What I’m Reading
June 4, 2024
What I’m Reading returns after a few quiet weeks with a visual summary of recent world events, a climate reminder, and a photo essay about hope.
Up to date
Today’s recommendations lean on the shoulders of recent readings from The Guardian (next time, I’ll mix it up again).
The photography collection that kicks today’s readings off is a few weeks old and is titled The week around the world in 20 pictures.
I enjoyed the variety featured in the collection. From the quiet to the loud and from the beautiful and tranquil to the heavy moments of world affairs, there’s a balance that makes it easy to absorb the information.
I can’t say I’m particularly fascinated by dog shows. But Andrés Kudacki’s image from the streets of New York is a unique impression that speaks to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show’s flair and the photographer’s creativity.
You’ll find striking images of various protests and political events (not only Gaza-related demos but also about Georgia, Slovenia, and India — scroll down to the picture of the security personnel walking past a young boy in India; it’s one of my favorites).
Ukraine is included in the gallery also. I’ll share two noteworthy stories in the next installment.
For today, I’d like to focus on the beauty of life. One example is Jacob Anderson’s Northern Lights landscape at the National Monument of Scotland.
Nelson Almeida’s picture of a flooded road in Brazil adds the climate to the gallery’s topics, and it carries me straight to today’s second recommendation.
One Climate Update
It’s called The flooded buildings of Porto Alegre, Brazil — in pictures and shows the work of photographer Gideon Mendel, who documented the changed landscape of the Brazilian city.
The pictures combine the sad truth of a natural disaster with the unique perspective of its impact on the world. It’s a thought-provoking piece that makes you stop and spend time with the issue.
Also, if you’re interested in photography, you might find it difficult to resist the urge to ponder photography questions and the sense of visual beauty that even something as sad as a flood can include.
Story of hope
Today’s final story is headlined ‘It’s not just giving out food parcels’: the volunteers helping families — photo essay.
Photographer Sean Smith brings us to Thurrock, an area near the Thames River and east of London, where he spent months documenting food banks.
Alongside the photography, Smith includes valuable facts and contextual information that elevate the story.
You’ll see the workers and clients, the various stages of operating a food bank, and the human side of it. The “community spirit,” as one of the people photographed describes it, shines through.
I enjoyed my time with the essay and the reflections it stimulated. I hope you’ll give it a read.
Those are my recommendations for this week. More regular blog updates should begin to trickle in again now. For a start, I’ll share a writing update and the next training insights shortly. Until then, enjoy your readings.
