42 Comments
Jan 28Liked by Andy Adams

What a fascinating and thoughtful essay.

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Terrific, Andy! I'm a big fan of John Berger, but was not familiar with Understanding a Photograph. Just ordered it. Thanks for the recommendation!

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I found this very interesting. I am extremely uncultured in the history of photography and historical photographers, but I loved this post. Unfortunately, I can't say I have a favorite Sander's photo, because before I read this I had never heard of him! Thanks for introducing me!

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well. great post, as always. Fine, fine video.

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Great read on a Sunday afternoon. I now have a weird desire to wear a suit, although dancing is certainly off the table.

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Jan 28Liked by Andy Adams

I can’t help it. Your three farmers reminded me of a picture I once saw in a deli. It’s two little boys about 3-4 years old in their overalls. One asks the other, “You been farming long?” It’s precious. I actually looked it up on line and saved it but I can’t see any way to add it here.

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Canes definitely need to come back in fashion asap.

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Great post, I am also a fan of John Berger and wrote a thing loosely relating to "Ways of Seeing".

Maybe you want to check it:

https://open.substack.com/pub/gruntworks/p/ways-of-nudes?r=2imavs&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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I saw a fantastic exhibition about John Berger in Barcelona last year called Permanent Red. A fascinating person and commentator

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Jan 30Liked by Andy Adams

This was a good read for my 15 minute break in work. Those farmers look very dapper.

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Thank you for sharing. I love history. This is my first time of hearing this photographer's name. Excellent article.

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Thanks for sharing this, Andy. I was not familiar with the photograph or with Sander’s work. Now, I have homework to do. Thanks so much. Can’t wait to dive in.

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Jan 30Liked by Andy Adams

Andy - I've shared this with you before. But I'll share it again, because like Sanders's portraits and Berger's essay, the poem rewards out returns, becoming more as we learn to see it differently and see in it more.

It of course also connects to fields in winter, to Wisconsin landscapes, to fallowness and thaw, to our loneliness and to our longing: for beauty, for renewal, for growth, and change.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48110/the-late-wisconsin-spring

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Sander has a huge influence on my photographic work. My favourite: Secretary at West German Radio, Cologne (detail; 1931).

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Great article Andy, and I love the Art Assignment channel, pity that Sarah moved to greener pastures, see what I did there? 😅

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Jan 29Liked by Andy Adams

A very timely post. Thank you. The concept of wintering is a new one on me. (And I will read the book you recommend). I’ve just come to the end of my last project (www.chrisrydlewski.co.uk/confluence) and am happily hibernating. I feel a little disconcerted but am trying to accept inaction as part of the process. Having been so relentlessly busy it still feels a bit unnatural but I will persist! Best wishes & thanks again. Chris

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