John Edwin Mason: Documentary, Motorsports, Photo History

Hugh Mangum on Main Street: Portraits from the Early 20th Century

Portraits never go out of style. They are, and always have been, the most popular form of photography. From the daguerreotype to the Instagram selfie, our love for portraits has been one of the constants in the history of photography. Why? Lots of reasons. We can start with the fact... Read more →

Iconic Photos, Part 2: Tweeting Vietnam, Thinking About Gaza

A few days ago, photographs of the aftermath of the Israeli bombardment that left Palestinian four boys dead on a beach in Gaza prompted me to ask "What makes a photograph iconic?" The answer is several things, not just one. Iconic photos, I wrote, are both communal and personal. They... Read more →

What Makes a Photo Iconic? Four Dead Boys on a Gaza Beach

Note: This has become part of a series on the politics of iconic photographs. Part 2 is here. I'll post Part 3 later this week. * What makes a photograph iconic? Why do some stick in our minds and represent for us a powerful historical memory, while others fade away?... Read more →

Sunday Soul: Remembering Charlie Haden

Charlie Haden passed away this week. Hearing the news stopped me in my tracks. I didn't know him, but I loved his music. I was in my office, so I immediately found some of my favorite recordings by him on YouTube. (One of them is the second video below.) The... Read more →

Photography: En Foco's New Works #17

I sometimes dread being invited to art openings -- especially when the invitation comes from the sponsor or the curator. It's not the awkward conversations or cheap wine that I fear. (Not much at least.) It's the worry that I won't like what I see. And, then, what do I... Read more →