Michael Shaw, Author at Reading The Pictures

International Focus Photo July 24, 2016

Pokemon Syria

Embellishing hell on earth with the blue character reminds us that war is not just slideshow fodder or background noise.

Politics Photo July 21, 2016

GOP Convention: Regression to the Mean. Ugly Mean.

The hostility of Donald Trump has permeated the tone and tenor of the GOP convention.

Campaign '16 Photo July 20, 2016

Republican Convention ’16 — A Distortion Field

What I realize I'm witnessing is a distortion field. Or, a political party convention in a fun house mirror. These fine photographers address the disorientation.

Campaign '16 Photo July 18, 2016

Baton Rouge, the Convention and the Trump Show

Ben Lowy's photo anticipates a call-and-response between Cleveland, Baton Rouge and Dallas by a newly themed “law-and-order" Trump.

Protest Focus Photo July 14, 2016

Baton Rouge to Dallas: Our Twitter/Instagram Review

From Baton Rouge to St. Paul to Dallas, these have been two extraordinarily difficult weeks in the civil life of America. Here is a timeline of tweets and posts of what we saw and thought over this wrenching time.

Culture Focus Photo July 13, 2016

Baton Rouge: Channeling the Fire with Amazing Grace

Mindful of the smoldering racial and political atmosphere in the country right now, the photo's symbolism reaches far beyond a single instance of goodwill.

Media Focus Photo July 7, 2016

On the Alton Sterling Daily News Cover. (Graphic, Yes.)

It might feel like there is nothing more to say, but it also feels like there was more to show.

Campaign '16 Photo July 6, 2016

Election 2016: Only Fanatics Need Apply

Is the world being taken over by the crazies, or would media and social media have it so?

Twitter/Instagram Roundup Photo July 4, 2016

Turkey, Brexit, Pride: Check Out Our Twitter & Instagram Roundup

In our Twitter/Instagram roundup, we look at the trifecta that dominated the news cycle last week.

Culture Focus Photo June 30, 2016

Ruddy Roye’s Remarkably Unremarkable Pride Photo

If I had seen this same image a few years back, I might have read it in terms of invisibility — or theatricality. Not so today.

International Focus Photo June 27, 2016

On that 10 Downing Cameron Brexit Portrait

The photo is not just about England's divorce from the continent but how it informs the distance between Cameron and his wife.

Protest Focus Photo June 25, 2016

Scenes from the Congress Members Gun Violence Sit-In

These are the pictures from the Democratic takeover that stood out to us.

Campaign '16 Photo June 22, 2016

Hillary’s Second Grandchild Eclipsed by the Flame War

An ugly election has turned the campaign gift of a grandchild into an afterthought.

Photo June 19, 2016

Post Orlando: Seeking Reversal

I hope you can forgive me for reading in like this.

Militarism Photo June 15, 2016

Our Post-Orlando Riffs on Mark Peterson’s NRA Convention Photos

With Trump and the gun lobby turning the Orlando massacre into instant ammo, we thought we'd share some brief thoughts on these NRA convention photos. ...