On May 29, 2025, MoCP presented a series of conversations that explored topics of authorship, representation, and the dissemination of information as they relate to the past, present, and future of photography.

This special edition of Focal Point Extras captures the conversation between artists Eric Gottesman and Wendy Ewald as part of a full-day symposium at MoCP titled Conversations on Collaboration in Photography. The two explored the ways artists place collaboration with the photographed person at the forefront of their process, and how they convey their partnership using text, staging techniques, or experimental exhibition platforms. 

This symposium was in conjunction with the exhibition, Collaboration: A Potential History of Photography in Dialogue with the MoCP Collection curated by Wendy Ewald, Susan Meiselas, Laura wexler, and MoCP Curator of Academic Programs and Collections, Kristin Taylor.

Images discussed in this conversation include:

Wendy Ewald

Ben Michel and Joseph Ashini, 1969

Wendy Ewald and Eric Gottesman

Ben Michel's sister touching Ben's picture after his death, 2008

To see the short film they discuss in the beginning of the lecture, please visit Eric Gottesman’s website here.