Making Images

I don’t have a clue on how I should write a book review.  I’ve written about a couple of books in the past and, after reading the posts again, I’m not sure I was able to communicate my thoughts on the books.  But we all have to keep trying to improve so here goes another try.

I picked up Nick Brandt’s new book A Shadow Falls.  It’s an outstanding book and the images are just astounding.  I particularly enjoyed reading his reasoning for doing this body of work.  His photography is up close and personal and it’s as if these animals are his family, his work is compelling and his efforts absolutely phenomenal.  

Where much of photography is so much of a cliche, especially images coming out of the African tourism industry and the plethora of photography workshops, Brandt’s work is unique and visually compelling.  The personality of the animals shines through in a way that I’ve never seen before and, at least for me, this makes the work all that more enjoyable.  It’s as if I have a front seat to the families that I will never meet.

This book is larger than his first book, On This Earth, and I think it’s added to the images.  Seeing these images this large was enjoyable and I would love to see large prints of this work.  I would suggest you pick up the book if you love photography.  It’s well worth the cost.  And please take a moment to check out the charitable organizations Mr. Brandt is associated with.

The grouping of photographs in Three is deliberate and provocative, asking us to read not only the individual photographs but their cumulative stories. The triptychs defy the confines of any single frame by presenting them in a lyrical, dynamic context, exploring the intersecting points when decisive moments converge, and opening a dialogue between images. A celebration of the language of photography, Kashi’s work layers color, form, and content, while allowing time to pass in the course of three images and offering multiple screens to order the chaos that surrounds us. 

I received a book from my wife and daughter for my birthday that I really enjoyed.  Three, by Ed Kashi is a collection of his work over the course of his career.  He's taken images that may or may not be related and put them into triptychs that were interesting to view.  Check it out if you get a chance.