Remembering “In Focus”: The Atlantic’s Brilliant Photo Blog by Alan Taylor

While tidying up some old drafts on this blog, I stumbled upon an unpublished article from 2012 titled “Diwali: The Festival of Lights [Photos from the In Focus Blog]” Revisiting this piece instantly brought back memories of The Atlantic’s ‘In Focus’ photo blog, masterfully curated by Alan Taylor. This blog delivered captivating photo stories centered on current events and remarkable themes, enveloping readers in unforgettable visual experiences. It truly was one of the best places on the web to experience powerful photojournalism.

Alan originally started curating and publishing these photo stories when he was employed at The Boston Globe as a Web Developer and launched “The Big Picture” as a passion project. A few years later, Alan took that concept to The Atlantic, where he continued curating breathtaking collections under the banner In Focus — this time as his full-time role. The series featured everything from world events and cultural festivals to historical retrospectives and space exploration. Each photo essay was a masterclass in how photography can evoke emotion, context, and wonder.

Today, The Big Picture still lives on as a category Big Picture’ on The Boston Globe’s website, continuing the legacy that Alan started. Over at The Atlantic, In Focus has evolved into the broader Photography section, where Taylor still publishes his signature photo essays.

Don’t miss ‘The Lights of Diwali 2025‘ photo collection – a striking celebration of light and life, curated in Alan Taylor’s inimitable style. I also found a nice little archive of photos published on the In Focus blog over on Tumblr.