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My approach to engaging with photography, whether it’s a weighty photobook or a striking individual image, stems from a deeply held belief, my first instinct is always to connect, not to critique or rank. I truly believe that behind every frame, every meticulously arranged page, there’s a beating heart, a person who has poured thought,…
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It has taken me a few weeks, to fully articulate the profound feelings stirred within me by Gregory Halpern’s latest magnificent monograph, King, Queen, Knave, published by MACK. I had caught glimpses of some of these photographs online before I got the book, and certain images, even then, embedded themselves in my very retina, searing…
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There are certain books that land with a quiet yet profound thud on your desk, and as you open them, you know, with every fibre of your being, that you are about to embark on something truly special. Michael Lundgren’s Glass Mountain, from the experts in tactile beauty at Stanley/Barker, is precisely that kind of…
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There are certain photographic journeys that speak directly to your own experiences, echoing feelings and observations you hold dear, and Amy Horowitz’s A Walk in the Park? is undeniably one such book. As I turned its pages, I felt an immediate connection, a sense of looking back at a pivotal time in life, not just…
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From the moment I picked it up, the seamless dance between German and English text, a subtle yet powerful statement of inclusivity and intellectual reach, at once captivated me. It felt like stepping into a conversation, rather than simply reading a detached analysis, and as someone who often looks for those direct, human connections in…
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Reading Frames Volume 15 has been an absolute joy, a quiet revelation that has firmly cemented its place in my personal holy trinity of photographic magazines, right there alongside Hotshoe and Aperture. There is a palpable sense of dedication and artistry woven through every page, a celebration of photography not simply as a medium, but…
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Reading this issue of Aperture’s “Liberated Threads” (No. 259, Summer 2025) has been a visceral experience, pulling me back to my own journey of understanding how an image can not only capture a moment but also carry the weight of history and the echo of personal narratives. I found myself thinking of the early photographs…
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It truly is a curious thing, the way certain books find their way to you, speaking a language you did not even realise you longed to hear. And for me, Jan Čihák’s A few stones from Eastern Front is precisely one of those quiet, unassuming treasures that has, against all expectations, resonated deeply within my…
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There are some books that arrive with a quiet insistence, demanding to be seen not merely with the eyes, but with something deeper in the gut. Sally Mann’s at Twelve: Portraits of Young Women for Aperture is precisely such a book. For a father like me, with a daughter now grown to twenty-four, and a…
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Unveiling the Layers: A Guide to Seeing the Art when Experiencing Photographs and Reading Photobooks
It has been truly heartening to receive such kind messages lately, hearing from so many of you about how my thoughts on photography and photobooks resonate. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that what I pour onto these pages finds a home with you, and it has prompted me to reflect on something fundamental that…