Search - Reading The Pictures

Race & Ethnicity Photo April 11, 2014

Art Photography vs. News Photography: Politico, Race and the "Other Washington"

Repurposing art photos capturing economic disparity in Washington DC, Politico turns them into into racial stereotypes about African-Americans.

Culture Focus Photo April 10, 2014

Refugee World

So, what’s new about refugee camps? Well, perhaps it’s notable that they are being built in Las Vegas.

Campaign '12 Photo April 8, 2014

Clint Takes Empty Chair to Russia. (No More Fronting For Losers, I Guess)

With the waking of the Russian bear, and with the first stirrings of the US presidential season, too, Russian Esquire hits a home run in remixing its metaphors.

International Focus Photo April 7, 2014

On Pieter Hugo's Portraits of Reconciliation from Rwanda

It being both fair and audacious to call them couples, it feels like these pairs have been through hellfire, then grafted together.

International Focus Photo

Syrian Battlefield Filled With Cameras ... But What Are We Looking At?

What if I told you this photo was more related to Kickstarter than the overall fortunes of the Syrian rebels in a long running conflict with the Syrian regime?

Advertising Watch Photo April 6, 2014

Obama, Ortiz and White House Photo Access: When You Can't Handle Your Own Pitching

But, where's the real substance here, with the White House so exercised that selfies are facing a ban? It has to do with two things, visual filibustering and this Presidency's obsession with popular and commercial culture.

Afghanistan Photo April 4, 2014

Remembering Anja Niedringhaus: She Was Ironic, Too

Her photography was often brilliant, not just as reportage, but as subtle commentary. If others have captured Anja the documentarian, the humanist or the advocate for women, these images demonstrate her gift for irony.

Militarism Focus Photo

At the Gates of Fort Hood

The expression that immediately and overwhelming ran through my mind was: "boots on the ground."

International Focus Photo April 3, 2014

Drones vs. Stones: A Mid-East Air War Visual Update

If both sides in the Israel-Palestine conflict are using drones, and the technology is such that even individuals can operate one, doesn't it stand to reason I'd find photo for both sides?

Campaign '16 Photo April 2, 2014

More Mark Peterson Pix: Christie's Bubble

Or maybe, it's supposed to evoke an oracle.

Militarism Focus Photo March 31, 2014

Some Random Thoughts on Charles Ommanney's Americans with Guns

At this point, they only strap on the babies to tweak the Liberals.

Disaster Focus Photo

MA370: Still Haunting

All it takes is the prompt it has something to do with MA370 and the mind starts going.

International Focus Photo March 29, 2014

Instagram Mining: whitehouse meets popefrancis

With world leaders and heads of state now standard fixtures on Instagram, I was curious about your take on each's version of the Obama-Pope, Pope-Obama meet up.

Media & Culture Photo March 28, 2014

Lynsey Addario and that Audi Commercial: Reframing the War Photographer -- (Postscript Added)

My first and second thoughts on a set of commercials featuring a famous war photographer.

Visual Forensics Photo March 27, 2014

The Dysfunctional Guitar: More on the Reuters Syria Photo Controversy

In this atmosphere of doubt, it's worthwhile to consider these images involving the presence of this musical instrument in multiple images. What really convinced me to share them publicly, though, was the confusing and misdirected explanation I received from Reuters after having contacted them.

Photo March 26, 2014

Relative Vantage of the Day: FLOTUS at The Great Wall

“If there’s no press, that’s a demonstration. If there’s a lively press that gets what it needs, that’s a demonstration."

Visual Practices & Ethics Photo March 25, 2014

Were the Reuters "Boy in a Syrian Bomb Factory" Photos Staged?

We hope that this post might contribute to a thoughtful, open and persistent examination about the truth behind this story as well as the issues surrounding how photos in conflict zones can be procured today.

Disaster Focus Photo March 24, 2014

Aboard Malaysia Air Flight 370

If up to now, you only imagined the fated plane in your minds eye as a blip on a radar screen or even a murky fragment on a sea bottom somewhere, we’re now actually, incredibly on board.

International Focus Photo March 21, 2014

Archivin': When Obama Met Putin

With Russia suddenly vacuuming up real estate, we thought a little background was in order.

Media Focus Photo

Trial by Slide Show? On Lens, Molhem Barakat and the Reuters Scandal

It's troubling to think that the last word on Molhem's reputation might hinge on the slideshow, the visual association to a thickening scandal and a more nominal connection to suspect deeds.