Photography, Video, and Visual Journalism

May 22, 2009 5:29 PM

Lensis the new photojournalism blog of The New York Times, presenting visual and multimedia reporting — photographs, videos and slide shows. A showcase for Times photographers, it will draw on The Times' own pictorial archive, numbering in the millions of images and going back to the early 20th century. Features in their first week include: Essay: Slow Photography in an Instantaneous Age, about what it means to shoot on large-format film in the digital age; Showcase: A Prom Divided, a multimedia feature about a segregated prom in 2009 south-central Georgia.
posted by netbros (9 comments total)

Pretty gosh darned engrossing when you go into full screen mode and use the arrow keys to navigate through it. Thanks!
posted by DenOfSizer at 6:55 PM on May 22

NYT's response to the unexpected somewhat viral success of the Big Picture (so often linked in the blue). Big Picture is thematic while this is more "best of the day" randomness.

The video essays should be worth following - it's a whole new medium that is turning into something cool. The new high end digital cameras can now take pictures so fast they double as HD video cameras and photo journalists are making mini documentaries.
posted by stbalbach at 7:09 PM on May 22

That's a slick interface. How hard is that to do in Flash? How about Silverlight? Do those two differ that much in terms of ease of use ?
posted by geoff. at 7:32 PM on May 22

NYT's response to the unexpected somewhat viral success of the Big Picture...

Maybe so.

The New York Times Company owns the Boston Globe -- of which the 'Big Picture' is a website created by Mefi's own kokogiak
posted by ericb at 7:46 PM on May 22

The Flash interface falls down when I click on "Read More..." while in full screen. The browser exits full screen, which is kinda jarring when I want to stay in that mode. Caveat lector and all that.

The photo caption's grey text also tends to float over the picture in full screen, sometimes making it illegible.

I imagine they'll work out the kinks.
posted by Jubal Kessler at 7:53 PM on May 22

The segregated prom thing was really appalling. I'm so embarrassed for those parents!
posted by johannahdeschanel at 9:39 PM on May 22

That's a slick interface.

That sure is. I like the way it takes something the internet does really well and fast, displaying pictures, and turns it into a really slow and clunky experience where they decide how long I need to look at a picture.
posted by srboisvert at 1:15 AM on May 23 [2 favorites]

That sure is. I like the way it takes something the internet does really well and fast, displaying pictures, and turns it into a really slow and clunky experience where they decide how long I need to look at a picture.

The prom thing is just a video, and not what he's talking about. Try clicking any other link.
posted by Garak at 6:45 AM on May 23

Very nice. It's so good to see more "slow photography" out there being pressed. Thanks for the link.
posted by virga at 9:15 AM on May 23