Articles

The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn is one of the most polluted waterways in the United States, contaminated by decades of industrial waste and runoff. Despite its severe pollution, photographer Steven Hirsch has captured striking images that reveal an abstract and unexpected beauty within the polluted water. The canal has been granted Superfund status by the federal government, marking it for an eventual cleanup. Hirsch’s work is compiled in the photobook "Gowanus Waters," published by powerHouse Books on March 1. Read Article

Steven Hirsch’s photo series "Gowanus: Off the Water’s Surface" transforms the polluted Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn into striking images that resemble impressionist paintings or acid trip visuals. The canal, declared a superfund site in 2010 due to toxic sludge, shows vibrant colors and textures caused by light reflecting off toxic accumulation. Hirsch captured these surreal scenes despite challenging conditions, including wearing a gas mask to photograph highly polluted areas. The exhibit is currently showcased at the Lilac Gallery in Flatiron, inviting viewers to reexamine Brooklyn’s environmental landscape. Read Article

Steven Hirsch’s photographic series "Gowanus Waters," published by Powerhouse Books, captures the toxic surface of Brooklyn's heavily polluted Gowanus Canal. His close-up images transform industrial runoff and pollution, accumulated over 150 years, into mesmerizing psychedelic abstractions with vivid purples, greens, blues, and rainbow hues. Although the canal is a designated EPA Superfund Site undergoing cleanup, the photographs offer a striking visual record of the waterway’s polluted past and present, raising awareness about its environmental condition amid ongoing neighborhood development. Read Article

Waiting for the Sun is Josef Hoflehner's first all-color photobook, showcasing his shift from dramatic black-and-white landscapes to vibrant images. The series highlights the golden age of the American car industry during the 1960s and 1970s, an era known for exceptional car designs. Preferring large format and empty spaces, Hoflehner’s work is praised for engaging viewers deeply, encouraging them to reflect and interpret each photograph. The book includes an introduction by his son Jakob Hoflehner and is self-published. It was also featured in an exhibition in Brussels from September to November 2017. Read Article

This interview accompanies the release of the photobook Farewell Cape Town by Sophie Bouillon and Benjamin Hoffman. Hoffman lived and photographed in Cape Town for several months, capturing the city's intense contrasts and exploring the relationship between people and their environment through black and white images taken with a smartphone. Bouillon reflects on her personal connection to South Africa, blending autobiographical writing with voices from local inhabitants to portray the complexity and diversity of Cape Town's society. The book combines intimate photography with evocative text to present a nuanced perspective on the city's past and present. Read Article

This article presents a selection of five photography books that explore intimate and collective memories as well as rituals from past and present times. The books include 'Farewell Cape Town,' which features black-and-white photographs capturing the socio-political landscape of Cape Town, and 'Jamais je ne t’oublierai' by Carolle Benitah, which uses family photographs to reflect on the concept of the family myth. Other featured works include 'Maroc, Un temps suspendu,' evoking an evocative portrait of Morocco, 'Elegy for the Mundane,' a poetic visual journey by Gaël Bonnefon, and Simon Vansteenwinckel’s 'Platteland,' depicting surreal, underground scenes in black and white. Read Article

This photo gallery showcases early images by renowned photographer Thomas Hoepker, featuring a diverse array of subjects from the 1950s to 1970s. Highlights include lifeguards on a Sydney beach, Muhammad Ali being fitted for a suit in London, a clown at a Nevada lunch counter, and street scenes from Italy and the US. The collection offers a glimpse into historical moments and everyday life across various locations, captured with Hoepker's keen eye for detail and humanity. Read Article

In 1963, photojournalist Thomas Hoepker traveled across the USA for three months, documenting the country for the German magazine Kristall. Nearly sixty years later, in 2020, he retraced the same route, capturing contemporary images with modern Leica equipment. Both series are featured in the new book "The Way it was. Road Trips USA" and displayed at the Ernst Leitz Museum. Hoepker's work reveals the evolving American landscape and society, juxtaposing his early black-and-white photographs with later color images that reflect a more personal and reflective perspective. Read Article

Thomas Hoepker’s photographs from a 1963 road trip across America offer a poignant social commentary on a divided nation. His black and white images capture the lives of ordinary Americans, highlighting the fragility of the American dream by focusing on marginalized communities. Decades later, Hoepker undertook another road trip in 2020 despite his Alzheimer's diagnosis, producing color photographs that retain his characteristic humor and social critique. His work contrasts the varying realities across the country, from conservative small towns to vibrant urban coasts. Read Article

Thomas Hoepker's book, "The Way It Was: Road Trips USA," juxtaposes his black-and-white photographs from a 1963 road trip across the United States with color images taken during a return trip in 2020. The work explores the passage of time, American culture, and societal changes through intimate and unromanticized visuals. Hoepker's photography captures the complex realities of America, balancing themes of hope, loss, and critique. The book includes a thoughtful preface by Freddy Langer, reflecting on the meaning of a road trip as a search for insight and memory. Read Article

In 1991, Sebastião Salgado, a Brazilian documentary photographer, traveled to Kuwait to document the devastating oil fires set during the Gulf War. After Iraqi forces were driven out, retreating troops ignited 600-700 oil wells, causing massive fires and toxic clouds. Salgado's black and white photographs capture the extreme, hazardous conditions faced by firefighters in sweltering heat and smoke. This series, published by Taschen as 'Kuwait. A Desert on Fire,' spans 208 pages and illustrates both the environmental impact and human bravery involved in extinguishing the blaze over nearly 11 months. Read Article

This interview with Sebastião Salgado, conducted by Marc Glassman for POV Magazine, explores the photographer's career and philosophy. Salgado, originally an economist, discusses how his background shaped his work, emphasizing the need to understand social and economic contexts to better document societies. He reflects on his early years, his focus on dignity in portraying workers and communities, and his use of photography as a tool for social critique rather than activism. The discussion also covers his major projects like 'Other Americas' and 'Workers,' his transition to digital photography, and his continued commitment to silver nitrate printing techniques. Read Article