Traverse no. 9: Kayhan Jafar-Shaghaghi

In contemporary photography, a rare breed of artist exists, one who effortlessly marries the tactile beauty of traditional film with the ethereal world of the imagination. Kayhan Jafar-Shaghaghi, a Persian-born artist, now calls Edinburgh, Scotland, his creative sanctuary, where he weaves the threads of history, culture, and personal experiences into striking 8x10 film images that speak to the soul and provoke deep introspection…

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Poignant Portfolio no 48: Pam Connolly

At the beginning of 2023, I had the pleasure of participating in LACP’s photo reviews. Although there are some obvious limitations to reviewing work online rather than in person, it’s still great to meet new people and see new projects that are unfolding. One of the projects that struck a chord with me was Connolly’s “Wishmaker” series and the Landau gallery project.

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Poignant Pics no. 89: On Melanie Walker's "Leaves of Absence"

Given that her photographer father, Todd Walker, was well-known for pushing at the edges of photography, it's not surprising that Todd Walker imparted his exploratory nature upon his daughter. Walker grew up in her father's studio, often surrounded by his photographer friends, many of whom we now consider luminaries. Walker uses her talent and challenges with double vision to create works that invite viewers to experience photographic installations as unique transitional worlds of her imagining.

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Poignant Pics no. 82: On Kurt Schroeder's “Untitled Triptych”

Photo historian Michel Frizot wrote, "The photograph is not in its essence a transparency through which we gain access to a known reality but, on the contrary, a source of ambiguity and often, perplexity. The photographic image is a constellation of questions for the eye because it offers viewers forms and signs they have never perceived as such and which conflict with their natural vision." That's quite an accurate statement for this triptych by Kurt Schroeder.

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