Hi, I’m Amos, and I collect other people’s photos!
I live in LA with my husband and rescue Pekingese who rage-sneezes instead of barks. I’m a writer for television, a photographer of humans, and a founding editor and publisher of the trans male print zine from a certain era, Original Plumbing. I can’t shake my love for found photographs, the snapshottier the better. Especially if the photos were made between 1980 and 1999. I love my found photo collection so much that I decided to write about them, to hopefully clear out my brain and connect with readers. I love a passion project, so here we are!
Brag Book felt like the perfect title for this newsletter. Named after the little photo albums people used to carry around in their bags, to share prized moments with others. As a trans person, I lean into untold stories that photos spark for me – sometimes that looks like a deep dive into a photo, a little essay on a memory, or an interview with a friend.
What you’ll find in Brag Book:
Photos I’ve rescued — vintage found snapshots, plus the rabbit holes I tumble down trying to trace their stories.
Other people’s trash — interviews with friends and artists (and a peek at the scraps they’re holding onto).
Diary crumbs — unbraggable bits, personal spirals, tiny wins – spanning the Deep South, SF zine scenes, back-to-school in Brooklyn, and Hollywood writer hustles.
Scans from the shoebox — paper ephemera I can’t throw away and no one will inherit, so I might as well scan and post them here.
I’ll post weekly, sometimes more if inspiration hits.
Why I offered paid subscriptions from the jump:
Most subscriber posts will be totally free because I want people to read and feel connected, but if you’re in the mood to support an independent artist (hi), you can subscribe as a paid subscriber.
Your support helps me:
Interview and uplift other artists as they talk about weird stuff they place into paper piles
Carve out time to write freely and frequently, independent from corporate overlords
Keep hunting down vintage, potentially queer photos (the jury’s out on if this addiction is good or bad)
Build something that lasts – even though the internet gives me trust issues
Plus, you’ll get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
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