Testament '22
A few months ago, I made a post about a photographer named Byron Smith, who works extensively in conflict zones around the world. Currently, I believe he’s covering wildfires in Greece during these hot, dry, summer months. That’s a region where he has quite a bit of experience.
If you recall, Byron published a photo book called Testament ’22. It documents the first year of the war between Russia and Ukraine, when the invasion was just beginning. Byron’s photos are haunting and beautiful, and sometimes even painful. They tell a deeper story than just the occasional news article.
If anyone is thinking of purchasing the book, Byron kindly made us a discount code for 10% off. It’s available here: smittysbooks.com. Please use the code “Vasta” if you’re interested.
I showed some of Byron’s pictures from Newsweek in class, and a few people commented that his dark, moody photos reminded them of Rembrandt. When I mentioned that to him, Byron said he was more influenced by Caravaggio – but he loved the compliment.
In other news, I’ll be heading home to New Jersey for the Obon break. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again when I get back to Japan. I’ll have plenty of stories to tell!