Category Archives: Photographers

States of Decay

Book reviews

Urbex at its finest.

For an index of all my book reviews, click here.

There are very few words in this book and that’s appropriate for the powerful photography by Dan Barter and Dan Marbaix speaks for itself. This is Urbex at its finest, the pictures dark and moody and the many images of abandoned asylums terrifying in desolation. They must have been even more so when occupied. There are images of abandoned churches and factories and public transport termini also, but it’s the ones of the asylums which really leave a mark.



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Recommended for all fans of fine photography and urban decay.

Under Cape Cod Waters

Book reviews

A delight.

For an index of all my book reviews, click here.

Every photograph in this book is a delight to see. Ethan Daniels has strayed from the charming towns and streets of the cape east of Boston in Massachusetts and gone underwater to photograph its many marine delights, and he has done a wonderful job.


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Roger Prigent

Photographers

Photographer and antiquarian.

Roger Prigent, a prominent 1960s Vogue photographer, passed away at age 89 the other day. When his eyesight started to fail three decades ago he devoted his life to dealing antiques in Manhattan, proving that there are second acts.

Some examples of his work, the severe and simple settings reflecting the work of his rôle mode Richard Avedon.


The Road to Perdition

Movies

Gorgeous images.

The Road to Perdition is a 2002 movie starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. Also included are Daniel Craig, the always great Stanley Tucci and Jude Law, as mean as ever. The stellar cast apart, the best reason to see it is the gorgeous cinematography of Conrad L. Hall who deservedly won the Oscar to add to the two others on his mantlepiece for ‘Butch Cassidy’ and ‘American Beauty’.

The story is about the Irish Mob, all strict Catholics you understand, in Depression Era America.

Here are some favorite moments:

Recommended for all who love expertly lit and beautifully composed images.

New England Ruins

Book reviews, Photographers

Dead.

For an index of all my book reviews, click here.

Whereas lamenting dead malls – see the previous blogpost – is hard, as who really cares about their mostly abominable architecture, Rob Dobi’s record of dead theaters, manufacturing plants and, most troubling of all, psychiatric institutions, is poignant and moving. Many of these buildings pose immense issues owing to the presence of dangerous chemicals or asbestos, so tearing them down to build something new is a non-trivial task. So many just sit there, rotting.

The changes in psychiatric care, with greater sensitivity to the needs of patients, saw many 20th century psychiatric hospitals closed, their inhumane treatment of the mentally ill a thing of the past. Thank goodness for that. These are beautifully photographed in this small book which maximizes impact by full page bleed of the excellent photography. The author occasionally struggles with the extreme dynamic range in some of hs settings but that’s a minor quibble.


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The author’s talent is not limited to photography. He is also a professional illustrator and you can see more of his work at RobDobi.com.