Introducing FlakPhoto Reads

5 things I'm reading this week

Camille Seaman from What We See, Women Photograph’s inaugural photobook

Back when I wrote the old FlakPhoto newsletter, I used to run a recurring feature called 5 Things I’m Reading This Week. I’ve been thinking about doing that here, but I haven’t been able to get it together and have been using this space to work through my various ideas about photography since launching this thing last fall. I think I’ll do this occasionally — a link roundup of the photo readables that catch my eye. It makes for a reasonably light post, but I love recommending things and hope you like it. Let me know if you find this useful or redundant.

I’ve been exploring Flipboard again this year, and I’m having quite a bit of fun with it. Mike McCue and his team are doing some exciting things over there, and it’s a fun scene. I’m collecting photography stories in my FlakPhoto Reads magazine and thought I’d highlight a few of my favorites for you this week. Drop me a line if you’re hanging out on Flipboard — Here’s my profile. That’s all for now. Enjoy!

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I know that many of you are fans of Camille Seaman’s work. I’m featuring one of her images in the top slot today. I love her atmospheric cloud pictures — they are epic, and you can spot one of Camille’s pictures a mile away. I mean, seriously, what a view! This is part of Women Photograph’s inaugural photobook, What We See, curated by Daniella Zalcman and Sara Ickow. I’ve been enjoying this book and know some of you will too. Kenneth Dickerman previewed it in the Washington Post the other day. (That link may be paywalled — Sorry!). Check this one out when you can.

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Donavon Smallwood

Alice Zoo is one of my favorite new photography writers — if you aren’t already, check out her INTERLOPER Substack. Read A Conversation with Donavon Smallwood →

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Fred Ritchin

I will read anything with Fred Ritchin’s name in it. He talked with CJR about AI and photography recently. Read Q&A: Fred Ritchin on AI and the threat to photojournalism no one is talking about →

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Aline Smithson

Everybody loves Aline Smithson, right? She juried PhotoMidwest’s biennial exhibition last year, so I was happy to see her interviewed here. Read THE FEMALE GAZE: Aline Smithson: Inspiration, Talent, and Grace, by Diana Nicholette Jeon →

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I used to work in the Wisconsin Historical Society’s visual materials archive, where these images are kept, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend this one. Plus, Michael Lesy is the best. Read Wisconsin Death Trip is an all-time classic. 50 Years On, ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ Still Haunts and Inspires →

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That’s all for now! Let me know what you thought about this post, and please feel free to recommend links you think I should read. Have a great weekend!