I've been trying to think of a way to describe photographer Zoe Strauss and her work. I've been failing but it turns out that's ok because a recent article in Heeb magazine did it for me.

“They just aren’t pretty,” my grandmother declared after walking in and quickly out of Zoe Strauss’ solo exhibition at Silverstein Photography this past summer. I was startled. I had spent the last month visiting the people and landscapes in this captivating exhibition, staring at candid portraits and hoping to learn more of their stories. But for all my fascination with Strauss’ subjects, my grandmother was correct—her photographs are not pretty. Rough, raw and often bleak, they expose forgotten and overlooked neighborhoods and residents, giving us a window into hidden worlds. They can often be disturbing or downright brutal, but it is each image’s honesty and quiet beauty that make Strauss’ work so poignant.

I said recently that right now I'm very interested in photography that is glossy and pretty and can take me out of the real world a little bit. The one exception to this is Zoe Strauss. I can't explain what it is about her work that appeals to me so much but it does. Check out Strauss's blog for updates on her work, shows and her recently being awarded a United States Artists Fellowship.