The Rich and the Poor Archives - Reading The Pictures

Chatting the Pictures Video March 14, 2021

Chatting the Pictures: A Focus on the Neediest Covid Patients in L.A.

"Is this the end?" Written in Spanish on a white board, this question has a lot to say about class, race, ethnicity and COVID-19 in L.A.

Chatting the Pictures Video May 2, 2020

Chatting the Pictures: Food Plant Workers at Risk; Politics and EMT; Arlington Precautions

Still focused on the pandemic, we look at a virus PR shot from Tyson Foods, a political photo from an EMT ride along, and Arlington honors with adjustments.

Notes Photo April 22, 2020

The Postal Service in the Days of the Virus

The photo reminds us that postal workers are also giving their all on the coronavirus front lines. But a closer look has darker implications for the USPS.

Notes Photo February 18, 2019

Just Don’t Call it Socialism

Williamson's photo of Americans outside a free health clinic brings the discussion of "socialism," and/or a more humane social policy into greater focus.

Notes Photo February 18, 2018

Depicting Poverty: Matt Black Pushes Documentary Photography to its Fullest Range

Creating images that double as fine art, Matt Black is mapping how poverty is a major problem today, now, this minute and every minute.

Notes Photo November 16, 2017

From Da Vinci to Mnuchins, Obscene Wealth as Gospel

The era of billionaire populism is going to be remembered with pictures like this.

Notes Photo July 7, 2017

Timely Paintings: World Leaders as Refugees

I'm fully on board with the focus on power -- especially star power.

Notes Photo June 14, 2016

The Larger Fabric: Ruddy Roye’s Frame on the Orlando Massacre

As a photo about the Orlando massacre, Ruddy has done something extraordinarily bold here.

Notes Photo June 1, 2016

The Lookouts: Matt Black Revisions the Homeless

In this dignified photo, Matt Black revisions the stereotype of the homeless as aimless.

Notes Photo May 1, 2016

Correspondents’ Dinner: Champagne Days in DC, Apparently

If, in the rest of the world, parties are for celebrating something, in Washington that thing seems like entropy.

Notes Photo February 18, 2016

Between the Sheets: On that Photo of Scalia’s Bed at the Luxury Ranch

Clearly, what we're looking at are now some of the most famous pillows and bed sheets in history.

Notes Photo November 1, 2015

Skid Row Halloween

Where are the critical details as the kids are seen to be either parading, or trick-or-treating past rows of people living in tents or boxes?

Notes Photo August 10, 2015

The 1% Two Ways

If the term “two Americas” (or two Londons, or, in this case, two Shanghais) is largely understood as a metaphor, what are we to make of it here?

Notes Photo July 24, 2015

Hyper-Capitalism and the Pictures of our Time

If hyper-capitalism is becoming the issue of our time, I’m also tempted to say that more and more news images are appearing as counterweight.

Notes Photo July 16, 2015

The Pope is a Communist!

Unless the Pope dials back on the liberal politics, it's probably not the last time you’ll see this photo.

Notes Photo July 12, 2015

Myth Of The Self-Inflicted Wound: A Deeper Look At That Photo Of The Crying Greek Pensioner

In spite of how touching the story might be, the photograph also achieves something all together more troubling.

Notes Photo June 8, 2015

On the Invisibility of Upper East Side Primates, and the Rich in General

When it comes to candid images of the upper and the upper-upper classes, a secret shame of the visual media is that it self-censors.

Notes Photo October 31, 2014

Pictures from the Giants World Series Riot you Haven't Seen in Other Victory Riots

To the extent the celebration turned ugly, there were factors at play beyond the influence of alcohol or generalized frustration. Resentment over the tech boom and gentrification-on-steroids seemed very much on display.