5 AUGUST 2026 | SUBSCRIBE
EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE
Michela Balboni and Federico Borella travelled to northeastern Romania to document one of Europe’s last surviving examples of traditional haymaking. “Entire communities work together to build haystacks by hand, with families and neighbours sharing knowledge and labour,” explain the photographers. The meadows, managed without fertilisers or pesticides, are also vital to the ecosystems, hosting a remarkable variety of plants, birds and small mammals. As modernisation brings change, the haystacks in villages such as Bilbor and Bicaz represent not only cultural heritage, but also a fragile model of sustainable agriculture.
Find the September 2026 issue on newsstands from 6 August
WHAT WE’RE READING THIS MONTH
See New York through the decades
Over half a century in the making, Harry Gruyaert’s latest book is a love letter to the Big Apple in all its complicated glory. The collection of images in the Magnum photographer’s intimate portrait of New York was shot over 50 years. No matter when they were taken during that period, Gruyaert’s colour-rich pictures show a city that we instantly recognise — whether it’s kids playing in the water of a burst fire hydrant in Manhattan in 1985; a cap-wearing doorman at the entrance to Trump Towers in 2006; or costumed superheros parading in Times Square in 2017. The fashions my change over the pages, but New York’s unique spirit remains the same.
| Take the plunge outdoorsThe updated edition, now including locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, celebrates the connection humans have fostered with water and examines the long-standing relationship between us and outdoor bathing.The Nature of Swimming (Updated Edition); £40 |
| Look back at the history of the USOver 700 captivating images from the archives of National Geographic come together in this book that charts a century of growth and change state by state, from Alabama to Wyoming, marking the country’s 250th birthday.National Geographic. The United States of America; £125 |
See the July/August issue images that stood out to our picture team the most — which one stands out to you?
Follow our Instagram and TikTok accounts to see their picks each month and tell us your favourites in the comments.
Photos: Michela Balboni & Federico Borella, Thames & Hudson, Ulf Svane, Chris Da Canha, Tate Drucker, Getty Images, Jonathan Stokes, Soča Rafting.
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