Saturday, December 15, 2007

Photo Books '07

Sam Fentress

Didn't buy that many books this year- not for a lack of wanting. Finally retrieving my pre-'98 book collection from NYC played a major factor, economics the other. That said, there were six that made my all star list:

1) Motherland by Simon Roberts makes it into the number one post with its epic but intimate portrayal of Mother Russia.

2) Class Pictures by Dawoud Bey- with all the hoopla about portraiture this year, I sure didn't see much reference made to this master portraitist.

3) Henry Wessel- this retrospective edition should have made my number one, the subpar B&W reproduction however took its toll- so unlike the nearly miraculous quality of the actual silver gelatin prints which helped make his exhibit at SFMOMA one for the ages...

4) Bible Road by Sam Fentress is a comical, lyrical look at religious signs and landscapes that leave me more than a little jealous.

5) Out The Window (LAX) by Zoe Crosher- (see separate post to come).

6) The Idea of Cuba by Alex Harris- portraits, monuments and car interior scenics that manage to go beyond the now customary Cuban cliches.

No comments: