Act One: A Century in the Making

Act One: A Century in the Making is an ambitious new photography book examining the defining forces and events of the first quarter of the 21st century. The 704-page hardcover brings together the work of more than 100 internationally recognized photographers—including Eugene Richards, Victoria Sambunaris, Martin Schoeller, Natalie Keyssar, Nick Brandt, Darcy Padilla, Andres Serrano, Bryan Schutmaat, Andrea Bruce, Christopher Morris, Mandy Barker, Matt Eich, Shadi Ghadirian, Peter van Agtmael, Jane Fulton Alt, Jon Lowenstein, Platon and many more—spanning documentary, portrait, fine art, conceptual, and landscape photography.

What makes Act One particularly unique is how it brings photography into dialogue with original writing and scholarly analysis. Nine leading scholars, writers, and journalists provide original essays on subjects ranging from climate change and public health to democracy, race, war, globalization, and technology. Contributors are affiliated with institutions including Harvard University, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, NYU, Georgetown, and Penn State. Together, image and analysis create a layered portrait of the world we have lived through since the turn of the millennium.

Published by the nonprofit Other Side Editions and printed in Italy, "Act One: A Century in the Making" will be released September 9, 2026, in a first edition strictly limited to 2,000 copies. Pre-orders are now available exclusively through the Act One website at www.actonebook.com, where you can learn more about the project, explore the contributors, and order your copy directly.

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