Marvin Heiferman
LightNews LightNews
whywelook.bsky.social
Marvin Heiferman
@whywelook.bsky.social
200 followers 8 following 970 posts
Curator of - and writing about - photography and visual culture
Posts Replies Media Videos
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because the Only Known Photos of the Nazi's Deportation of Hamburg’s Jews Were Discovered in a Recently Found, Secret Album
petapixel.com/2025/11/30/o...
Only Known Photos of Hamburg’s Jewish Deportation Discovered in Secret Album
Historian believe the discovery could lead to more photos being found.
petapixel.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:03 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because behind the scenes of Disney’s AI animation accelerator, what once took five months to create has been whittled down to under five weeks.
www.cnet.com/tech/service...
300,000 AI-Animated Poses in an Instant: My Visit to Disney and the New Reality for Cartoons
Disney checked out "thousands of AI companies" before backing one that keeps animators in the driver's seat.
www.cnet.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:01 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because routine police stops are becoming viral social media fodder. Police body cameras were supposed to ensure justice. They’ve turned into YouTube content.
www.vox.com/the-highligh...
How routine police stops are becoming viral social media fodder
Police body cameras were supposed to ensure justice. They’ve turned into YouTube content.
www.vox.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because photographers wrestled with issues around photo manipulation since the birth of the medium. In fact, 113 years ago, the U.S. faced a scandal over doctored images of the president, which nearly led to a national ban on fake photos.
petapixel.com/2025/11/29/1...
113 Years Ago, the US Tried to Outlaw Fake Photographs
We've been worried about fake photos for a very long time.
petapixel.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because Zohran Mamdani, a critic of police surveillance, will oversee NYC's Domain Awareness System, which synthesizes vast amounts of data and stores feeds from thousands of cameras that record New Yorkers everywhere they go
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/n...
Mamdani, a Sharp Critic of Police Surveillance, Will Soon Oversee It
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:37 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because the woman who posted naked photos of her father's ex-lover on an escort site reveals how a bitter revenge plot backfired and left her in prison and jobless
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Woman who posted naked photos of father's ex-lover was left in prison
Eleanor Brown, 22, spent the past year locked up behind bars after sharing explicit images of her policeman dad's former mistress to an escort website.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because fake photos generated by artificial intelligence (AI) are being misused to claim refunds from Chinese online shops, sparking moral and legal concerns.
www.scmp.com/news/people-...
China consumers use AI to alter product photos, claim refunds for ‘damaged’ goods
‘Immoral’ online buyers create fake discrepancies across range of products; experts warn AI bandits that they could be committing fraud.
www.scmp.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because a quick-thinking wedding videographer used his drone to chase down a suspect, for over a mile, after the groom was stabbed during the ceremony.
petapixel.com/2025/11/26/q...
Quick-Thinking Wedding Videographer Chases After Suspect With Drone
Police say the drone footage is key evidence in the case.
petapixel.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because of the 9 things middle-class families photograph on vacation that wealthy travelers walk right past
vegoutmag.com/travel/d-9-t...
9 things middle-class families photograph on vacation that wealthy travelers walk right past
We photograph what feels special to us—and for middle-class families on vacation, that's often pretty much everything
vegoutmag.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:55 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because at last, a name is linked to the murderous face in a Holocaust photo. With the help of A.I., a historian has identified the killer in a 1941 image that defined the savagery of the Nazi regime.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/s...
At Last, a Name for the Murderous Face in a Holocaust Photo
www.nytimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because traffickers post photos of victims in hotel rooms, evidence that can be used to find victims and prosecute perpetrators. Uploading pictures of your hotel room may help analysts determine where photos made in generic-looking rooms were taken
spectrum.ieee.org/traffickcam-...
How Can Your Hotel Photos Help Combat Human Trafficking?
Abby Stylianou's app uses hotel room photos to aid in locating trafficking victims, showcasing the power of technology in social justice efforts.
spectrum.ieee.org
November 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because Google's newly released, more advanced version of its Nano Banana AI image model makes it increasingly difficult to spot the difference between real and AI-generated photos.
petapixel.com/2025/11/26/g...
Google’s Nano Banana Pro AI Model Further Erodes Trust in Photos
'You will be fooled by an AI photo.'
petapixel.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:37 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because ICE offers up to $280 million to immigrant-tracking ‘bounty hunter’ firms that target prople by photographing residences, documenting comings and goings, and staking out workplaces and apartment complexes.
www.wired.com/story/ice-bo...
