After more than a decade covering conflict, photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale couldn’t help but notice that the less sensational—but equally true—stories were often not getting told: the wedding happening around the corner from the revolution, triumphs amidst seemingly endless devastation. As a result, she re-committed herself to seeking out the stories within and around "the story". Ami is a photographer with National Geographic magazine, yet this episode of the podcast isn't expressly about photography.... read more ›
1.2K reads
Jan
16
Nov
22
I'm no photojournalist - but I have huge respect for those men and women who put themselves in dangerous zones, risking their lives, to show the world some of its most important (horrifying) images. I've been asked before if I'd consider taking pictures in the line of fire and my answer is simple: Hell No. I just do not have the balls. Hang me out... read more ›
28.3K reads
Mar
18
Paul Hansen of Sweden had his moving photo of a group of men in Gaza City carrying the bodies of two dead children selected as the 2013 World Press Photo of the Year. The photo, taken on November 20, 2012, was captured as the group was transporting the bodies to a mosque for a burial ceremony. The boys -- two-year-old Suhaib Hijazi and his... read more ›
931 reads
Feb
25
A few days ago Moni Basu of CNN published a provocative piece comparing the photography of War to the photography of Fashion. Whether this is an absurd evocation, an intellectual exercise, or an astute reflection I'm not calling it. I can't. But the idea of taking an individual photographer who has shot both war and fashion and juxtaposing images from the two bodies of work, was curious and very disturbing. At one end, sure, there's... read more ›
1.2K reads
Dec
10
If you take photos for a living - or simply love the craft - you are probably like me in that you've spent more of your hard earned dough on cameras and photographic gadgetry than the average Joe. But would you be willing to pay 2 million dollars for a camera? That's a whole new level of love for the magic light-box. I'm referring to David Douglas Duncan's Leica... read more ›
6.8K reads
Sep
27
The age of context is upon us. Last week we featured some POV footage of mind-blowing surfing action. It was fun, sporting and intentionally creative. The clip above is on the the whole other side of the spectrum. It's real, raw, and unnerving from the middle of an active battlefield. No doubt, it was not created with artistic purpose. But it captures the context and imagery of what it is like, visually, to be in... read more ›
11K reads
Oct
05
3:30am: “GRAB THE HOOK!” Mike Horn yells at Tristan. The mizzen sail on the back mast is jammed. The wind is blowing at 40+ mph and we can’t steer. We’ve got to get a hook in that sail and pull it down. We’re surfing down the face of waves, only narrowly keeping the boat pointed in the right direction so we don’t blow over in the nearly 4 meter breaking seas. Frankly speaking, getting to... read more ›
1.6K reads