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I recently revisited this book of photos by Michael Jang, an incredible photographer who’s been documenting life in California since the early 70s. Jang’s photos distinctively capture the sincere humanity that exists in San Francisco but is often overshadowed by today’s pervasive tech bro agenda. There’s something extremely tight about how he was able to capture high-energy situations––from parties at the Beverly Hilton to punk shows at the Civic Center Plaza––in a way that just feels so tranquil. As a Bay Area native, I deeply appreciate his work and hope you will too.
Dec 8, 2020
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📚This is a book of interviews with 12 pioneering artists who create photo books. It’s a long discussion about two of my deepest passions: photography and bookmaking. I found it because of the curator David Campany, and it is a must have for those who take their photography seriously. The most visceral interview is with the photographer Larry Clark, who talks about getting sued by the grandparents of a baby he photographed, leaving out pictures of sawed off shot guns, and his commitment to never making his friends look bad. There’s a lot of passages about book design, a range of photography styles, and the meaning of success. This book is a gold mine of insight, and I carry it with me like a bible.
Nov 15, 2022
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this is hands down the sickest photo book of 2024. Jim is an ace photographer, I've followed his work for the past decade-ish. he and my mom also dated for a while which was odd and not a particularly important detail. but the images in this book are just fucking insane. the fact that they were shot within this millennium is beyond, they should be from 1927 or something. I like to imagine what it must have been like to embed with these boys and photograph their unique lifestyle, would just be so surreal in the greater context of the wild fundamental Mormon sect they were raised in. beautiful images, a very beautifully put together book, and all around a really good deep dive into a weird corner of america.
Sep 24, 2024
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📷I love these photos of Beverly Hills in the 80’s. Photography has always inspired. When I go to a museum I gravitate towards the photography section, more so than the other mediums. There’s something about freeing a moment in time that I could just stare at endlessly.
Feb 25, 2025
Top Recs from @shyam-mervana
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🗣For somebody that works in podcasting, I hardly ever listen to them. NPR’s new show Louder Than a Riot, however, is the rare exception. Hosted by Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael, the show interrogates the relationship between mass incarceration and hip-hop by diving deep into the experiences that artists like Bobby Shmurda and DJ Drama have had with the criminal justice system. I’ve been fucking with Rodney and Sid’s music coverage for a while now and this pod really highlights their skills as storytellers.
Dec 8, 2020
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📺Even though I am a certified Bravo Boy™, I do have a soft spot in my heart for MTV’s reality programs. My best buds and I have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours watching the Real World, the even better spin-off The Challenge, and of course, Are You The One. The show is basically about a bunch of young, hot people who all “suck at relationships” and are trying to find their Perfect Match: another contestant on the show, predetermined by the producers but unknown amongst themselves, who is meant to be their ideal romantic partner. I’m in it for the shitty laser effects, the snarky host Ryan Devlin, and of course, the never-ending drama. If you’re in need of a mental vacation, check out the first two seasons streaming on Netflix now.
Dec 8, 2020
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🎞Okay, I know everyone’s been recommending this, but it really is that good. Lovers Rock is the second film in Small Axe, Steve McQueen’s five-part series about Black life in West London in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The movie follows a crew of West Indian Londoners through a night at the coolest party I’d probably never get invited to. They’re spinning jams, drinking Red Stripes, and falling in love. I weirdly really fuck with all movies that take place over the course of one night and this one is no exception. It’s visually gorgeous, the soundtrack is vibey as fuck, and the fits are astounding. Check it out on Amazon Prime Video now.
Dec 8, 2020