I want to draw your attention to a relatively new blog called No Caption Needed. Robert Hariman at Northwestern University and John Lucaites at Indiana University put it together in support of a book they wrote by the same name. In daily postings they choose a current photograph or two and discuss their visual operations and how they work, or don’t work, as well as what they might mean from a rhetorical position.

I encourage you to check out the blog, comment where you feel appropriate and introduce yourselves to Hariman and Lucaites. I think there is a lot of opportunity for rich conversations between us, who are involved in the picture making process, and the academics who are critiquing them. This is a great place to do it.

No Caption Needed is also featuring a photographer’s showcase where work is presented in more depth than the usual one or two images. My work from Xinjiang, China, is being featured today. Last weeks feature was work by Patrick Andrade from the 2008 campaign trail. I’d be honored if you would take a look.

Best regards,

Aric Mayer

ps While I was at a conference hosted by Robert Hariman at Northwestern, I met Michael Shaw of BAGnews Notes who many of you are familiar with. No Caption Needed was originally built around the model that he created at the BAG.