News ‘n Notes

Five things of interest this week, including shirts for photographers, an open call for submissions, what I’m watching, and what I’m looking forward to reading

Jun 20, 2025

Every magazine for which I’ve ever written has had a section of easily digestible tidbits called “News ‘n Notes” (or something similarly pithy) comprising a selection of short ‘n sweet noteworthy ‘n ‘nteresting th’ngs. This week’s ‘ntire ‘dition is th’t. ‘njoy!

From the expanded reissue of Annie Leibovitz’s “Women”

New Books

I receive a lot of press releases from book publishers, which I enjoy. Lately a few new photo books have caught my eye. First is the significantly expanded reissue of Annie Leibovitz’s “Women,” due out this fall. Phaidon has created a two-volume slipcased edition, featuring new portraits created in the 25 years since the original was published (nearly doubling its size). If you’re a fanboy like me you’ll surely want to check out the signed edition available for just $99 direct from the publisher.

From “Yves Saint Laurent and Photography.”

Another Phaidon tome is on my radar: “Yves Saint Laurent and Photography.” Featuring nearly 150 photographs from some of the most prominent fashion photographers of the 20th century, including Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Sarah Moon, Annie Leibovitz, Paolo Roversi and more. Also featured are the super-est of models — Audrey Hepburn, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss — as well as “never-before-seen archival documents” which I’m hoping are original drawings and designs. Pre-order from Phaidon for September release.

I’m a sucker for subversion. If you can subvert the paradigm of, say, landscape photography while documenting international trade as cargo ships approach the California coastline, I’m all for it. Richard Misrach’s new book “Cargo” was released last week and offers a gorgeous document of this thing we don’t get to see, but which affects everything at the core of our consumer culture. The 64 images offer a stunning study in color and simplicity. Signed editions are available direct from publisher Aperture.

Thinking Outside the Box Camera

A friend sent me a link to this video and it made my day. That friend is the uber-talented Inti St. Clair, who always shares freely of her expertise. (Look at her wonderful work!) She sent the link to this inspiring video after reading my piece about the state of the photo business in 2025, I presume in an effort to cheer me up with these inspiring people unabashedly creating and keeping the joy of photography alive by building a large format roll film camera that shoots 4x5 paper. True, it’s all about cameras and technique… but in the best way possible! They’re keeping the spirit of old fangled polaroid photography alive, but with a definite newfangled twist. Needless to say I’m impressed by what these guys are doing, although I don’t know that I’d love to lug that camera around town. No pain no gain, maybe? Anyway, give it a watch!

Portraiture Master Class

I can’t get over how great this video is — The Art of Portraiture Master Class — and how wonderful the work of photographer Robin de Puy. She is a fantastic portrait photographer with such a clearly defined style and elegant technique. I was interested in her approach but even more pleased to discover that the video focuses primarily on her philosophy, how and why she finds and connects with the subjects of her photographs. It truly is a high level class on the philosophy of portraiture that eschews the typical tech talk and gets to what I consider to be most important: discussions of how to relate to the people with whom the photographer interacts. Must see TV for anyone seriously interested in portraiture.

T-Shirts for Photographers

Through a series of unexpected events I made a t-shirt for a friend. And it was so easy I made another and another. And so now the Art + Math Merch Table is brimming with new additions. It’s T-shirts for photographers, and along with the original Art + Math fan shirt, as well as the iconic “Ansel, Annie, Arbus, Avedon” shirt, there’s drawings of fancy cameras and sayings about photography and reminders that professionals are worth it. There’s even one based on the mantra from a recent Art + Math think piece: Fix It In Pre.

It’s likely this is as close as I’ll ever come to owning a Leica.

If you’re looking for a gift for the photographer in your life (Rural Transit Day is just around the corner, after all) consider one of these super-comfy t-shirts. A small point of pride I do want to point out: these are, in fact, great shirts. I don’t mean the sentiments (though, obviously, I like those too). I mean the physical shirts themselves. I hate terrible tees so I made a point of splurging on high quality, thick, soft cotton shirts. These are the Comfort Colors 1717, and let’s just say if you know, you know. (And if you don’t know, The New York Times recently called them the best t-shirt you can buy. I agree. It’s why they’re five bucks more than the typical terrible tee. Because they’re GREAT instead of terrible.) Seriously. Buy your new favorite tee here and help a guy out. I’m just a few hundred thousand t-shirts from early retirement.

Call for Submissions

I’m having an open call. Yes, it’s true. Submit your work! Passion projects, preferably. The things you’re most excited about. Photography, poetry, whatever. If you make it, I’d like to see it. Full disclosure: I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to do with it yet, if I’m honest. But I’d like to find opportunities to show off the work of readers and hopefully spread the sense of community that I sure feel from many of you, dear reader. Regardless, I’m confident that seeing what you’re doing will inspire me. I’ve got a couple of ideas brewing — it might be as simple as periodically highlighting readers’ wonderful work in future issues, or it might be something even more left field (which I would fill you in on before incorporating your intellectual property, of course). Anyway, if you want to show off, send me an email with links, small attachments, whatever, and I’ll take a look. (If you happen to be a paid subscriber, mention that and I’ll move you to the top of the priority list! Call it a subscriber perk.) Make sure the subject includes “Art + Math Submission” so I won’t miss it, and send it to me at bill@sawalich.com. I’ll respond to everyone, unless of course I receive a preposterous flood of messages (not something I’m too worried about). I’m excited to see what y’all are doing and help call attention to it.

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