At LensCulture, we’re fortunate to have a global view of contemporary photography, and a community of talented, insightful writers, curators, and interviewers to dig a bit deeper into the various ways people from around the world are using the language of photography to tell stories, express themselves, and share their views of our world.
Here are 15 of the most popular highlights from 2023 — a mix of new discoveries, photobook reviews, interviews, essays, exhibitions and visual stories.
We also took a look at the biggest new threat to photography — Generative AI — and interviewed an award-winning visual artist who admitted that he got hooked on the new technological tool and might never use a camera again. That interview (and the completely artificial images it featured) kicked off a firestorm of anger on social media, making it clear that our readers feel passionately about the medium of photography and its analog relationship to reality.
So, if you love photography, and the many ways it can connect people with ideas, take a look at these highlights. We hope you find some enjoyment and inspiration here, and we wish you the best for the coming year!
Troy Williams’ intimate portraits of characters he meets in his New York neighborhood are immersed in the spirit of belonging and freedom found on downtown city streets.
Photographs by Troy Williams. Text by Magali Duzant.
Documenting her journey from Ukraine to the Netherlands with her mother, Hanna Hrabarska’s visual diary grapples with the experience of being forced to leave one’s home in the face of war—and the challenges of arriving in a new country.
Photographs by Hanna Hrabarska. Interview by Sophie Wright.
Juxtaposing intimate self-portraits with medical scans, collages and images of oddly shaped vegetables, Mayumi Suzuki explores her experience of fertility treatment—an issue rarely discussed in Japanese society.
Photographs by Mayumi Suzuki. Essay by Marigold Warner.
Another America — AI-Generated Photos from the 1940s and 50s
Phil Toledano has often pushed the boundaries of photography to imagine the future; now he’s tapping into AI to create alternative histories, challenging our belief in any images at all.
AI-generated images by Phillip Toledano. Interview by Jim Casper.
Mixing fragments of her conversation with a female AI chatbot and photographs from her archive, Brea Souders’ new book is an intimate reflection on humanity, technology and womanhood.
Photographs by Brea Souders. Book review by Sophie Wright.
In his deceptively simple photographs, Valery Poshtarov pushes against the narrow confines of modern masculinity to capture moments of tenderness between fathers and their sons.
Photographs by Valery Poshtarov. Essay by Magali Duzant.
A powerful outdoor exhibition in London reflects on the manifold ways the climate emergency is affecting communities across the world—and how we can visualize these urgent stories of devastation.
Photographs by Gideon Mendel. Essay by Joanna L. Cresswell.
Ousman Diallo’s sun-kissed photographs intimately capture youth culture in New York City, revisiting the neighborhoods of his own childhood to piece together a tribute to their beauty.
Photographs by Ousman Diallo. Essay by Magali Duzant.
Against the backdrop of war, Ukrainian photographer Vic Bakin’s darkroom has taken on a new importance. Becoming the safest space in his home, it is here that he has been reflecting on the different meanings his portraits and landscapes have developed over the past year.
Photographs by Vic Bakin. Essay by Joanna L. Cresswell.
Tamaki Yoshida uses crazy chemical combinations in her darkroom to explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world—resulting in truly kaleidoscopic images.
Photographs by Tamaki Yoshida. Essay by Marigold Warner.
From atmospheric studio shots to grainy selfies, Julie Joubert uses a spectrum of different image formats to paint a multilayered portrait of a young man’s journey to define himself in the face of struggle.
Photographs by Julie Joubert. Text by Magali Duzant.
Mari Katayama reflects on the roots of her intricately staged self-portraits, in which she uses her own body—often surrounded by objects and environments she has created herself—as a lens through which to reflect society.
Photographs by Mari Katayama. Essay by Marigold Warner.
Finding Common Ground in Street Photography
What makes a great ‘street’ photograph? Erik Vroons explores the infinite possibilities of the genre while reflecting on the diverse work of five Dutch photographers.
Photographs by Joep Hijwegen, Julie Hrudová, Bart Koetsier and Rolf van Rooij. Essay by Erik Vroons.
Documenting the lively adventures of her son and the family’s two beloved dogs, Wendy Stone reframes the bond between siblings through an animal lens.
Photographs by Wendy Stone. Essay by Magali Duzant.
An eclectic year-end list of favorite photobooks of 2023 — personal recommendations from photographers, photography experts, friends and colleagues around the world.
Personal recommendations from 40 photography experts. Compiled by LensCulture.
