Pho·tog Friday: Thatcher Cook - Live Lecture

Pho·tog Friday: Thatcher Cook - Live Lecture

On May 21, 2013, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division hosted the first photography lecture. Contemporary photographer, Thatcher Cook was our the guest speaker who "kicked off" the free lecture series.   He addressed his profession as a photojournalist and documentary photographer. The event also included a brief "Question and Answer" session. 

Since 1997, Cook has gone on assignment for multiple humanitarian aid, non-governmental and developmental organizations.   His work has taken him all over the world including Cuba, Istanbul, Calcutta, Japan, India... just to name a few.  Within these countries, Cook has photographed topics such as natural disasters, human illness, human rights violations... just to name a few.

Perhaps his most inspirational body of work consists of the images published within his second book, Black Apple, which depicts the culture in Kyrgyzstan, a country which used to be a part of the U.S.S.R.  Cook traveled through Kyrgyzstan for eight months on a Fulbright Scholarship and documented the lifestyle of a country still recovering from the downfall of the Soviet Union.  Below is one of the images that Cook shot while photographing a coal mine in Kyrgystan: 
Photo By: Thatcher Cook
Believing that photography can be used as a tool for social change, Cook’s camera lens typically captures the lives of those affected by war, economic upheaval and natural disasters.  What makes Cook’s images unique from other photojournalists is that the viewer can really sense Cook’s engagement with his subjects, which allows him to accurately portray each individual’s “day to day” activities and struggles.  Cook’s in depth analysis of his subjects shines a bright and powerful light on their plight.  It is his hope that this light will provide a helping hand and better opportunities for a brighter future.  

If you missed the lecture on the 21st of May... lucky for you, AiP Online recorded Cook's talk and you can view it on the Photography Student Professional Network (PSPN); click here.

I also wanted to share another lecture with you that Thatcher Cook gave for B&H.com.  Check out the video below: 


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