Photo by Jacob Drabik

The Lens

The Lens is the FotoFocus editorial platform, highlighting our programming and featuring in-depth conversations on photography and the moving image drawn from perspectives and insights in our community, throughout our region, and around the globe.


Pride of Place: Photographer Iwan Baan and “Designing for People?”

Posted on April 8, 2022

Architecture photography—that is, photographs with the sole purpose of showing specific works of architecture—has evolved dramatically through time. FotoFocus discusses the past, present, and future of architectural photography with symposium panelist, Iwan Baan.

Photo: Iwan Baan

Architecture photography—that is, photographs with the sole purpose of showing specific works of architecture—has evolved dramatically through time. Once dominated by simple, out-of-context compositions, these photos now frequently include people living and interacting with the building in question. 

As part... Continue reading Pride of Place: Photographer Iwan Baan and “Designing for People?”


Photo Op: FotoFocus Symposium Breaking News Panel Q&A 

Posted on April 7, 2022

FotoFocus met up with two of the participants from its “Breaking News” symposium panel to be held April 9 at Memorial Hall. Associated Press photojournalists Maye-E Wong and Dieu-Nalio Chery address misconceptions about the field and share some best practices for how to approach their photography subjects.

(Left to right) Maye-E Wong by Patrick Sison & Dieu-Nalio Chery by Valerie Baeriswyl

The FotoFocus Symposium: Telephotography includes a “Breaking News” panel that tackles the vital part that photojournalists play in... Continue reading Photo Op: FotoFocus Symposium Breaking News Panel Q&A 


Q&A with Diana Vargas, Guest Curator for the FotoFocus Symposium: Telephotography Film Program

Posted on April 5, 2022

Diana Vargas brings her on-the-ground expertise of contemporary Latin American and Spanish-language cinema, highlighting its continually shifting engagement with moving images and how they reflect current discourses surrounding pandemic-era communication and the role film festivals play in the projection of national identity.

El actor principal (2019)

Diana Vargas, a multiple Emmy Award-winner for her work on New York’s CUNY TV programming, can trace her love of moving images all the way back to her childhood in Cali,... Continue reading Q&A with Diana Vargas, Guest Curator for the FotoFocus Symposium: Telephotography Film Program


Coming Soon: A Double Feature of Major FotoFocus Programming in 2022

Posted on December 16, 2021

All of the pandemic pivoting of the past two years means big things — like a FotoFocus Symposium and a FotoFocus Biennial — in the new year. Get the scoop here, and get excited for future you.

FotoFocus Symposium: Telephotography

Originally scheduled for October 2021, Delta had other plans for this Symposium. As the variant picked up pace, FotoFocus rescheduled Telephotography for April 9 & 10, 2022.

Continue reading Coming Soon: A Double Feature of Major FotoFocus Programming in 2022

FotoFocus Symposium Rescheduled for April 2022

Posted on September 15, 2021

In mathematics, the Greek letter Delta means change. In 2021, the Delta variant means the same.

The 2021 FotoFocus Symposium: Telephotography was originally scheduled to take place in-person October 9 & 10. But as the era of Such Interesting Times We Live In churns on — and with it, Covid-19 — FotoFocus has chosen to reschedule the Symposium for April 9 & 10, 2022. Because, well, the organization wants to share art and ideas with the public, not a virus.

Read the full text of the... Continue reading FotoFocus Symposium Rescheduled for April 2022