Black and white photo of a etching of a campfire and mountain scene, originally found on a grave marker.

Impermanence, last chances, and the inevitability of loss

Like everything else, art has a lifespan. A special warm WELCOME to new subscribers: Colin (who writes PictureRoom), Julia (who will soon start Tetisheri), and Tish. And a huge THANK YOU to all subscribers, old and new, for reading and being a part of this community. In this issue: Hello from gray and damp Washington state. I read that we just had the shortest day / longest night of the year, so hang tight, things will get lighter (though not necessarily warmer) from here on out. And to the folks who celebrate it, I wish you a bright and meaningful … >>

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

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

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 … >>