Lavett Ballard, “Best Friends & Blue Magic.” All images © the artists, courtesy of Chronicle Books, shared with permission
In 1920, sociologist and activist W.E.B. Du Bois published the first issue of The Brownies’ Book, a “monthly magazine for children of the sun.” He invited celebrated Black creatives to contribute to the periodical, reaching out to artists, songwriters, authors, and poets—Langston Hughes’ first published poems even appeared in the magazine. In his call for entries, Du Bois encouraged the highest quality writing, photography, illustration, and more, “so that Black children will know that they are thought about and LOVED.”
A century later, the project has been revived as an anthology by Du Bois scholar Dr. Karida L. Brown and artist and children’s book creator Charly Palmer. The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families, published by Chronicle Books and designed by Kieron Lewis, showcases work by contemporary Black artists and writers who celebrate the extraordinary lives and imaginations of children.
Vivid portraits, collages, and photographs accompany essays and creative writing by dozens of contributors, expressing memories, love, and joy for moments spanning the everyday to the extraordinary. From memories of time spent together to lessons learned to hopes for the future, the messages aim to inspire young Black people to be true to themselves, follow their dreams, and harness the power of love and family.
Alongside new contributions, the tome also includes selections from the original publication, including nine poems by Langston Hughes, plus an excerpt from the last published poem by Ntozake Shange. Find your copy on Bookshop.
Jamaal Barber, “Because This Is a Dream”
April Harrison, “Community Prayer”
Charly Palmer, “Make Me Wanna Holla”
Alfred Conteh, “Neveah”
Lynthia Edwards, “Sassy Mouth”
Tokie Rome-Taylor, “Scout”
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article 100 Years After the Original, ‘The New Brownies’ Book’ Revives a Beloved Children’s Publication for Black Youth appeared first on Colossal.
World-class photography has been a trademark of Forbes for more than 100 years. Whether it’s a definitive portrait of a billionaire entrepreneur on the cover of our print magazine or a Whether it’s an instantly iconic Forbes magazine cover featuring Project Black’s Mellody Hobson or capturing the creative chaos of the top Internet creators, world-class photography brings Forbes stories to life. Ranging from a moody portrait of a struggling solar entrepreneur by Guerin Black to a playful shot of a crime-fighting cowboy by Mary Beth Koeth, these images put a human face on our stories. The best among them write their own stories in color and light.
From travel and scheduling to make-up, lighting, retouching and styling, creating these pictures is an enormous undertaking under the overall direction of Alicia Hallett-Chan and Robyn Selman. Along with a roster of some the best photographers in the business they put in the long hours required to create these unique shots – and it shows.
— The Editors
Ethan Pines for Forbes
Ethan Pines for Forbes
Mary Beth Koeth for Forbes
LEVON BISS for Forbes
JAMEL TOPPIN FOR FORBES
LISZT-CHANG FOR FORBES; BACKGROUND IMAGE BY BOONCHA WEDMAKAWAND/GETTY IMAGES
Ethan Pines for Forbes
Guerin Blask for Forbes
CHRIS CRISMAN FOR FORBES
CHRIS CRISMAN FOR FORBES
Guerin Blask for Forbes
PHOTO BY TREVOR PAULHUS FOR FORBES
GUERIN BLASK FOR FORBES
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ILLUSTRATION BY JOE MORSE FOR FORBES
Between the two of them, John McDonnell and Bill O’Leary have a combined 85 years of shooting photographs for The Washington Post. Theirs is a legacy rich in images of the nation’s capital as well as the country — some searing, some quirky, some iconic and some simply capturing a moment that otherwise would have gone unnoticed.
“An incredible privilege,” McDonnell says of the work he’s done, camera in hand.
With both journalists closing their careers at the end of 2023, we asked them to pull out a few favorite photos. The ones they picked are grounded in the Washington region, which seems appropriate since each man was born here and never left. Each landed at The Post by happenstance, not design. O’Leary came as a darkroom technician and only planned on a short stint, but the energy of the newsroom, then powered by legendary editor Ben Bradlee, “was undeniably thrilling. It sucked me in.”
