Britney Spears, Los Angeles, California,

2008

In his series Coverage, Dawson turns his camera away from Hollywood’s elite and onto the media, photographing the paparazzi, journalists, newscasters, and fans who fuel popular culture’s obsession with celebrity. Each image in the series is named for a famous subject, like Britney Spears, although these figures are absent from the scene. By focusing on the people and infrastructure covering the activities of noted personalities—such as the lone photographer and her camera equipment seen here—Dawson critiques the time and the resources the American press dedicates to the exploits of individuals while sidelining important global, social, and political matters.