The Contemporary Photobook Magazine
Review by Gerhard Clausing • Kevin Bubriski has long been recognized for his special ability to document various groups and communities with sensitivity and respect, from Nepal to the American heartland. In The New Mexicans, his attentive look is focused on the people and landscapes of New Mexico, capturing the early 1980s in a photographic... Continue Reading →
Review by Gerhard Clausing • Robin Mudge offers a great definition on his website: “a photobook is an exhibition in your hands.” In this photobook he has compiled an exhibition of his images that reflect everyday observations, and he has paired those photographs with ChatGPT descriptions. The ‘machine’ system can thus be considered a collaborator... Continue Reading →
Review by Gerhard Clausing • Casey Reas has the relatively unique position of being both an artist and a scientist. He has contributed greatly to the development of generating images with the help of artificial intelligence systems. This photobook, which I only discovered this summer, presents both a technical description of a major process, as... Continue Reading →
Review by Gerhard Clausing • Folklore and rituals are vital components of our ancestral heritage. The stories that were told for many generations survive in one form or another and are enhanced as they are told and retold. I am currently investigating creation mythologies of various groups, and it is amazing how much wisdom and... Continue Reading →
Review by Gerhard Clausing • In Zero Hour, Birthe Piontek continues her exploration of identity and mortality. Known for her psychologically charged portraiture and introspective photographic storytelling (especially in Abendlied, which I reviewed previously), Piontek’s newest photobook connects the personal and the universal in a significant visual narrative. The term “Zero Hour” is historically charged—it... Continue Reading →
Review by Gerhard Clausing • The press release for this photobook states, “Vanishing is an unforgettable depiction of how beauty and brutality coexist in the hearts of men and beasts.” I would go even further: Vanishing is the definitive depiction of the range from every imaginable positive daydream through the weightiest nightmares possible, from the... Continue Reading →
Review by Gerhard Clausing • For many of us the circus is a special experience full of magic. Some of us have at times felt a longing to be part of such a group of itinerant individuals that create illusions and bring special feats into what for most of us was the rather humdrum existence... Continue Reading →
Hans Hickerson, current Co-Editor of the PhotoBook Journal, will take over the helm of the magazine from retiring Editor Gerhard (Gerry) Clausing, who will stay on in a less-active role. Hickerson says that he looks forward to continuing the current mission of the PhotoBook Journal as established by founder and Editor Emeritus, Douglas Stockdale. Hans... Continue Reading →
Review by Gerhard Clausing • Fred Ritchin is one of the most respected critics when it comes to photography. Naturally, his views on artificial intelligence (AI) are of great interest. This latest book of his is primarily meant to stimulate discussion in this subject and to provoke creative thought and sane analyses. Of particular interest... Continue Reading →
Review by Paul Anderson • In 1971, singer-songwriter Steve Goodman penned the song “City of New Orleans,” which poetically captures a ride on the Illinois Central Railroad southbound out of Chicago. Wrapped up in the lyrics are images of Americana and the local landscape as the train “Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.” Much... Continue Reading →
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