Carmen Winant, Instructional Photography

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Instructional Photography: Learning How to Live Now, a timely visual essay by artist and writer Carmen Winant, explores the concept of "instructional" photography. Winant asks a provocative question: Can photographs serve as direct forms of teaching? Through her curated collection of found images, she examines how certain photographs can instruct viewers in areas from social organizing to self-actualization, presenting new ways of thinking and living.

The book alternates between evocative images and Winant’s insightful, text-based observations, creating a dialogue around the unique instructive power of photographs. Each image functions as a small mirror, prompting viewers to engage with both technical and philosophical lessons. Winant argues for the capacity of photographs to provide knowledge beyond mere visuals, positioning them as tools for learning and self-discovery.