. It’s a common television/movie trope; we’ve seen protagonists travel by … Keep readingAlec Soth
At some point around 1910 portrait photographer August Sander began to undertake an incredibly bold project—a project of almost unimaginable scale. He’d decided to create a portrait series that would document the entire scope of contemporary German society. The portraits weren’t to be portraits of … Keep readingAugust Sander
I’m not sure how much this influenced my take on the photography of Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison, but I first encountered their work on one of those dreary, unseasonably chilly, drizzly grey days when the sun never comes out. The Scots have a word for … Keep readingRobert and Shana ParkeHarrison
Playful. We don’t hear that word often enough in connection to photography. But it’s summertime (at least in the northern hemisphere) and that means it’s time to relax and play. German photographer Jan von Holleben’s most recent series “Dreams of Flying” is unabashedly playful. Von … Keep readingJan von Holleben