Exactly how many images these colleagues have published is impossible to figure; The Post’s online archives mostly represent the digital era, and McDonnell, who started in 1978, and O’Leary, who began in 1984, were shooting film long before that. But the following bridges the divide and the decades. It’s a fitting tribute.
On the night of Mayor Marion Barry’s drug arrest in a downtown hotel — a tectonic event for the District — O’Leary was working late on prints in The Post darkroom. He immediately was dispatched to Anacostia, where he and another staffer waited in the cold in a backyard alley on the chance that the mayor would come home.
Barry did. A big van pulled up, and the mayor exited with a couple FBI agents. One tried to block O’Leary’s camera, but then a TV reporter came running over for a quote. The agent turned, and O’Leary got the crucial image, a harsh strobe of a flash catching the disgraced city leader as he was rushed into his house.
Chaos was raging outside, and inside the Capitol, part of the pro-Trump mob was trying to breach the House chamber. “They were poking holes in the stained glass,” remembers O’Leary, whose assignment that day was the ratification of the electoral college vote. “I thought they were already shooting into the room.”
As security officials scrambled to lead members of Congress, their staffers and journalists to a safe space, O’Leary grabbed his laptop and camera. He took one more look. “That’s when I saw a face in the window.”
The result became one of the defining images of the Jan. 6 insurrection.
O’Leary especially enjoyed photographing the scenic and the offbeat during his career.
“I like planting myself in a place that’s visually pleasing and waiting for the elements to come together,” he says. “I get kind of Zen about that.”
“I went from shooting the farm with the best butterfat output, cow manure on my boots, to covering the White House.”
It’s a great line, plus it’s really true, and McDonnell was just 21 when he traveled from that one world — a weekly newspaper in rural Loudoun County, Va. — to the other — The Post and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. His new position was supposed to last one year.
Early on, McDonnell worked as the Style section’s photographer. His days and nights were filled with fashion shows in New York, portrait sessions that might require elaborate staging and society soirees in some of Washington’s most elegant residences.
“There were nights when I would go from one party to the next and get back to The Post on deadline to get photos in the late edition of the paper,” he says.
Often, as at this 1981 gathering, the guests were in their own world and oblivious to the camera. That made for the best pictures.
Among the stats from McDonnell’s lengthy sports coverage for The Post: The NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Four Olympics (both summer and winter), four Super Bowls, countless playoffs and epic championships.
For the last game of the 2018 Stanley Cup finals, when the Washington Capitals would defeat the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-3, McDonnell shot 8,000 frames. Yet he knew that three images counted for everything: the Capitals’ winning goal, the team swarming the ice in celebration after the final buzzer, and captain Alex Ovechkin hoisting the massive silver cup over his head.
The next day, the Ovechkin photo ran six columns across The Post’s front page.
On a previous visit to her brother’s London flat, Francesca Jones had taken her own reading light. Margot, her almost seven-year-old niece, was quite taken with it, so for her next birthday, Jones gave it to Margot.
“Margot had a camp bed in her parents’ room while I was staying. That night, she was snuggled up reading to me from her book, Jasmine the Present Fairy, light around her neck. It was such a special moment, so I captured it; I don’t think she even noticed me taking it,” Jones says. “I’d have missed it had I gone off to get my digital camera, or she would have noticed and I wouldn’t have captured something so authentic.” In editing the image, she enhanced the saturation and lifted the shadows a little, but nothing more.
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The feeling of being engrossed in a book is something Jones recognises from her own childhood. “I think it’s quite magical,” she says. “The shot makes me feel nostalgic, as well as invoking a sense of poignancy. It’s crazy how short childhood is, and how fast they grow up. It’s not so long ago that I was reading to her; now she reads to me. It all sounds a bit cliched, but I didn’t really appreciate that until I became an auntie.”
Jones hopes her image will act as a reminder of the passing of time. “We should savour our time with our loved ones,” she says.
Kansas City had an eventful year, with a Super Bowl victory and parade, a shooting that grabbed the nation’s attention, concerts by pop superstars, a new airport and so much more.
