January 2008 - Reading The Pictures

Alan Chin Photo January 31, 2008

John Edwards: Parting View

Yesterday, I had my say on the Edwards withdrawal. Today though, I'd like to share this shot from Alan Chin taken at the announcement in New Orleans on Tuesday.

Media Focus Photo

More On The '08 Show — Including CNN's Phallic Boost To The GOP

I thought it was worth a minute for a few visual examples of how much the media has at stake at dramatizing and producing the '08 election. The video -- which I borrowed from CNN because there was no way to capture a link to it, although I try...

Campaign '08 Photo

The Edwards Exhibit

From the first day he entered the presidential race, the NYT treated Edwards like a phony.

Culture Focus Photo January 29, 2008

Outside Heath Ledger's Apartment

These are pictures I snapped outside Heath Ledger's apartment on the night of his death. By the time I got there, the media hubbub had died down a bit, but I think these still represent the bizarre scene that ensued.

Bush Focus Photo January 28, 2008

My Last Look At A Bush SOTU, Thank God

My Last Look At A Bush SOTU, Thank God.

Campaign '08 Photo

The McCain Line

Today's NYThas a prime example of stephen crowley's irreplaceable political observation: Perhaps Mccain's appeal as a plain speaker is based on a real lack of pretension, or so this seemingly unrehearsed moment would suggest.... All three are crossing the threshold from a beige triangular space, into a larger lighter...

Media Focus Photo

On The Ropes

Look at this thumbnail image that appeared today on the on-line of The Times in Print. Of course, if you only saw the article itself, the you might not notice the same effect -- with Hillary so dramatically severed from Teddy.

International Focus Photo January 27, 2008

SOT (incredibly shrinking) U

As the cover visual for a trillion word article about the power dynamics of worldwide political and economic interdependence, what is most striking about this cover is the fact that the U.S. is pictured in a sea of darkness.

International Focus Photo

Palestinians And Palestinians

A consistent problem in the visual coverage of the Gaza story, and the Palestinian crisis overall, involves the inability to differentiate a Palestinian public from, say, Hamas.

Campaign '08 Photo January 26, 2008

Putting The Peddle To The Mettle

With Zogby warning the race was tightening, and the media convinced Bubba had gotten into Barack's head, this proved a quintessential photo in the South Carolina media narrative. (It appeared in Friday's NYT "On The Trail" slideshow.)

Campaign '08 Photo

Message Discipline

In this clever snap, picking up Jeffrey Feldman's point, Obama seems to have "lost hope."

Photo January 25, 2008

Thanks For Stopping By

I was studying newswire pics of the stimulus deal announcement (featuring Pelosi, sandwiched between the House Republican leader and the Republican Treasury Secretary), already thinking they looked overly one-sided, when the story of the deal hit the NYT on-line, led by the pic above.

Iraq and Afghanistan War Photo

War Of Perception

I'm sure the Reuters photographer, shooting this picture near Baquba in mid-December, was just looking to create a little interest. What he actually delivers, however, is a reminder of just how thoroughly the view of this war is a matter of perception.

Originals Photo

Painted Construction Markings

I offer you this as a reminder of how subjective it is to analyze social and political imagery.

International Focus Photo January 24, 2008

Making It Through Without Stopping

Fixed in my mind was a scene from January 10th involving George Bush's visit to the West Bank. That morning, because of heavy fog, "43" was forced to forsake his helicopter and travel by ground, via motorcade. Although the press was highly tamped down throughout Dubya's entire Middle East...

BAGannouncements Photo January 23, 2008

Campaign Visuals In the Age of Facebook

Specifically, though, its an analysis of an image he shot on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, and a look at how campaign coverage can be seen to reflect a "Facebook aesthetic." Ferry is more well known for his work in and about Columbia. The part of his bio...

Business Focus Photo

A Banner Year For Corporate Debate Sponsors?

So, I was watching the "behind the scenes" video by indy media group, GroundReport, from the spin room of Tuesday's Democratic debate. I didn't notice it at first, but then I was struck by something. Behind Carl Cameron, the Chief Political Correspondent for FOX was a huge banner for...

Campaign '08 Photo January 22, 2008

Your Turn: The Week In Carolina (or: Always The Cheerleader)

This seems like an interesting play on the rather searing contradiction in South Carolina this week between Bill Clinton's two identities -- the affectionate one as "America's first black president" and the second as Hillary's (problematic) attack dog.