Figure and Ground
We rarely discuss it this formally, but our analysis of important news photos always considers the relationship between figure and ground.
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The Massive Snow Storm of ’21, Beyond the Pretty Pictures
The blizzard of '21 is producing gorgeous photography. But these two simple Instagram pix by Mark Peterson keep an unconditional focus on American hardship.
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Reading the Symbols of Political Movements: A Joint Reading the Pictures/Columbia University Tow Center and Data Science Institute Salon
In this Salon, we discuss the symbolic strategies of political movements, especially those on the far right, and the challenges posed to the media.
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Heartfelt Photos from Covid’s Crushing Third Wave
Just like in the spring, the focus has turned to Covid, to grief, and to hospital ICUs. However, the photos seem more intimate this time.
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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.
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Gender and the World Press Photo 2018 Award Finalists
In this current cultural moment, in the atmosphere of #MeToo, how do we reconcile this group of World Press Photo contest nominees?
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Overshadowed by his Photo: The Afterlives of Omran Daqneesh
Omran's suffering essentially disappeared at the very moment the image of it became visible.
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Memory, Poetry and Politics: Thoughtful Views from Instagram on the 15th Anniversary of 9/11
Far from the ash and the fireballs, we've collected a group of Instagram photos that evoke 9/11 in a more poetic, historical and/or political way.
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It’s Not Just a Photo, it’s a Story — The Italian Earthquake, and What News Photos Can Do Today
Because we’re all story makers and explanation seekers, we can help but “fill in the picture” and experience how it all blew apart.
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The Art and Technology of this Year’s Olympic Photographs
Looking at this year's Olympic photos, it's impossible not to take awe at the creativity and imagination of the news photography.
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All in the Family: Democratic Convention Day One
There was plenty of family angst between Bernie's insurgents, Hillary's followers and party regulars. Until the evening's lightening strike.
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When Gag News Photos Are No Joke
Growing inequity leads to more demonstrations and other protests, and to violence. And to more gag photos.
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Trump/Putin Kiss: Favs from our Twitter and Instagram
In our round up this week, we mostly circle back to show you campaign images that either drew attention or that most people missed.
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Kim Jong Trump: A Good Fit?
The photograph shows how mythical imagery and catchy slogans work similarly on the imagination, even if we're not entirely comfortable parading them around publicly.
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How A Confederate Flag Can Be Meaningless
How is it that the Confederate flag symbol could leave people ... feeling nothing?
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Photography as Language. Or, What’s Wet, Purple & Falls from the Sky?
In these examples, we’re looking at news images as an interesting shorthand for words.
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On Warren Richardson’s 2016 World Press Photo of the Year
The achievement of Richardson's World Press winning picture is the equally high level of artistry and story. Simply, it represents what we're seeing more consistently these days: a higher caliber press photograph.
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We Can Now Safely Say it’s the Weirdest Presidential Campaign Ever
Politicians aren’t born, they’re collaged. Thoughts on Jeff Jacobson's odd Rubio photo from New Hampshire.
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