Friday was all about Elles x Paris Photo and the Aperture Paris Photo Book Awards. The Elles x Paris Photo celebrated its 6th year with a commemorative book. Their mission to amplify women photographers and to expand their presence at the fair has succeeded, by increasing the inclusion of women featured at the fair from 20-36%. This year they highlighted 36 women artists.

The Book awards were especially sweet as they celebrated a catalog of work on women in Nepal, the first photobook went to intimate self-portraits by the very deserving Carla Williams. The best went to photobook to Vince Aletti — my friend and podcast guest. Here is our conversation recorded last December on The Drawer. I was especially excited to record this from his famed apartment in the Lower East Side, which is floor-to-ceiling magazines and books on fashion, photo and music. 

Learning the priorities from a Gallery Director perspective is a treasure trove of information. Lucas Zeno of the Stephen Daiter Gallery discusses the collaborative relationship between the artist, printer, and gallerist as the essential components of an artists success. Dawoud Bey,  honored at the recent Aperture Gala,  trusts his creative partners - Stephen Daiter Gallery and Digital Silver Imaging. 

I had the distinct pleasure of finally meeting in person Barbara Peacock, my recent podcast guest on her book, American Bedroom. Her 7-year project is a profound portrayal of vulnerability and trust.

Jason Garner and I met via Photolucida when I juried this work, We The Spirits, for Critical Mass. I met him for the first time at the GOST booth where I held a preview copy of his book available this February. His 15-year project compiles portraits of people from 15 countries during Carnival. Read more on this engaging work here.