ICE Offers Up to $280 Million to Immigrant-Tracking ‘Bounty Hunter’ Firms
Immigration and Customs Enforcement lifted a $180 million cap on a proposed immigrant-tracking program while guaranteeing multimillion-dollar payouts for private surveillance firms.
www.wired.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because Justin Bieber was caught peeing in the bushes while playing a round at a Palm Springs golf course after sipping from a can of beer.
pagesix.com/2025/11/24/c...
Justin Bieber caught peeing in golf course bushes after sipping on beer mid-game
The pop star was photographed relieving himself while golfing with friends in Palm Springs, Calif., on Sunday.
pagesix.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:24 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because restaurant owners in Brooklyn are warning one another about an 'influencer' who frequents their establishments, photographs her food and then doesn’t pay for it.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/n...
‘She’s Clearly Playing Us’: Influencer Dined and Dashed Through Williamsburg
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:22 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because in a newly released email, Jeffrey Epstein appears to have confirmed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was photographed with Virginia Giuffre
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Epstein email says Andrew had photo taken with Virginia Giuffre
The message sent by Epstein reads: "Yes she [Giuffre] was on my plane and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew"
www.bbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:03 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because over the past five years, there have been at least 15 cases of Iowa nursing home workers being accused of taking photos or videos that violated residents’ right to privacy and dignity, a review of state records shows.
iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/11/24/n...
Nursing home workers post 'demeaning' photos, videos of residents • Iowa Capital Dispatch
Over the past five years, there have been at least 15 cases of Iowa nursing home workers being accused of violating residents' privacy.
iowacapitaldispatch.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because Tinder, looking to AI to revitalize its dating app, is testing a feature called Chemistry to, with permission, access camera roll photos on users’ phones to learn more about their interests and personality.
techcrunch.com/2025/11/05/t...
Tinder to use AI to get to know users, tap into their Camera Roll photos | TechCrunch
Tinder is testing a feature called Chemistry that will get to know users through questions and, with permission, will access Camera Roll photos on their phones to learn more about their interests and ...
techcrunch.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because, a social psychologist writes, Claire Danes's face, as seen onscreen, matters. Aging authentically has social and emotional benefits, on-screen and off.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mirr...
Why Claire Danes's Face Matters
In addition to facilitating subtle emotional expressions on screen, allowing our faces to age naturally increases our ability to experience our own and others' emotions.
www.psychologytoday.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because the FBI put out a call to potential vendors for AI technology that could enable drones to conduct facial recognition, license plate recognition, and detection of weapons, among other uses
theintercept.com/2025/11/21/f...
The FBI Wants AI Surveillance Drones With Facial Recognition
An FBI procurement document inquires about AI surveillance on drones, raising concerns about a crackdown on protests.
theintercept.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because Trump Welcomes A.P.’s Photographers. Its Reporters? Not So Much: The White House now has conflicting approaches for Associated Press journalists as it fights them in court over access to presidential events.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
Trump Welcomes A.P.’s Photographers. Its Reporters? Not So Much.
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because an image taken by a Space Station astronaut shows that a sacred lake in Ethiopia, containing relics and mummies, has turned from blue to toxic green
www.earth.com/news/astrona...
Astronaut finds sacred lake, containing relics and mummies, has turned from blue to toxic green
Astronauts reveal an alarming greenish hue in Lake Tana: satellite images show algae growth and hidden threats to this Ethiopian sanctuary.
www.earth.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because a man put a camera in the dishwasher to see what happens in there and what it recorded left people disturbed
www.unilad.com/news/us-news...
Man puts camera in dishwasher to see what happens in there and the truth has left people disturbed
Some users have vowed to never use a dishwasher after watching one short video on what is going on inside
www.unilad.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because World War I era aviator Alfred Buckham created some of the earliest and most awe-inspiring aerial images, risking his life and employing death-defying acts of ingenuity.
bbc.com/culture/arti...
'There was no holding on': The trail-blazing aerial photos of a daredevil WW1 pilot
Aviator Alfred Buckham created some of the earliest and most awe-inspiring bird's-eye images – to achieve them, he employed perilous, death-defying acts of ingenuity.
bbc.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because After 65 years, LA’s most famous mid-century house - made famous by an iconic Julius Shulman photograph - hits the market at $25 mil
www.sfgate.com/la/article/s...
After 65 years, LA’s most famous midcentury house hits the market
Stahl House has been owned by the same family since it was built.
www.sfgate.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM