Michael Shaw Archives
5,609 Posts
Biden Presidency Photo February 22, 2024

Throwing Shade: The Disturbing Visual Fallout From the Special Counsel’s Attack on Biden’s Competency

The Special Counsel’s questioning of Biden's cognitive abilities has unleashed a raft of negative imagery. The media's use of undermining photos risks biasing public perceptions and spreading ageist stereotypes. It's crucial to present more balanced visuals.

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Politics Photo September 5, 2023

Disrupting Trump’s Mug Shot and His “Singular Genius”

The treatment of Trump's mug shot is vital to consider, given the potential of the George conspiracy case to reshape his public identity.

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Media & Culture Photo June 21, 2022

David Hume Kennerly: Because He Was There

This photo of David Hume Kennerly, taken in Vietnam, makes a basic yet essential point about media integrity and the reportage from Ukraine.

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Environment Photo December 21, 2021

At the Tipping Point: So Much for the Pioneer Spirit

2021 represented a climate change tipping point. In recounting key visual markers, we call out two images from the Dixie Fire.

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Environment Photo November 21, 2021

Doubled Over By Ida

2021 was a climate tipping point. And among the catastrophes, this blow from Hurricane Ida seemed to speak to a larger fate.

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Photo

At the Tipping Point: Wildfire Threatens Tahoe

Summer 2021 was a tipping point. Fires, floods, heat waves and hurricanes scaled up, as did the mass recognition of climate change as an existential crisis. As part of that recognition, many brilliant, symbolically-laden pictures crystallized the moment.

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Disaster Focus Photo June 1, 2021

Haunting for the Beauty, or the Stalking?

Beauty and subtlety distracts from the reality of asylum seekers in this news photos from the US/Mexico border.

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International Focus 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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Photo March 31, 2021

Notable Faces from the Start of the George Floyd Murder Trial

At the start of jury selection in the George Floyd murder trial, seeing solidarity, and visualizing accountability.

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COVID 19 Photo March 23, 2021

The Halfs and the Half-Nots

How photojournalism is channeling split-screens and divided societies. Perceptually and morally, the style serves as an apt social mirror.

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Disaster Focus Photo February 18, 2021

Record Texas Freeze and a Photo of the Times

More and more, news photographs are capturing compound crises. Combining climate and Covid, this scene is particularly arresting.

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Photography/Photojournalism 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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Biden Presidency Photo January 16, 2021

Where the Mockery Falls

America has largely confused Trump's mockery of democracy with the mocking of Trump himself. The Europeans haven't had such a problem.

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COVID 19 Photo December 31, 2020

Media, Grief, and Three Views of a Tragic Covid Zoom Goodbye

In the case where families and loved ones must say goodbye virtually, the life of that terrible scene is not so simple.

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COVID 19 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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COVID 19 Photo November 23, 2020

Covid Denial in One Picture

In one photo, this man has become the poster for a government in denial, and everyone who can't be induced or bothered to wear a mask.

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Coronavirus Photo November 16, 2020

The Lasting Image of Trump and the Virus

Many photos link Trump to the pandemic, but this photo-illustration really captures him as the great Covid enabler.

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Eco Watch Photo September 17, 2020

Whirling Fire Storm Photo: The New Unfathomable

Fire photos this ominous come at a premium. But this photo from California captures the new otherworldly state of the climate crisis.

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