Democracy’s Darkroom: Tell It, Read It, Decode It, Survive

We need imagery and analysis that exposes how Trump—in all the rapid-fire, misdirecting, and gaslighting—remains able to manipulate the culture in such a neurologic way. By Michael Shaw and Cara Finnegan Pain and fortitude. Age and motion. Animation of the white guy and the flag. The “national barrier.” All...

What’s in a “Top 100 Photos of the Year” List?

TIME’s Top 100 Photos of 2024 captures the year’s defining crises, from war and climate disasters to political polarization. This analysis explores what the images reveal—and what they leave out. By Michael Shaw Every year-end, media organizations and news photo publishers ritually curate their choice of best images. Both...

Chatting the Pictures: A Telling Photo from Howard University on Election Night 2024

The Great Shattering: Scenes from America’s Political and Psychic Electoral Rupture

November 5th, 2024, sent shockwaves across the nation. From Howard University to Palm Beach, election night photos captured a seismic shift that will profoundly reshape America. By Michael Shaw In an election night defined by dashed expectations and visual ironies, the 2024 presidential race revealed itself through a series...

Harris vs. Trump: On Gender, Power, and the Future of America

Through key visuals, we explore the deep divisions laid bare by the 2024 campaign—especially along gender lines—and the great uncertainty that lies ahead. By Michael Shaw The presidential election has exposed all kinds of fault lines, but one fracture has come to define Kamala Harris’s historic run. In the...

Shutter Shock: The Photos that Expose Trump’s Mind in Disarray

The media, barring some exceptions, sanitizes Trump’s incoherence. Quotes help, but nothing exposes his confusion and chaos like visible reactions. By Michael Shaw and Cara Finnegan Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race in July led to a shift in the media landscape which included greater focus and open...

Chatting the Pictures: In Campaign’s Closing Weeks, Trump’s Incoherence Takes Center Stage

Springfield’s Haitian Immigrants in the Light

Amid a storm of misrepresentation, authentic portraits challenge distortions and reveal a community’s true image. By Michael Shaw The controversy surrounding Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, has highlighted a critical issue: the lack of visibility and accurate representation of this community. Despite comprising a significant portion of Springfield’s population,...

The 13 Most Telling Photographs of the Harris-Trump Presidential Debate

Harris outmaneuvered Trump using psychological tactics to expose his weaknesses potentially reshaping the 2024 election narrative.

The Picture Perfect Democratic Convention – Part 1

In Part 1 of my DNC roundup, I explore the pivot from Biden, Dems laying claim to the flag, women’s empowerment in Harris’s rise, and family, inclusion, and generational change. By Michael Shaw How dynamic was the Democratic Convention? Well, the Dems have an election to win, and the...

Chatting the Pictures: The Magnetic Harris and Walz Dynamic in One Frame

Pictures Worth Noting: Extreme Symbolism and Arresting Juxtapositions

We're thrilled to introduce a new newsletter feature: "Pictures Worth Noting." Today's focus ranges from climate, to politics, to the border.