The truth of photographic images has been challenged since the 19th century when the means for making them were invented. While the medium was embraced by the public at large, photographers have grappled with the methods and techniques available to them, experimenting with technologies as they emerged and discovering the capacity of the medium to represent the world they experienced.
 
Photographs are inherently subjective in the ways in which they are made and perceived. There is no absolute truth in the photographic image. Photographers frame the reality that they see, whether the process is spontaneous or planned.

The truth of photography relies not only on the integrity of the image, but on its context and accessibility.

VIEWING TRUTH IN PHOTOGRAPHY

The themes can be viewed in sequence or in whichever order the viewer chooses. Select a theme from the menu bar at the top of the page, or click one of the buttons below.​​

LOOKING FOR TRUTH IN A DIGITAL AGE

In this installment of Looking for Truth in a Digital Age, we continue and expand our coverage of the tragic war in the Ukraine and the incalculable suffering endured by people in this region and those forced to become refugees. Maxim Dondyuk has provided a new portfolio of images, many of which would never be published in mainstream news media due to the stark and often horrific reality that they depict.

​In addition, we present:
  • A look into the process of editing and publishing photo books by Lesley Martin
  • A self-reflection on the early days of the pandemic by teenage photographer Max Amos-Flom
  • An investigation into the legacy of photographer Paul Julien by Andrea Stultiens
  • Insights into the revolutionary photographs of Myriam Boulos

A LONG-LASTING BATTLE
Maxim Dondyuk

As the war in Ukraine rages on, Maxim Dondyuk shares both his photographs of the conflict as well as his feelings about how the relentless nature of the war has affected him and the citizens of Ukraine.

PUBLISHING PHOTO BOOKS
​Lesley Martin

Aperture creative director and book editor Lesley Martin discusses the different ways photo books are developed as well as what she's looking for in a new project.

MY LIFE
Max Amos-Flom

Max Amos-Flom, a teenage photographer, documents his life during the early days of the pandemic, focusing specifically on his twin brother's battle with depression.

YET ANOTHER TRUTH
Andrea Stultiens

Andrea Stultiens​ investigates the legacy of Paul Julien, a photographer from the Netherlands who wrote about his experiences traveling through Africa between 1932-1962. Stultiens analyzes those photographs with a modern eye and reveals the truths behind them.

REVOLUTION
Myriam Boulos

In October of 2019, a series of civil protests swept the nation of Lebanon. Inspired by this revolution, Myriam Boulus changed her approach to photography to focus on the interaction between photographer and subject, with a newfound responsibility to tell the collective story of her people.

PROTEST PHOTOGRAPHY

While photography can document social protest, it can only propel change if it is acted upon. Photographs can empower protestors, emboldening advocacy and activism. The photographers we are featuring in this section have different points of view, addressing a myriad of issues, and raising questions about the interplay between aesthetics and factual representation.

PROTEST CITY
Rian Dundon

Photographer Rian Dundon saw the protests in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2020 as a “siege situation,” a liberal city surrounded by a conservative state. In his photographs Dundon worked to document the intensity of the conflicts that ensued, and to critique the genre of protest photography at the same time.

THE ARCHIVE OF PUBLIC PROTEST
Rafał Milach

Rafał Milach talks about the creation and importance of The Archive of Public Protest, a platform for distributing images connected with social and political tensions in Poland from 2015 until the present. ​The APP gathers together photographs in a single, easily accessible collection, which will remain accessible to researchers, artists, and activists.

INSIDE THE KETTLE
Michalina Kuczyńska

The youngest member of The Archive of Public Protests, Michalina Kuczyńska has the goal of bringing awareness to the values that are being communicated at the protests she photographs.

THE EMOTION OF PROTESTS
Dawid Zieliński

Dawid Zieliński talks about conveying emotion through protest photography, as well as the importance of finding an outlet for these photographs to ensure that they are seen and make an impact.

THE DISCOURSE OF PROTEST
Karolina Gembara

Karolina Gembara, herself a photographer, contributes to the Archive of Public Protest as a researcher, and discusses how their printed newspapers have become an integral part of the protests where they are distributed.
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