All about photo.com: photo contests, photography exhibitions, galleries, photographers, books, schools and venues.
FINAL CALL TO ENTER AAP MAGAZINE SHAPES: PUBLICATION AND $1,000 CASH PRIZES
FINAL CALL TO ENTER AAP MAGAZINE SHAPES: PUBLICATION AND $1,000 CASH PRIZES

Photo Book

Share

By Greg Gulbransen

Publisher: GOST Books
Publication date: 2024
Print length: 160 pages
Language: English
Price Range:
Reviews:
In Say Less, photographer and practicing doctor Greg Gulbransen offers an intimate and harrowing glimpse into the life of Malik, a former leader of the Crips gang in the Bronx, whose world was irrevocably changed after being shot and paralyzed by a rival gang in 2018. Over the course of three years, Gulbransen documented Malik's life after the incident, capturing the stark realities of his existence confined to a small Bronx apartment where he is cared for by his family and fellow gang members.

Gulbransen's journey into Malik's world began when, while photographing in the Bronx, he noticed a striking number of young men in wheelchairs, all victims of gang-related shootings. Intrigued by their stories, Gulbransen sought to understand their experiences, eventually being introduced to Malik. Once a prominent gang leader, Malik's life changed forever one summer night when a simple trip to buy a sandwich resulted in his being shot by a rival in front of a 99-cent store. The bullet severed his thoracic spine, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

The images in Say Less* are raw and poignant, depicting the challenges of living in a cramped housing project apartment, where Malik is cared for by his devoted mother, Eyanna, and his grandfather. Without professional medical help, Malik's family takes on the full burden of his care—his mother managing his medical needs during the day, while his father steps in at night. Through Gulbransen's lens, we see the deep love and care Malik receives, but also the constant presence of danger and violence that defines his life. Despite his immobility, Malik remains a focal point for his gang, with members visiting his apartment at all hours to talk, plan, and take care of their leader.

Say Less is a profound exploration of survival, loyalty, and the emotional toll of gang life. Gulbransen’s photographs capture both the closeness of Malik's family and the ever-present shadow of violence that looms over his life. Confined to his bedroom, unable to leave certain neighborhoods without fear of being killed, Malik’s existence is one of stark isolation and constant threat. The book doesn't shy away from the grim realities of his situation, but also highlights the resilience and love that sustain him.

Through Say Less, Gulbransen provides a sobering look at a life forever altered by violence, while also offering an empathetic portrayal of a man whose world has been reduced to the walls of his home. It is a powerful, haunting portrait of a life at the crossroads of survival and confinement.

Our printed edition showcases the winners of AAP Magazine call of entries
All About Photo Magazine
Issue #57
Call for Entries
AAP Magazine #59 Shapes
Publish your work in our printed magazine and win $1,000 cash prizes

Selected Books

Advertisement
AAP Magazine #59 Shapes
Win a Solo Exhibition in Aug
AAP Magazine #59 Shapes

Latest Interviews

Exclusive Interview with Susan Anthony
American photographer Susan Anthony brings a painter’s eye to documentary photography, creating nuanced portraits of people and places shaped by time, community, and tradition. Her work is rooted in observation, empathy, and a deep curiosity about the lives of others. Through long-term projects, she explores the relationship between individuals and the environments they inhabit, revealing the stories that connect people to a place and to one another.
Exclusive Interview with Carole Mills Noronha
Carole Mills Noronha is an Australian photographer whose deeply personal work explores memory, family, loss, and the fragile nature of identity. Living with epilepsy and a lifelong sensitivity to light, she has developed a distinctive photographic language rooted in observation, empathy, and emotional connection. Her images are shaped by lived experience, revealing intimate stories with remarkable honesty and tenderness.
Exclusive Interview with Trevor Cole: Pastoral Peoples and Practices
For this interview, we wanted to focus specifically on The Face of the Mundari and the wider Pastoral Peoples and Practices series. We spoke with Trevor about his long-term work among the Mundari, what continues to draw him back to their cattle camps, and the experience of documenting a culture whose identity remains deeply connected to livestock, tradition, and the natural environment.
Exclusive Interview with Frank Meo
In our latest exclusive feature for All About Photo, I speak with veteran photography representative Frank Meo about what it truly takes to build a sustainable creative career today. Frank brings decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, major agencies, and documentary photographers to the table. We dive into the critical business skills often left out of art school curriculums, the power of mentorship, and the inspiring evolution of PROJECTIONS—his international salon platform for visual storytellers. It’s an essential read for anyone navigating the commercial or editorial photography landscape today.
Exclusive Interview with Carolyn Moore
American photographer Carolyn Moore explores the inner landscape of emotion, memory, and personal transformation through a deeply intuitive photographic practice. Her work unfolds as a quiet dialogue between artist and viewer, where images become a space for reflection, vulnerability, and connection.
Exclusive Interview with Luca Desienna and Laura Estelle Barmwoldt
For over seven years, Of Lilies and Remains has explored the depths of the goth and darkwave underground, unfolding in Leipzig—a city long associated with a vibrant and enduring subcultural scene. Moving between iconic gatherings such as Wave-Gotik-Treffen and more intimate moments on the fringes, the project offers a rare and immersive glimpse into a world often misunderstood, yet rich in expression and community. Created by Luca in collaboration with Laura Estelle Barmwoldt, the work embraces a cinematic and deeply personal approach. Rather than documenting from a distance, it moves within the scene itself, capturing its atmosphere, its codes, and its quiet contradictions. The title Of Lilies and Remains hints at this duality—where beauty and darkness, fragility and strength coexist. As the book prepares for its release, we spoke with both artists about the origins of the project, their process, and what it means to document a subculture that continues to evolve while remaining true to its spirit.
Exclusive Interview with Matthew Finley
American photographer Matthew Finley turns inward, using photography as a way to explore identity, memory, and emotional truth. Based in Los Angeles, his practice moves between performance, gesture, and found imagery, creating a visual language that is both intimate and deeply personal
Exclusive Interview with Jan Janssen
Dutch photographer Jan Janssen explores universal human experiences through his long-term project It Matters, winner of the May 2025 Solo Exhibition. Begun in 2016, the series captures intimate moments of everyday life—love, loss, connection, and belonging—across Central and Eastern Europe. Working in countries such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, Janssen spends extended time within communities, building relationships based on trust and respect. His approach allows him to move beyond observation, revealing deeply human and authentic moments. Rooted in travel and personal discovery, It Matters reflects Janssen’s search for what connects us all in an increasingly divided world. The project is ongoing and will culminate in a photobook scheduled for publication in 2026.
Exclusive Interview with Henk Kosche
German photographer Henk Kosche turns his lens toward the streets of Halle an der Saale, capturing everyday life in the late years of the former German Democratic Republic. At the time, Kosche was studying design and exploring the city with his camera, drawn to the atmosphere of its industrial landscape and the quiet rhythms of daily life. His series Street Photography at the End of the 80s, selected as the Solo Exhibition for July 2025, revisits a body of work created just before a period of profound change. Rediscovered decades later in a small box of 35mm negatives, these photographs offer glimpses of a city and its people at a moment suspended between the familiar and the unknown.
Call for Entries
AAP Magazine #59 Shapes
Publish your work in our printed magazine and win $1,000 cash prizes