01.04.25 | The Power of Visuals
Daily Mirror Covers: Then vs. Now
Visuals could be just as important as words in telling the news
By the late 1800s, compulsory education meant more people could read, though not always fluently. Traditional newspapers, packed with dense text, weren’t exactly inviting for this new audience. Publishers saw an opportunity—news told through pictures, with short captions and simple paragraphs, could attract a much larger readership.
This led to the (official) launch of the Daily Mirror in 1904, the world’s first pictorial newspaper, illustrated exclusively with photographs. Advances in printing made high-quality photo reproduction cheaper and easier, and images made news more engaging, accessible, and immediate.
The Daily Mirror stood out, proving that visuals could be just as powerful as words in storytelling. This bold shift helped shape modern photojournalism as we know it today.
Joel Meyerowitz and Maggie Barrett in Joel’s New York apartment
Love is never easy, but it’s always worth showing up for
Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other
Getting to know the passionate Joel Meyerowitz in this intimate portrait naturally sparks a desire to see more of his work. But this documentary is far from an extension of his career—it’s a deep dive into his marriage with Maggie Barrett, a union of two equally strong-willed individuals, each shaped by a long and dramatic life.
Throughout the film, Maggie and Joel grapple with mortality and, more frankly, how they want their story to end. Having lived so much already, they are still searching for a shared sense of peace. The tone shifts dramatically when Maggie suffers a serious injury, forcing Joel into the role of caregiver. Their relationship is defined by an ongoing push and pull, with Joel’s fame often overshadowing Maggie’s. The strain comes to a head in a heated outburst, three decades in the making.
This film moved me in so many ways. It made me think deeply about love, intimacy, and care. Care, I realise, is such an underrated part of intimacy. It’s not just about physical touch or loving words—it’s in the quiet acts of looking after each other that love becomes most visible. Does this feel nice? Joel asks as he gently caresses Maggie’s feet while she rests on the couch. She nods, eyes glistening. Feels nice on my side too, he adds.
Pep Ventosa: Carousels – In the Round, Carousel del Tibidabo, Barcelona
I had never heard of the Pep Ventosa technique before, until today
Pep Ventosa, a Catalan artist, creates photographs out of…photographs—his work almost resembling impressionist paintings. One of his techniques, In the Round, involves capturing multiple images of a subject from different angles while maintaining the same distance. Each photo offers a slightly different angle, and when merged, they tell a layered, evolving story. The chosen focal point remains sharp, while the rest blurs into an almost dreamlike effect.
Ventosa plays with perception, breaking down and reconstructing reality. "We trust our senses and assume that what we see in a photograph is real," he explains, "so why not create something beyond what the naked eye can see?" His work challenges the notion that photography must freeze a single moment in time. Abstract yet deeply real, his images capture multiple perspectives at once. Does that make them more truthful? Maybe. But one thing’s certain—you can’t just glance. You have to observe, be patient, and stay intentional.
I can’t wait to try this technique—patiently walking in circles with my camera sounds like the perfect photowalk plan!
