Photographs copyright of Hiroshi Watanabe courtesy of Photolucida Hiroshi Watanabe's book Finding published by Photolucida is the grand prize winner of the 2006 Critical Mass. While reading this I find that I am always looking at life through a veil. There always seems to be something between me and what I think the subject is. Which may be overlooking one the... Continue Reading →
Zoe Strauss – AMERICA
Copyright 2009 Zoe Strauss, courtesy AMMO Books There are photographic projects that become evident of when the photographer is just a visitor dropping in to take a photo-op, collect some photo-trophies and then soon back home for the evening to spend time with their spouse and kids. With Zoe Strauss's recent project America by Zoe Strauss published by AMMO Books I quickly perceive that... Continue Reading →
Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison – counterpoint
Photographs are copyright of Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison courtesy of Twin Palms Publishers In an attempt to better understand Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison's new book counterpoint, I found myself referring to The Architect's Brother,an earlier published book by Robert ParkeHarrison from Twin Palms Publishers. Regretfully I did not purchase the earlier book when it was available. The Architect's Brother is the initial story of ParkeHarrison's "Everyman",... Continue Reading →
Edward S. Curtis complete volume at Swann Auction Galleries
Edward S. Curtis, The North American Indian, Being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska. Volumes 1-20 The photographic book(s) that will be the center piece at the May 14, 2009 Swann Auction Galleries is going to be lot 11 going up for bid at 10:30 AM, a complete volume... Continue Reading →
A Book’s Printed Page
Of the various components that make up of a fine art photographic book, the one that does not seem to be discussed as much is the quality of the printed page. I think that there a number of reasons for that, including the assumption that if the book is being printed by offset presses, such as a Heidelberg, that the printing quality... Continue Reading →
Donald Weber – Bastard Eden, Our Chernobyl
Photographs copyright of Donald Weber courtesy of Photolucida Donald Weber's Bastard Eden, Our Chernobyl is his Photolucida 2006 Critical Mass book and a scary look at what could be our potential post-Nuclear civilization. It is also about a marginalized society and the reclamation of the land. Weber's photographic documentary project investigates the no-man's region surrounding Chernobyl (Ukraine) where 20 years ago in... Continue Reading →
Nick Waplington – Double Dactyl
Double Dactyl photographs copyright of Nickolas (Nick) Waplington, courtesy of Trolly Books This is a self titled book with an interesting twist and probably elaborating will add some insights into Waplington's creative body of work. In poetry theory a dactyl refers to a unit of rhythms that has three syllables with the emphasis on the first, thus... Continue Reading →
Steve Pyke – Earthward
Photographs copyright of Steve Pyke and courtesy of Nazraeli Press Upon looking at Steve Pyke's recent published body of work Earthward published by Nazraeli Press I immediately thought of the earlier found still life photographs of Irving Penn. Both photographers have created a new context for their found subjects when isolating from their normal environmental states. I believe it was... Continue Reading →
Amy Stein – Domesticated
Photographs copyright of Amy Stein A couple purchase a beautiful cactus in the desert at a roadside stand. The cactus is budding and about to bloom. They hurry home and perch it on a decorative counter in their living room. And they watch with anticipation but something wrong seems to be happening. The cactus is starting to... Continue Reading →
Camille Seaman – The Last Iceberg
The Last Iceberg photographs copyright Camille Seaman One of the long recognized traits of documentary photographs is that they are accepted as truthful recordings of what was before the lens and that the resulting images take on a transparency of reality. Thus the code of ethic's of not altering photographs, e.g. PhotoShoping these images by the news... Continue Reading →