History

Color photograph of a large format Poloroid camera, shown in profile.

Must watch: “The B-side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography” documentary

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Like everything else, art has a lifespan. I happened across this excellent Errol Morris documentary about Elsa Dorfman’s photography on (HBO) Max. It’s worth your time (76 minutes) if you have access to the streaming service. Also available for rent from Amazon and Apple for a few bucks. Film website | IMDB page | Watch the trailer The world needs more documentaries like this one. Elsa Dorfman was an American photographer best known for portraits she made with the very large, very rare Poloroid studio camera. Before the documentary, I wasn’t familiar with her or her photography, but knew about … >>

Black and white self-portrait photograph. The photographer's reflection is visible in Garry Winogrand's photo 'El Morocco, New York, 1955'. That photo features a man and woman in excited conversation. The woman has a huge smile.

Thoughts about street photography and devoted educator Henry Wessel

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And briefly: Eliott Erwitt, Larry Fink, Garry Winogrand I like to think of street photography as a way to glimpse the countless humans stories of people as they move through the world in their separate lives, each different and unknowable, but no less important than our own. When at it’s best, street photography can become a visual representation of “sonder” (one of my favorite words): Sonder: The profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as one’s own, which they are constantly living despite one’s personal lack of awareness of it. … >>