10 Photo Essays That You Must See This Weekend

Say goodbye to summer and hello to some awesome collections.

1. "The Ocean Made These Wild Photos. Yes, Really" —Wired

Meghann Riepenhoff

"It's the end of summer, but it's always the perfect time to look at these cool photos by Meghann Riepenhoff (and the ocean). The process to make these photos is brilliant, and the entire series manages to capture the ineffable, wonderfully impermanent qualities of the water." —Kate Bubacz, senior photo editor, BuzzFeed News

2. "An Explorer’s Ode to America’s National Parks" —The Atlantic

Mark Burns

"As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the US National Parks Service, the Atlantic has profiled one photographer who recently completed a remarkable journey, celebrating all of the adventure and beauty that our national parks stand for. After five years on the road, Mark Burns actually visited and photographed all 59 national parks in the United States! His work is now on view at the Houston Museum of Natural Science until Sept. 28." —Gabriel H. Sanchez, photo essay editor, BuzzFeed

3. "The Women Fighting the Colombian Government Tell Their Stories" —California Sunday Magazine

Nadège Mazars

"As FARC reaches a historic deal with the Colombian government to end 50 years of hostilities, Mazar's work is a clear-eyed reminder of the diversity of the forces, and the wide-ranging reasons that they joined the rebels. At its heart, her work serves as a reminder of the people that make up the force, and who will be greatly effected by the changes to come." —KB

4. "A Photographer’s Quest to Document Every Resident of a Historic Hollywood Apartment Building" —Slate

Pamela Littky

"This project has the great potential to be voyeuristic, but instead Pamela Littky's approach to her subjects portrays an empathy that belies the simplicity of the original conceit, capturing the occupants of a building. Instead of using that as unifying theme, her approach reflects respect for her subjects as individuals as they let the photographer into their homes." —KB

5. "Tokyo's Glow" —CreativeBoom

Xavier Portela

"Tokyo with a neon-pink filter is like existing in a manga comic IRL and Xavier Portela achieves exactly that in his photos. They’re quirky and fun, loud and vibrant — everything this bustling city is about." —AM

6. "Ukraine's Military Boarding Schools" —LensCulture

Michal Chelbin

"Military schools are known for being brutally tough, so a military boarding school for children? It makes you wonder if these children get to live as a child at all, or are forced to become adults as soon as they can talk. The images are haunting as the children are looking straight into the camera. Michal Chelbin likes to keep his subjects centered in the frame, drawing the eye of the viewer in even more." —Sarah Kobos, Photo Editor, BuzzFeed

7. "People Show Us The Outfits They Wear to Get Laid" —Broadly

Alice Zoo

"It’s really a simple question, just one you probably wouldn’t expect to hear: What do you wear when you want to get laid? The folks over at Broadly asked photographer Alice Zoo to capture the styles and explanations of a group of young people (and one super-fresh 64-year-old Australian) on their go-to hookup outfits — some obviously working better than others." —GHS

8. "In the Mediterranean: Leisure and Landscapes, Crisis and Conflict" —New York Times

Nick Hannes/Cosmos Photo

"Photographer Nick Hannes’ work is a cultural roller coaster through the Mediterranean, examining the livelihood of people from all over the region; everywhere from the war-torn streets of Misrata, Libya, to the alcohol fueled parties of Ibiza, Spain. At times separated by mere miles and a political line, Hannes’ work perfectly captures the disparities and commonalities of those living in a region of constant flux." —GHS

9. "The Powerful Objects From the Collections of the Smithsonian's Newest Museum" —The Smithsonian

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

"This is a gallery in catalog — it's less about the photos than the weight of history that rests within the objects themselves. Cataloging history is a way to contain it, and if not forgive the things that happened, then at least it can serve as a means to understand it. The gallery serves as a stark reminder of a painful past and serves as an opening into what promises to be a powerful museum showing." —KB

10. "Alegra Ally Travels World Photographing Women During Childbirth for Wild Born Project" —The Daily Telegraph

Ally Alegra

"This Daily Telegraph feature is just a snippet of Alegra Ally’s massive collection of photos for her "Wild Born Project." It’s the very project that took her from the highly urbanized shores of Sydney to remote communities around the world, and truly, what fantastic insight into the children of the earth, those who live most intimately with nature." —AM