Who knows what the exact relationship is between Putin and Trump? (Are they dating? Just friends? Frenemies?) The point is, Putin remains to be a fascinating figure in history and it's understandable that one would need to hang out with him a few times to get a grasp on such a complex character. These pictures feel like a roundup of the greatest hits of the Russian president, from the funny to the WTF.
—Kate Bubacz, deputy photo director, BuzzFeed News
This piece narrates the stories behind Paz Errazuriz’s extensive body of work that made her one of the most influential photographers in Chile. As many photojournalists gravitated towards bloodshed and violence during the Augusto Pinochet years, Errazuriz’s work became even more distinct. Her approach is a deep dive into what makes one human in the face of struggle. By documenting those on the periphery of society — showing everyday people rather than military pursuits — her photography is not merely a historical record, but one that resonates with the generations of people that came after.
—Anna Mendoza, photo editor, BuzzFeed Australia
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a vibrant nine-day commitment that celebrates the Chinese belief that abstinence from meat will help one obtain an overall well-being both mentally and physically. Photographer Guy Houben captures the dedication shared among these participants through the act of piercing their own body to invite gods to enter their body.
—Jade Cardichon, photo intern, BuzzFeed News
Alice Austen was a pioneer of photojournalism, not only through her tremendous archive of over 8,000 photographs that she left behind, but in her utter disregard to the patriarchal boundaries placed upon working woman in the 19th century. Still, many aspects of Austen's personal identity have been excluded from her legacy, including her sexuality and relationship with a close female friend, Gertrude Tate. As Artsy reports here, this too is changing.
—Gabriel H. Sanchez, photo essay editor, BuzzFeed News
I love this behind-the-scenes look at the culture around the Tour de France, despite the fact that I know literally nothing about cycling. Pete Kiehart’s work makes you feel like you’re a part of the forest revelry, and it’s hard not to be charmed by the personality of the partygoers.
—K.B.
As fascinating as the partner-for-rent story is, I am even more intrigued by how the photographer felt following the story of this couple. In a way, Muyi Xiao is part of their story. She was there when they traveled home, when they signed the contract, when they established boundaries. She even got to meet the mother! How the mother didn’t suspect anything of the set-up is a curious one. I guess in the end, it didn’t really matter. It’s a story that may seem bizarre to everyone else but is growing in prominence in conservative places like China, making it worth telling.
—Anna Mendoza, photo editor, BuzzFeed Australia
To a certain degree, a ruling party is only as strong as its symbols of power. In 1991, there were over 5,500 statues of Soviet theorist and politician Vladimir Lenin across all of Ukraine. Today, there are virtually none standing. In this fascinating profile by the New York Times on the work of photographer Niels Ackermann, we journey across Ukraine in search of the nation's past, present, and future.
—G.H.S.
Here are the most moving, sorrowful, and breathtaking pictures from the past week.