If you follow our work by keeping your dial tuned to 89.3, you would have heard a year of audio-rich stories — but you would have missed the visuals we put in each story. Carlos revisited some of the photographs he and KCUR’s staff produced in case you didn’t see them the first time around, or want to look back at the year before 2024 begins.
In February, the Chiefs pulled out a come-from-behind victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, to earn their third Super Bowl trophy.
I started the evening at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception where unhoused people were treated to a watch party. Then, I shifted to John’s Big Deck where tightly packed fans were in a fine mood as I left for Power and Light. When I got there, though, fans were much less happy as the third quarter wound down.
But the crowd’s mood began to turn as Kansas City made two fourth quarter touchdowns and Harrison Butker put the Chiefs ahead with a 27-yard field goal with 5:07 to play.
This was among the images I made after the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts’ last pass fell incomplete.
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
In late February, Kansas Citians finally strolled through the new terminal at the Kansas City International Airport after nearly five years of construction.
The $1.5 billion single-terminal airport opened to enthusiastic reviews for its use of public art, local food vendors and technology. But as the year wore on, it became clear that users still struggled to navigate the cell phone lot and congestion at the arrivals curb.
The media visited the terminal at different stages of its construction. I felt that this moment, a few weeks before the facility fully opened, best captured what this building offers, with lots of light and art, versus what the older horseshoe-shaped terminals didn’t offer. The photo has a weird mix of light flare and lines that are a bit disorienting, but to me, this shows what this terminal is all about.
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
In June, Kansas City, Missouri, was well on its way to another grim year for gun violence and homicides.
We try not to make the series of homicides just a number, but it’s hard to put a human face on the death toll in Kansas City.
I found Rosilyn Temple with Mothers in Charge standing near the scene of a homicide on College Avenue near 74th Street on June 14, where a shooting occurred that morning. She was standing by to comfort neighbors and family. A woman had been shot and died inside a home.
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
The NFL Draft came to Union Station in April
Not only did the NFL stage the draft on the grounds of the historic train station, the league sponsored events around town. Among these was a play day for area students who got to hang out and run NFL-type drills with college players in town for draft nights.
Middle schoolers ran through dummies, performed agility drills and caught passes with future stars such as Texas’ Bijon Robinson, Ohio State’s C.J Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young.
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
A local photographer makes beautiful photographs by freezing flowers
In August, KCUR’s Julie Denesha visited another photographer, Susan Pfannmuller, who buys a lot of flowers — but she doesn’t put the bouquets in vases. Instead, she freezes them in containers of water to create stunning images.
Julie and I are photojournalists by trade, and it’s always fascinating how other photographers approach subject matter and develop (pun intended) techniques that move beyond the way we see the world. Freezing things and encasing them in ice makes for a bold artistic choice and creates a whole new way to see things.
Julie Denesha/Julie Denesha
The Sobela Ocean Aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo opened in late August to enthusiastic crowds
The aquarium boasts 8,000 aquatic creatures that are part of the 34 exhibits in the meandering building. Local media and social influencers were invited to a preview of the facility’s 650,000 gallons of different habitats from around the world before it officially opened.
The exhibits offer no end of photographic opportunities. It takes a little patience and some luck to find moments that might stand out from the others. I spent a little extra time peeking over the shoulders of many bloggers and other folks who wanted to show and tell their audiences about Kansas City’s newest attraction. The jellyfish, I thought, provided a mesmerizing place to make a photo and relax in the dark.
Carlos Moreno
The KC Wheel popped into the Kansas City skyline in mid-September
KC Wheel emerged seemingly overnight next to I-35 in Kansas City’s Westside. But finding a clear shot of the Ferris wheel with the city’s skyline behind it proved challenging.
There are several billboards around it. Numerous power poles and other utilities dot the area, making a clean shot difficult. After driving around it a few times and on different days, I discovered a back way in using Jefferson Street. It took a delicate climb along the embankment of northbound I-35 to get this image without anything covering it up or giving anyone too much free advertising.
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
Taylor Swift left an impression on Kansas City in 2023
It began with her Eras tour, which came to town for two — TWO! — shows at Arrowhead Stadium. Her romance with Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, and her appearances at home and away football games, have made her a constant presence in Kansas Citians’ orbit.
