Issue No. 103

1. Rearview Mirror: Martin Chambi: Echoes of the Incas

   At the time of his passing in 1973, few collectors or art world cognoscenti were aware of the remarkable life and artistic achievements of Peruvian photographer Martin Chambi. Inside Peru itself, Chambi was much admired as a commercial portrait photographer, and more importantly as a documentarian whose studies of ancient Inca archaeological sites, indigenous festivals and ethnographic portraits of native peoples revealed the rich past and still-thriving cultural heritage of the Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas.

2. Journeys : Dave Friedman: Filming the Dragon

   Bruce Lee will always be the little dragon flying through the air with his foot outstretched toward some villain’s chin. It’s hard to believe that if he were alive today, he would be 73. Sadly, he succumbed to a cerebral edema six days before the premiere of the film in which he kicked his way into superstardom: Enter the Dragon.

3. George Zimbel: The Long-Distance Runner

   It may be an oversimplification to suggest that most of the notable names in American documentary photography emerged from the mold of the Photo League, the famed New York photographer’s cooperative. To be objective, one must consider the transformative influence of the Farm Security Administration’s photography program (1935–1942) under its visionary director Roy Stryker, as well as his subsequent Standard Oil project (1943–1950).