In the Flash

This newsletter is designed for not only professional photographers and dedicated hobbyists but also for anyone interested in today's visual culture. While many photography blogs concentrate on the technical aspects like cameras, lenses, and settings, I aim to delve into the deeper questions of WHY — exploring concepts like intent, meaning, creativity, and inspiration. This platform serves as an ongoing conversation about the art and craft of making and reflecting on images.

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Articles

Photographing the Myth of the West Village Girl

1 week ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

Welcome to In the Flash, a weekly, behind-the-lens dialogue on photography. To join the conversationThis April, I spent four weeks circling Christopher, Hudson, and Bleecker streets, looking for West Village girls for a cover of New York Magazine. The first challenge of this tricky shoot was identifying who fit the profile written by Brock Colyer. These were the visual markers I was looking for.
The Unbearable Denseness of Artist Statements

2 weeks ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

Welcome to In the Flash, a weekly, behind-the-lens dialogue on photography. To join the conversationThis is an updated version of a post for Bulletin, published for the first time on Substack. In the first critique class at my MFA program in photography, a student hung up a print of a chair taken in their dorm room. The chair had an Ikea-like flair of the ordinary, and the photo itself was underexposed and underwhelming.
Fever Dream of Hats, Pastels and Bunny Ears at the NYC Easter Parade, in Photos

3 weeks ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

In the Flash is a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography. To join the conversationI bought myself a new camera last week with a goal to push myself to shoot for myself, something I stopped doing in recent years. Laziness played a role, but so did not having the right gear for playing. My Nikon D4 is a tank, not exactly suited for casual strolls.
Secrets in Photography and the Ethics of Influence

3 weeks ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

In the Flash is a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography. To join the conversationI was browsing through Substack, my preferred doom-scrolling platform, when I stumbled upon an article featuring moody, theatrically lit street scenes. I was sure these were the unpublished photos of Philip-Lorca diCorcia, one of my favorite photographers, but when I opened the feature, I saw that it was someone else entirely. The resemblance wasn’t superficial, it was structural.
Five Minutes With Ringo Starr for The Atlantic

1 month ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Mark Leibovich |Dina Litovsky

In the Flash is a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography. To join the conversationI don’t like checking email when I’m high, but sometimes I space out and compulsively refresh my iPhone, hoping for something new and shiny. That’s how I clicked on an email from The Atlantic, which said, “Wondering if you might be free this Friday for a shoot in Nashville?
How I Created Remote Portraits of Musician Penelope Trappes - and Had a Breakthrough with Hands

1 month ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

In the Flash is a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography. To join the conversationI’ve been thinking a lot about hands in portraits — how to maneuver them into the frame without making the photo awkward. Few photographers are able to exploit hands as a unique visual layer without resorting to stiff stock poses like the pensive hand under chin. Hands can be eloquent and revealing, adding complexity to the image, but they are also hard to direct.
A Common Question That Only Male Photographers Ask

1 month ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

In the Flash is a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography. To join the conversationAfter GQ posted the photos of Bill Burr on their Insta, I started getting private DMs.“Hi can you tell me how you created the photo of Bill in slide 3?! Is it a prism or done in post? Would love to try it! Thanks in advance 😊”“What’s your run n gun flash set up?”“Could you tell me what kind of gels you are using? And are you using a snoot?
Portraits and Behind the Scenes with Bill Burr for GQ

2 months ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

In the Flash is a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography. To join the conversationMy taste in comedy skews towards what some people would call “offensive" — George Carlin, Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, Frankie Boyle, and Jimmy Carr. If it doesn’t bite, I get bored. When I got the assignment to photograph Bill Burr for GQ, I prepared myself by watching (for the first time) three of his specials, and my abs hurt from laughing the following day.
Why Shooting on Film Won't Make You a Better Photographer

2 months ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

In the Flash is a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography. To join the conversationOn my first day of teaching an MFA class a few months ago, I asked students what they photograph, and the answers startled me. A few people said the exact same thing, “I shoot film.” I clarified that the question wasn't about how but what you shoot. The room felt silent, then answers started trickling in — portraits, sports, conceptual.
How Photographing at Speed Rack Helped Answer the Question: Am I a Better Photographer Than I Was a Decade Ago?

2 months ago | dinalitovsky.substack.com | Dina Litovsky

In the Flash is a reader-supported publication about intent and creativity in photography. To join the conversationI often question whether I am a better photographer now than I was a decade ago. Shooting at a speed rack competition last Monday for Wine Enthusiast helped me to articulate the answer. This was my first time at an event like that, and I didn’t anticipate it would be such a demanding shoot.