In September, we visited the Swift merchandise pop-up trailers outside Arrowhead prior to her performances to make photos of the crowd scooping up T-shirts, posters and other merchandise. But I thought these large cutouts of her that adorned artist Jeff Parson’s yard in Riverside delivered a playful punch to the enthusiasm and over-the-top mania that she brought and left in the area.
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
Kansas City Ballet premiered Jekyll and Hyde in October
KCUR’s arts reporter Julie Denesha photographed and wrote about Val Caniparoli’s rendition of Jekyll and Hyde.”
He premiered the performance of Robert Louis Stephenson’s gothic novella in North America at the Kansas City Ballet.
During dress rehearsal, Julie captured the struggle between good and evil as it played out on stage between performers Cameron Thomas (Hyde) and Gavin Abercrombie (Jekyll).
Julie Denesha
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KCUR 89.3
Freight Train Rabbit Killer celebrated 10 years
October was a good month for photography at KCUR. Frank Morris, NPR’s national correspondent based at KCUR, created a remarkable audio piece about local music group Freight Train Rabbit Killer.
Frank spent time with the band and made this image of them performing at the Kansas City fashion show for Mark Smeltzer’s dead rabbit-themed clothing. Frank has a crafty eye for images and used his phone with its wide-angle lens to capture the colors and “crashing, heavy blues, swirled with dark opera and the devil,” as Frank described their music.
Frank Morris
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KCUR
The American Royal Livestock Show gave children a chance to show off their animals
Also in October, I got a chance to spend a couple of days weaving in and out of the sawdust-covered floors of the hog barn and dirt-filled arenas of Hale Center at the American Royal Livestock Show with Harvest Public Media reporter Eva Tesfaye. Livestock shows are one of my favorite places to photograph. The people are friendly and very open to having their pictures taken. Plus, there are many unpredictable moments and great stories to find.
Eight-year-old Allison Throckmorton from San Antonio, Texas, had just finished showing off her sheep, Tornado, and was taking time to do an interview with Eva. While they talked, I snapped candid photos. She would play and nuzzle with Tornado as she interviewed. Those were really fun photos. Allison exhibited a comfortable and bubbly nature during the interview. When they finished, I asked her to pose with Tornado for a portrait. I normally don’t like to use photos of people mugging for the camera, but this image seemed so natural and fun that I felt it was the best reflection of her relationship with her project.
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
Photography is an art that requires patience, talent, and a keen eye for detail. When it comes to wildlife photography, the challenge is even greater. This article will discuss the story of a remarkable photographer who, against all odds, has mastered the art of capturing stunning images of birds and butterflies in motion.
Andrew Fusek Peters, a seasoned wildlife photographer, faced a life-changing event when he was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of letting the disease get the best of him, he channelled his energy into developing new photographic techniques to capture the beauty of nature. Using a high-speed photography system, he takes between 10,000 to 15,000 shots just to get one sequence in focus. His dedication and commitment have resulted in visually captivating images that offer a unique perspective on the natural world.
Peters has been cancer-free for four years now, and his passion for photography remains unyielding. He has already published a book titled ‘Butterfly Safari’ and is currently working on another one documenting garden wildlife. In addition to his photography work, Peters is a strong advocate for conservation in the UK.
What makes Peters’ work stand out is his ability to freeze time and capture the graceful movements of these creatures. The intricate details of birds and butterflies in flight highlight their vibrant colors and the mesmerizing beauty of nature. Each image tells a story of resilience, survival, and the miracle of life.
His captivating images provide a close-up view of these creatures that we typically see from afar or in quick, fleeting glances. Through his lens, we can appreciate the delicate patterns on a butterfly’s wings or the sleek aerodynamics of a bird in flight.
While his work is undeniably beautiful, Peters is also using his photography as a tool for conservation. He hopes that by showcasing the beauty of these creatures, he can inspire others to take action and protect these species and their habitats.
His upcoming book on garden wildlife is not just a collection of stunning photographs; it is also a testament to the rich biodiversity that can be found in our own backyards. Peters’ work reminds us that we share our world with these creatures and that it is our responsibility to ensure their survival.
