Marvin Heiferman
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whywelook.bsky.social
Marvin Heiferman
@whywelook.bsky.social
200 followers 8 following 960 posts
Curator of - and writing about - photography and visual culture
Posts Replies Media Videos
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
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because Google Messages is rolling out a photo ‘Remix’ tool with Nano Banana that let's you “describe the changes you want" to make to a picture
9to5google.com/2025/11/19/g...
Google Messages rolling out photo ‘Remix’ with Nano Banana [U]
With the Pixel Drop, Google announced that Messages is adding a Remix editing for photos that will be available on all Android phones.
9to5google.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:53 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because it was so easy to get Google’s AI Gemini app to make an image of a second shooter at Dealey Plaza, the White House ablaze, and Mickey Mouse flying a plane into the Twin Towers
www.theverge.com/report/82600...
Google’s Nano Banana Pro generates excellent conspiracy fuel
What are facts?
www.theverge.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:52 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because You Can Now Ask Google Gemini Whether an Image is AI-Generated or Not
petapixel.com/2025/11/21/y...
You Can Now Ask Google Gemini Whether an Image is AI-Generated or Not
We put it to the test.
petapixel.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:51 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because an American Psychological Association study links repeated engagement with short term video content - like TikTok and Instagram Reels - with cognitive and mental health issues
petapixel.com/2025/11/19/t...
TikTok and Instagram Reels Cause Real Brain Rot, Major Study Finds
A new study directly ties short form video content with significantly diminished mental health. In short: it's rotting your brain.
petapixel.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because an amazing telescope photo shows a comet - "one of the most interesting objects of its kind seen in recent years" - breaking apart into huge chunks
futurism.com/space/comet-...
Amazing Telescope Photo Shows Comet Breaking Apart Into Huge Chunks
Astronomers have captured spectacular images of a comet, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), breaking apart in three large pieces during its journey.
futurism.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:25 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because it's time to enter photographs, showing how gow much you enjoy hunting and the outdoors, in the second annual MeatEater Photo Contest
www.themeateater.com/hunt/general...
2025 MeatEater Photo Contest
Hunting stories stay eternally ingrained in our minds. Photos help keep those memories alive past our lifetimes (and also make you stay a bit more honest about how big that buck really was). Whether i...
www.themeateater.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because license plate cameras are being turned off by police in jurisdictions across Washington state, in part after a court ruled the public has a right to access data generated by the technology.
www.geekwire.com/2025/washing...
Washington state cities turn off license plate reader cameras amid ruling on data access
The debate stems from the use of cameras made by Flock Safety, and whether the images and data collected are subject to release under Washington's Public Records Act.
www.geekwire.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:59 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because National Geographic's 'Pictures of the Year' Issue Celebrates the Most Powerful Nature and Environmental Photos of 2025
petapixel.com/2025/11/18/n...
Nat Geo Pictures of the Year Celebrates Most Powerful Photos of 2025
Eggs, sharks, migration, and more.
petapixel.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:57 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because faced (sort of) with a naked man, a DoorDasher demands police action, then is arrested for making an illegal surveillance video
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
Faced with naked man, DoorDasher demands police action; they arrest her for illegal surveillance
Two felony charges for filming man inside his house.
arstechnica.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:55 PM
whywelook.bsky.social
WHY WE LOOK? Because Fred Ritchin, always worth listening to, is doing an online lecture series on image-making and social justice in our time. It aims to encourage image-makers to creating projects that provoke discussion and change. More info's at: strudelmedialive.com/masterclass
Masterclass with Fred Ritchin | StrudelmediaLive
StrudelmediaLive offers small-group, interactive online photography classes to students around the world. Students and teachers meet in realtime, seeing and speaking with each other on Zoom. Classes a...
strudelmedialive.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:22 PM