Articles

The exhibition "A Long Arc: Photography and the American South since 1845," held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, presents over 200 photographs spanning more than 175 years. It explores the complex and evolving identity of the American South through documentary and artistic photography, highlighting themes such as race, culture, history, and social justice. The show addresses periods from the Antebellum South and Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement and contemporary issues, illustrating both the region's beauty and its troubled legacy of violence and inequality. It features works by notable photographers including Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, and Walker Evans. Read Article

Alexander Nemerov, an art history scholar, discusses Lewis Hine's photography, which documented child labor in the late 19th century and influenced child labor law reforms. Nemerov’s recent exhibition at the Cantor Arts Center and his book, Soulmaker: The Life and Times of Lewis Hine, offer a contemporary perspective on Hine’s emotionally powerful images. Nemerov also collaborated with photographer Jason Francisco to photograph sites featured in Hine’s work as they appear today, highlighting themes of memory and loss. The interview explores Hine’s artistic significance beyond his role as a documentarian. Read Article

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University presents "Soulmaker: The Times of Lewis Hine," an exhibition exploring the poignant and artistic photography of Lewis Hine, who documented child labor in early 20th century America. Alongside Hine’s haunting images of children in factories and mills, contemporary photos by Jason Francisco show these same sites today, highlighting changes over time. Curated by Alexander Nemerov, the exhibition emphasizes the emotional depth and historical significance of Hine’s work, which helped prompt reforms in child labor laws. Read Article

The partnership of David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson formed in Edinburgh in 1843 was one of the earliest and most important collaborations in photography. Utilizing the calotype process, they produced portraits, landscapes, and social documentary works, significantly influencing photography worldwide. Their studio at Rock House became a hub for Edinburgh’s artistic, literary, and scientific community, capturing notable figures and everyday scenes. Despite Adamson's early death in 1848, their photographs remain iconic for their spontaneity and social insight. Hill continued to promote photography and completed their joint painting project years later. Read Article

In the mid-1840s, Scottish painter and photographer duo David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson pioneered artistic photography using the calotype process. Encouraged by scientist Sir David Brewster, Adamson established Edinburgh’s first professional calotype studio. Their work began with photographic sketches of ministers from the 1843 Free Church of Scotland Disruption, aiding Hill’s ambitious historical painting project. Together, they produced nearly 3,000 images over four and a half years, capturing portraits, landscapes, and local scenes. Their innovative collaboration laid foundations for photographic portraiture, ending only with Adamson’s death in 1848 due to illness. Read Article

In the mid-1840s, Scottish painter and photographer duo David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson pioneered artistic photography using the calotype process. Encouraged by scientist Sir David Brewster, Adamson established Edinburgh’s first professional calotype studio. Their work began with photographic sketches of ministers from the 1843 Free Church of Scotland Disruption, aiding Hill’s ambitious historical painting project. Together, they produced nearly 3,000 images over four and a half years, capturing portraits, landscapes, and local scenes. Their innovative collaboration laid foundations for photographic portraiture, ending only with Adamson’s death in 1848 due to illness. Read Article

Erik Hijweege, a photographer and ambrotypist, created a compelling series titled “Endangered, On Ice,” featuring ambrotypes of endangered animal species frozen on ice. Inspired by the discovery of a nearly perfectly preserved frozen mammoth, Hijweege used the fragile wet plate collodion process to capture the animals’ fragile existence. Collaborating with the Dutch Natural History Museum and the IUCN Red List, Hijweege highlights the beauty and vulnerability of species like the Sumatran Tiger and Asian Elephant. His goal is to raise awareness and encourage preservation efforts through artistic expression. Read Article

Award-winning photographer Chester Higgins' book Sacred Nile offers a profound visual journey through the spiritual heritage of the Nile Valley. The collection showcases sacred sites and rituals from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, highlighting the ancient roots of major world religions such as Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Through meticulously captured images, Higgins documents centuries-old religious practices and the bond between the African landscape and faith. The book also challenges Eurocentric narratives by emphasizing black contributions to ancient civilizations and religious traditions. Read Article

This review presents an in-depth discussion of Chester Higgins' 2021 photobook, Sacred Nile, which explores the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Nile region through stunning photography and rich texts. The book is a visual record of faith documenting African and African-American spiritual histories, ancient rituals, sacred art, and the landscape. Higgins’ work is praised for reclaiming Africa’s intellectual and spiritual sovereignty, presenting an extensive study of the religious connections between ancient Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia. The review emphasizes the book’s scholarly endorsements and its challenge to mainstream perspectives on African civilizations. Read Article

Herb Boyd reviews three noteworthy books: "Sacred Nile" by Chester Higgins and Betsy Kissam, a stunning exploration of ancient African civilizations through photography and text; "Sometimes Farmgirls Become Revolutionaries" by Florence L. Tate and Jake-Ann Jones, an autobiographical account of Tate's activism and struggles during the civil rights era; and "Philip Payton—The Father of Black Harlem" by Kevin McGruder, which highlights Payton's pivotal role in Harlem's development and Black real estate history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Read Article

Chester Higgins, a renowned African-American photographer, has dedicated his career to capturing the rich history and culture of Black people, both in America and Africa. Starting from his early years influenced by a spiritual vision and his work at Tuskegee Institute, Higgins pursued photography to counter negative media portrayals of African-Americans. Over nearly four decades at The New York Times, he focused on dignified, authentic images of Black life, alongside numerous trips documenting African heritage. His lifelong mission is to create a visual encyclopedia of people of African descent. Read Article

The exhibition "Roller Coaster: Scenes from a Marriage" by Aimee McCrory showcases a photographic series exploring her over forty-year marriage and the complexities of aging together. Created during the pandemic from a place of fear and uncertainty, the work combines staged yet lifelike images in a pseudo-documentary style. The 16 photographs focus on candid, everyday moments that highlight the joys, challenges, and emotional depth of a long-term relationship. The exhibition runs from April 8 to May 18, 2025, at the Mai Manó House. Read Article