In conclusion, Andrew Fusek Peters’ story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of art. His stunning images of birds and butterflies in motion serve as a reminder of the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation. So, the next time you see a bird in flight or a butterfly fluttering by, take a moment to appreciate their beauty and the intricate details that make them unique.
By Vanessa PearceBBC News, West Midlands
Andrew Fusek PetersA wildlife photographer has revealed how living with a cancer diagnosis led him to develop techniques to “make time stop” as he captures stunning images of butterflies and birds.
Andrew Fusek Peters, from Shropshire, said he had taken up photography as a hobby after his work as a children’s author had become very stressful.
“I got very, very ill – mentally – and I burned,” he explained, “coming through that very dark period in my life I knew I had to do something else.”
“Dipping into nature” had prompted a love of photography, he said.
“That was 10 years ago and I was hooked, and I’m still utterly addicted.
“I hope that there is no rehab in the world that will cure me of this because going out to nature has been phenomenal for my mental health,” he added.
Andrew Fusek PetersSurgery following a diagnosis of bowel cancer in 2018 found the photographer forced to stay at home.
“I was terrified, I was scared and I didn’t really know what was happening,” he said.
“I was looking at the commas and the red admirals and the painted ladies – all these butterflies in the garden.
“I was watching them nectaring and taking off and wondering why we were not seeing photographs of butterflies in flight.
“And that’s because it’s really difficult.”
Andrew Fusek PetersHe started working with a high-speed photography system that allowed him to do “this amazing time travel thing”.
“The camera is constantly saving photos as you half press on your shutter button, and then when the butterfly or the bird takes off you fully press and it’s saved all those photos,” he said.
“It all sounds a bit geeky but it means that it travels back in time.”
Andrew Fusek PetersHe typically takes between 10,000 and 15,000 shots to get one butterfly take-off sequence in focus.
“There are no short cuts. I’m really putting a lot of hours in,” he said.
“The first time I photographed a butterfly in flight in focus I just went ‘wow, that will do nicely’, and that was the trigger.”
Andrew Fusek PetersCapturing butterflies is “such a moment of intensity and intimacy that I must never, ever take it for granted”, he added.
Following his illness, he explained he had started to send his photographs to press agencies “and a lot of them got into the national papers”.
A book – Butterfly Safari – containing pictures of all the UK’s native species followed, “which had a phenomenal response from throughout the world”.
Collecting those pictures was “probably the most fun I’ve ever had in my life”, he explained.
“I completely went for it and just drove up and down the country.
“You bring home treasure in your memory card, what’s not to like about that?”
Andrew Fusek PetersHe is now working on a book documenting garden wildlife, including birds, foxes and badgers, which is due to be published in 2025.
“What I’m excited about once again is a celebration of what’s here and under my nose, what’s in the garden and what’s in the local lake,” he said.
Highlights of 2023 included capturing images of the aurora on the Long Mynd in Shropshire and photographing a breeding kingfisher in a local river.
He said: “I was able to sit on the bank watching it go in and out of its nest, then watch it dive into the water to clean itself up; that for me was like my lion or tiger moment.”
Another picture showing early morning light refracting through the wings of a blue tit created an “aerial rainbow, he said.
The shot was “ultra rare and almost never captured,” he added.
Andrew Fusek PetersPictures showing wild ponies fighting in the same area were also featured in the national press.
“I was driving past and I just jumped out of the car to get those shots,” he said.
“So the thing that took 10 minutes went in six national papers, I’ve never had that before.”
Andrew Fusek PetersHe said spending so much time with wildlife, he had grown “increasingly concerned” about the state of conservation in the UK.
“It’s hard when I’m out and I get a joyful moment with a rare species, or just a beautiful moment with a common species, and then suddenly this gloom descends,” he said.
But on a more positive side, he added there were a “huge amount” of volunteers and farmers working to help preserve wildlife habitats.
Andrew Fusek PetersHe had now been cancer-free for four years, he added.
“There’s always the fear there but anybody that has been through it will understand,” he said.
“But I remain hopeful to grow old disgracefully and keep taking lovely photos.”
Butterfly Safari is published by Bird Eye Books.
All photos subject to copyright.
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