This is the best stuff I’ve seen, read, or listened to this week. Everything here is worth checking out and taking note of. Here we go…

Photography

pictures. » Scott Strazzante. You’ve really got to see Strazzante’s diptychs that contrast a small family farm and the modern, suburban community that now occupies the same land.

clayton james cubitt commissioned galleries Lagos Calling Lagos Calling. An anthropological study of African skinhead fashion from the early seventies.

George Jardine on Lightroom and Digital Photography » Blog Archive » Podcast #42 Posted, with Jay Maisel, Seth Resnick and Greg Gorman. This episode of the podcast is a must-listen for all photographers. Go download the episode now.

.:. The gaze of 45 mexican photographers .:.. Ten photographs each from 45 different photographers. A great place to click through the afternoon.

Polygamy

A fascinating article by Daphne Bramham: A Battle for Bountiful’s Children, in the Vancouver Sun, detailing the life of Teressa Wall Blackmore, sister to the victim in the Warren Jeffs case. The last days, prophets, and practice famines.

Books

My review of Worldview, the photos of Leonard Freed, [rating:5/5]

Film

Little Dieter Needs to Fly, [rating:5/5]. This 1998 Werner Herzog documentary tells the story of Dieter Dengler, a pilot shot down over Vietnam. Dengler tells most of the story himself, and he’s a fascinating character. In a telling moment, Herzog asks Dengler how he feels about being a war hero. Dengler says, “Oh no, I’m not a hero. Only dead people are heroes.”

Rescue Dawn, [rating:4/5]. The dramatic film of Denger’s story. Great film, but watch the documentary first.

TV

Look Around You, [rating:5/5], is a series of fake 1970′s era educational films produced by the BBC. It’s not available here in the States just yet, but you can watch it on YouTube. Here’s the brilliant first episode Maths:

More Look Around You episodes:2 – Water, 3 – Germs, 4 – Ghosts, 5 – Sulphur, 6 – Music, 7 – Iron, 8 – Brain, Special Report – Music 2000, 0 – Calcium, Computers, Part One, Computers, Part Two, Computers, Part Three, Casserole, Synthesizer Patel, Psilence, HRH Final with Prince Charles, Special Report – Computer Games.The Look Around You DVD will be a must-have when it finally gets here. You can find more info at the Look Around You website.

Music

This week’s prominent tunes:

New releases: Jimmy Eat World – Chase This Light, Motion City Soundtrack – Even If It Kills Me, Foo Fighters – Echoes Silence Patience & Grace, Dropkick Murphys – The Meanest Of Times

Old releases: Dag Nasty – Can I Say, Heavens – Patent Pending