The High Museum's Photography as a Way of Life exhibition examines Minor White, Aaron Siskind and Harry Callahan, three photographers whose work helped establish photography as an expressive art form in the mid-20th century. It runs October 9, 2026, through February 7, 2027, drawing on Princeton University Art Museum holdings and archival material.
The reason to visit is not just historical. All three photographers explored abstraction and the possibility that an ordinary surface, shadow or fragment could become the subject of a compelling image. That is a practical prompt for your own photography: spend ten minutes looking for shape and texture rather than a recognizable landmark.
Pair the exhibition with a short photo walk around Midtown. Make three images that could plausibly be displayed without captions: one built from lines, one from texture and one from light. The museum visit supplies a visual vocabulary; the walk makes it yours.