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In “I’ll Let You Be in My Dreams If I Can Be in Yours,” published by the always intriguing MACK Books in September of last year, the photographic partnership of Carolyn Drake and Andres Gonzalez unfolds a captivating visual dialogue that gracefully sidesteps the well-trodden paths of conventional documentary photography. This 144-page volume is the…
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As I ease back into the rhythm of writing, I’m reflecting on a book that truly captivated me during my recent respite: Václav Jirásek’s “Cars.” Now, I’ll admit, I’m no car person. My relationship with cars is purely functional, they get me from A to B, comfortably and safely. I appreciate a smooth drive and…
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There’s a certain comfort, a familiar embrace, in the world rendered without colour. Perhaps it’s the way it strips away the superfluous, forcing the eye to engage with form, texture, and the subtle dance of light and shadow in its purest form. For me, black and white photography has always been a foundational love, a…
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By the mid-1800s, photography had already carved out its place, snapping stiff portraits, cataloguing plants, mapping far off lands. But around the 1860s, something fresh sparked in the crowded, buzzing streets of growing cities. Early street photography was born, turning the lens loose on the wild, messy pulse of urban life. This wasn’t about posed…
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Reuben Radding’s “Heavenly Arms,” published by Red Hook Editions, is a book that resists easy categorization. It’s a collection born from a decade of wandering city streets, a search for what Radding calls “the musicality of American life, the scent of human connection and conflict.” And in its sprawling, often enigmatic tapestry of images, it…
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The promise, whispered in the fading light of my first, somewhat ill-prepared visit to East St Clement’s, has been kept. The return journey to the heart of Footdee, camera bag heavier this time with both digital and the more considered weight of my film apparatus, unfolded under a sky washed with the purest April blue.…
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Diana Markosian’s “Father”, presented by Aperture, has settled within me like a quiet ache, a profound meditation on the fractured landscape of family, the enduring weight of loss, and the fragile, often stumbling journey towards reconnection. I spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon with it, the spring sunshine warming my back as my wife…
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Photography, since its emergence, has served myriad purposes, capturing likenesses, chronicling conflicts, and aiding scientific inquiry. Yet, from the late 19th century onwards, a distinct and vital role began to solidify that of the social document. As the world underwent profound shifts driven by rapid industrialisation and burgeoning urban centres, a new breed of photographer…
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Fred Ritchin’s “The Synthetic Eye: Photography Transformed in the Age of AI” is, without a doubt, a fascinating and deeply unsettling read. As a photographer and artist (no laughing), I find myself grappling with the very questions Ritchin poses, particularly as someone who holds a deep-seated suspicion of AI’s ability to create lifelike images. My…
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East St Clement’s Church: A Reckless First Glance and the Promise of Deeper Understanding (Part One)
East St Clement’s Church. The name itself has a familiar ring, another steadfast landmark woven into the rich tapestry of Aberdeen’s history. Like St Fittick’s, it’s a place I’ve driven past countless times taking the family to codnas or cinema, a fleeting presence on the periphery of my daily routes. Nestled within the unique community…