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141 Posts
Notes Photo May 11, 2021

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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Notes Photo February 2, 2021

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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Salon Photo December 11, 2020

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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Notes Photo December 5, 2020

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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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.

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Notes Photo February 15, 2018

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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Notes Photo February 15, 2017

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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Notes Photo September 11, 2016

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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Notes Photo August 29, 2016

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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Notes Photo August 14, 2016

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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Notes Photo July 26, 2016

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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Notes Photo June 30, 2016

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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Notes Photo June 5, 2016

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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Notes Photo May 5, 2016

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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Notes Photo April 27, 2016

How A Confederate Flag Can Be Meaningless

How is it that the Confederate flag symbol could leave people ... feeling nothing?

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Notes Photo April 25, 2016

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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Notes Photo February 18, 2016

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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Notes Photo November 12, 2015

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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