Writer – Photographer – Educator
The story of a black-and-white Lensbaby photograph on World AIDS Day 2020 Angels in America has been a source of inspiration for many artists, in particular those capturing the AIDS pandemic of the eighties. The Bethesda angel is a symbolic figure at the center of Tony Kushner’s play, and, itself, a source of inspiration. Known [...]
Photographing activists. Stories of activism told in words and images.
Photographing people with the Sigma 105mm ART and not only at f/1.4 It's been a long while since I've posted updates on my photographing with the bokehmaster. So, in this post I'd like to share a few thoughts on photographing people with the Sigma 105mm ART, in- and outside the studio. A few things I've [...]
Seeing in Black and White "Throughout the years, many photographers have embraced black-and-white to tell some of the most intense, intriguing, powerful and memorable stories," I wrote in an article about photographer's Bill Bytsura's new book, The AIDS Activist Project. "[...] Award-winning photographer and AIDS activist Kurt Weston [A&U, November, 2005] says black-and-white offers his [...]
June 5 is HIV Longterm Survivors Awareness Day
A look back at the Blind Vision series of black-and-white self-portraits by award-winning photographer Kurt Weston I wrote about award-winning, legally blind photographer Kurt Weston and his Blind Vision series of black-and-white self-portraits, as well as about other images by the same artist in the November 2005 issue of A&U Magazine--America's AIDS Magazine. Here are [...]
World AIDS Day: 1988 - 2018 Today is World AIDS Day. Founded day thirty years ago, on December 1, 1988, World AIDS Day is a day when we look back at the history of the pandemic, remember those we've past, celebrate the lives of those living with the virus--long-term as well as newly-diagnosed--and take a [...]
Weekend Warriors Working as a team, cheering for friends while attending and covering Braking AIDS Ride 2018 closing ceremony in New York City I've always been a fan of Freddy Mercury and Queen, can't help it. And so, when pondering on this past weekend, "I want to ride my bicycle" and "Friends will be friends" [...]
International Workers Day First of May is International Workers' Day also known as May Day or "Labor Day" how those outside the U.S. call it. Today, I can't help but think of those who've come before us, fought and sacrificed for future generations to have a better life. Come to think of it, I went [...]
Documenting June: Photographing HIV/AIDS-related events, capturing history in the making Not all events are created equal. Some are more interesting than others. In order to be able to capture events in the best way possible (either in writing or light), we need to find a way to best connect with our subject and the story [...]
Alina Oswald 