Review by Lee Halvorsen • The images, the book as an object, the story, the people, and the artist weave, then blend together to create the soul of this incredible work of art. Shahria Sharmin spent a dozen years listening to and coming to know people in Bangladesh’s Hijra community. In the Afterword, Sharmin walks... Continue Reading →
Amani Willett — Invisible Sun
Review by Lee Halvorsen • The Japanese have a word that perfectly describes how I imagine Willett approached making this book…”Komorebi” (木漏れ日) often translated as sunlight filtering through leaves, creating patterns of dancing light and shadow, and, importantly, a feeling of discovering light in the darkness. In an Afterword, which is a large sticky on... Continue Reading →
Clayton Steward — ‘Do what you have to do’ care + commitment in rural Kansas
Review by Lee Halvorsen • This is small book with a very large heart, capturing generations living strong, but challenged, in rural Kansas…far from the bustling crowds but also distanced from metropolitan healthcare. Steward’s Master of Arts, Journalism project found him spending a great deal of time with Larry Engstrom and his family after Larry... Continue Reading →
Alan Wieder — We Will Not Be Removed: The People of King School Park
Review by Lee Halvorsen • Wieder’s intimate images and skilled story telling brings persistence, permanence, place, and people to life in Portland’s King School Park. Wieder spent several years photographing folks in the Park, people who return almost daily despite the tsunamis of neighborhood change over the years. Mitchell Jackson grew up in the community;... Continue Reading →
Martin Stupich — ORE and EMPIRE
Review by Lee Halvorsen • History, art, colonialism, exploitation, humanity…all swirling about in Stupich’s monumental collection of visual and textual art in this book. He brings North America’s Camino Real alive from the time of the Spanish Conquistadores to twentieth century’s Guggenheim’s vice like grip on silver and copper mining that are on the same trails ridden... Continue Reading →
Elliot Ross – Crows Ascending
Review by Paul Anderson • Remembrance, ephemerality and transitions are what come to mind when looking through this beautifully executed photography book by Elliot Ross. The enigmatic objects that are central to all these images are crows. The monochromatic images are elegant, have simple compositions, and gracefully employ motion blur that imparts a spiritual feeling... Continue Reading →
Photographic Center Northwest’s Photo Zine and Book Fair 2025
Article and photographs by Hans Hickerson · The regional photobook and zine scene is alive and well in the Pacific Northwest. Some fifty vendors offered their works to an enthusiastic public at the Photographic Center Northwest’s annual Photo Zine and Book Fair this year in Seattle on August 17. The PCNW was established in the... Continue Reading →
Arles Books 2025
Text and photos by Hans Hickerson · Photobooks were visible everywhere this year in Arles at the 2025 photo festival. The official program included a book market as well as prizes for photobooks in several categories. The book market took place in two separate venues, but there were also a number of unofficial events, including... Continue Reading →
Arles Photo Festival 2025
Text and photos by Hans Hickerson · The Arles Photo Festival has a unique flavor. Instead of a single venue, it has some 30 official exhibition and event sites scattered throughout the city and surrounding area. Fortunately however, Arles is small and pedestrian-friendly. As you walk around town your fair experience includes a generous serving... Continue Reading →
Jason Gray — Does a parasite know that it’s a parasite?
Review by Lee Halvorsen • You’re in the eye of the storm…you’ve seen the chaos and change that just occurred and in the not-too-far distance, you see more coming. Through Gray’s images, this is the storm’s eye view of mankind’s interaction with the planet and the mostly uncertain nature of that contact. You're standing on the... Continue Reading →