This Month in Photography: June 2020

This month photography, like everything else, has been dominated by the novel coronavirus and protests. Here are some of the stories and photos that did not make it into our regular coverage.

Addressing Racism and Issues of Representation Through Photography –BJP
Carrie Mae Weems, Dana Scruggs, Lola Flash, and Mark Sealy invite us to look and consider — to acknowledge and act upon injustices that pervade the past and the present.

When Crime Photography Started to See Color –The Atlantic
Six decades ago, Gordon Parks, Life magazine’s first black photographer, revolutionized what a crime photo could look like.

Vintage Family Pictures Inspired this Nigerian Photographer’s Latest Work –CNN
For his latest project, Nigerian photographer Oye Diran looked to his old family photos for inspiration especially taken the elegant clothing his parents used to wear.

How Do We Photograph Freedom? –Hyperallergic
The relationship between Black liberation and photography reveals many things about our notions of freedom and the limitations of image-making as a form of common truth.

How to Take Photos at Protests Safely—and Responsibly –Wired
Before you pull out your camera and post to social media, here’s how to protect yourself and others.

6 Expert Photography Tips to Use During Quarantine by a Pro –Forbes
Yabarow’s six reasons to utilize your backyard for inspiration during the pandemic.

One of L.A.’s Key Showcases for Photography is Closing for Good –LA Times
The Annenberg Space for Photography — after a decade of exhibitions spanning the world of hip-hop, the global refugee crisis and the medium of war photography, among other subjects — is shutting its Century City doors for good.

Back to Class: Neuroscience of Photography –Richmond.com
“A picture is worth a thousand words” – what does this old saying tell us about our visual brains?

Contemporary Chinese Photography –DW
The Munich exhibition “About Us” provides insights into the little-known contemporary art scene in China by showing a selection of photographic works by 14 artists.

Shirin Neshat: Unraveling the American Dream –BJP
An interview with the Iranian artist discussing her latest body of work Land of Dreams.

“I Like to Slap my Audience or Shock Them”: Iranian Documentary photographer Shayan Sajadian –It’s Nice That
For the past three years, Shayan has been using photography as a tool to capture history – specifically within his home country of Iran.

Foxes Caught in Dramatic Squabbles and Sleepy Coils –Colossal
Each spring, Helsinki-born photographer Konsta Punkka (previously) stakes out dens, showing he’s as clever in strategy as the foxes he’s hoping to encounter.

The Photography Lounge – Episode 1: Brooke Shaden –SmugMug
A look into how Shaden became one of the leading photographers in the world of conceptual self-portrait photography.

Taking Back the Lens –The Cut
A collective bolstering visibility in photography invites you to See in Black.

How 70 Black Photographers See America –Fast Company
A new initiative allows Black photographers to be the narrators of their own stories.

Better Low-light Photography May Come One Photon at a Time –University of Wisconsin–Madison
Long relegated to scientific niches, sensors that catch just the minimum amount of light — a single photon at a time — could be better than typical digital cameras at capturing everyday memories in challenging environments.

8 Photo-editing Apps You Have to Try if You Love Photography –CNET
Use your phone to get creative with images you’ve already shot, no matter which phone you have.

‘Ordinary People Become Stars’: The Best Street Photography –The Guardian
From drive-in cinemas to butchered pigs, these images were all acclaimed at this year’s LensCulture street photography awards 2020.

Tony Kelly Serves Up Unadulterated Glamour with His High-Octane Photography –Forbes
Kelly’s photographs are vibrant in actuality and reflect the vibrancy of life (and often youth) along with the times in which we live.

With Honesty at the Core of his Photography, Kgomotso Neto Discusses the Importance of Accurate Representation –It’s Nice That
The Johannesburg-based photographer tells us how he came to be a photographer and the values he instills in his practice to date.

Pandemic Photography: Capturing Photos of Empty Places –Forbes
Between March and June 2020, a spate of pandemic photography—by professionals and more ordinary folk—captured haunting images of how lives had been interrupted.

Misan Harriman on Photographing London’s BLM Protests –BJP
Harriman is one of the most widely shared photographers of the Black Lives Matter movement. Here, he shares his story and discusses one of his favorite images.

Community Calls on ICP to Set Ethical Guidelines for Protest Photography –Hyperallergic
Noah Morrison, a founding member of ICP Center Blackness Now, says the International Center of Photography’s response to their efforts has been superficial.

25 Black Photographers on What Drives Their Work –GQ
The Black Lives Matter protests across the U.S. have created reams of indelible imagery, much of it captured by Black photographers.

12 of the Hottest Photographers to follow Right Now –Creative Boom
These are image-makers with a distinctive point of view, who show us the world in new and exciting ways based on their unique insights and perspectives, not to mention a deep-rooted passion for their art.

About the author: Phil Mistry is a photographer and teacher based in Atlanta, GA. He started one of the first digital camera classes in New York City at International Center of Photography in the 90s. He was the director and teacher for Sony/Popular Photography magazine’s Digital Days Workshops. You can reach him via email here.