February 2012 - Page 2 of 3 - Reading The Pictures

Campaign '12 Photo February 17, 2012

Wire Shots from Romney at Cuyahoga Lincoln Day Dinner: In Back/Out Front

Did someone say, two Americas?

Disaster Focus Photo

Guttenfelder's Fukushima: Contemplating a Future Without Us

What's so powerful about Guttenfelder's nuke disaster photos is how "silent" and humbling they are, framing the disaster as an "ego check" and portentous of a future without us.

International Focus Photo February 16, 2012

Juxtaposition of the Day: The World on Two Balconies

The first one is from emerging China; the second from declining Greece.

Campaign '12 Photo

Campaign Video: Romney Fakes Drive Through "Inner" Detroit

Now, if you weren't paying really close attention, the logic and flow of the tour would leave you thinking you saw these houses from Mitt's car window.

Media Focus Photo February 15, 2012

The Emasculation of Wall St. (Yeah, Right)

Was there a shoe and suit credit on an inside page somewhere, perhaps?

Campaign '12 Photo

Romney: Also Trailing in the Scrapbook Poll

On first pass, the photos might not seem that far apart, but then, the askance glance, the kids less connected than just "doing what you do...."

Culture Focus Photo February 14, 2012

How To Look at a Woman's Body: World Press Photo and the New Amazons

This picture as a photographic object must undergo the same difficult process of interpretation – is it a kind of pornography or a protest item that raises the awareness of FEMEN’s cause?

International Focus Photo February 13, 2012

Photo Awards Can Be Prospective, Too: POYi and Greece on Fire

... And then, shockingly (talking about how a photo can seem like a template), today's newswires are full of more Greek policeman on fire.

Media Focus Photo February 12, 2012

War Photography Scrum: Kozyrev, McManus and BBC's Wordless World Press Commentary

Without uttering a word, the juxtaposition raises two of the most significant critiques I've had of war photography.

John Moore Photo

The Great Recession in Moore Depth

Looking for photographs that tackle this brutal recession, one of the first names that comes to mind -- for eloquence as well as diligence -- is Getty's John Moore, recognized this week with a World Press Photo award.

Photo February 11, 2012

Aranda’s World Press Photo of the Year: Pietàs and Burkas and Just Plain Obscurity, Oh My!

So, does does Samuel Aranda’s 2011 World Press Photo of the Year, honoring the Arab Spring, too much resemble the Pietà? Or, is that the only place where Western eyes can hang their hat?

President Obama Photo February 9, 2012

Shooting Marshmallows

So, how did Obama succeed in being recognized as a regular Joe? In part, its been the steady distribution of unremarkably remarkable visual comfort food.

Business Focus Photo

The Barely Noticeable Assembly Line Worker in the Background of the All-Consuming Political Campaign

This campaign photo by AP's Evan Vucci does something respectful and noteworthy. Exploited as props, it recognizes the presence and mind-numbing grind of the American assembly worker.

Culture Focus Photo February 8, 2012

There is Bono, and then there is Africa

It is strikingly clear that musician-turned-humanitarian Bono, not Ghana (nor any needy child), takes the starring role in Adrian Steirn’s Pictures from Ghana.

Campaign '12 Photo February 7, 2012

After Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri, Night's Biggest Loser Wasn't Romney OR Newt

GOP's presidential gladiator match throws assuming media to the lions ... again.

Advertising Watch Photo

The Clint Eastwood Chrysler "Half Time in America" Controversy, and the Doctored Wisconsin Footage

It may be safer to say that Chrysler’s Halftime in America ad is more accurately seen through the lens of doctored video footage to be a pro-corporate, anti-union advertisement than any other kind of political statement.

Philip Perdue Photo February 6, 2012

Drudge, Tea Party Impressionism and the "Fine Art" of Obama Bashing

Turning one of the Tea Party’s favorite verbal punch lines - that Barack Hussein Obama is trampling the U.S. Constitution - into a feast for the eyes.

Culture Focus Photo

Bart Starr Meets Starship Troopers Meets Cleopatra: Super Bowl as Cosmic Mashup

Science fiction has always been about the present, and about the relationship between politics and society. The Super Bowl is a relative newcomer, but thanks to the power of spectacle it’s catching up fast.