8 Comments
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Cameron Davidson's avatar

Stunning images.

Danielle Labonte's avatar

Works of art, both of them.

Nancy Friedman's avatar

The Reuters photo you link to (Harp and Trump, heads bent toward each other, framed in an airplane window) is also striking. It's the only photograph of Trump I can recall seeing in which he's wearing glasses.

Michael Shaw's avatar

Nancy, I’m so glad you picked up on the glasses!

Brett Patching's avatar

Julia's photo is wonderful.

Joanna B. Pinneo's avatar

Thank you Michael. I have long been a fan of Matt McLain's work, some of the very best today in the genre of daily photojournalism; in fact, rising above the daily photojournalist to be both timely and timeless. I totally missed the nuance of the image - so obvious now that Michael pointed it out that it is not nuance but a smack in the face, brilliantly done. I am not familiar with Julia Demaree Nikhinson’s work, and her photograph of Natalie and Trump boarding the plane is also on a revealing psychological scale. Thank you, Michael, for your article, and I will now be more discerning, as I used to be when looking at current photography. It is heartening to see the fine work still being done and published. I also thank the Atlantic Magazine for publishing the work and for seeing its value. I am a subscriber and am proud to be.

Michael Shaw's avatar

Thanks for your message, Joanna. Reading the Pictures was always about leveling the field when it comes to the content and power of visual narrative. Given what I call “the persuasion society,” the ability to see deeply into these images is vital.

As for McClain, It was great to follow him at the Post. After the wipe out, it’s great to see his work again, and especially to shine a light on it.