Antibodies (or Anticorpes) by Antoine D'Agata - surprisingly large book, translated from French. Its a difficult read - not because of the subject matter, but because its so poorly edited. Each page is its own paragraph. Hard on the peepers. This is my first D'Agata book and I was quite impressed - wide range of subject matter and I feel its almost an exercise in cathartics for D'Agata. Its a very compelling book to have in your collection - however, as I was soon to learn, D'Agata's trademark images of "people on the fringes of society" and him "interacting" with them (and drugs) would soon become an abject lesson in the law of diminishing returns...
Rome by Anders Petersen - a very modest publication, but in almost a direct parallel to Antibodies, although Rome is a very short physical experience, the images within are striking - sometimes powerful, more so than D'Agata's more explicit efforts. Petersen can, indeed, make the mundane look interesting, even sinister - though I am not sure if this was his intention.
Paraiso by Antoine D'Agata - small and short, on first inspection Paraiso feels like a compact and abridged version of Antibodies. More of the same - drugs, copulation and long exposures. Whilst I appreciate that sometimes it pays dividends to be known for a particular style, I do wonder if D'Agata may have invented this edgy persona he has and has painted himself into a corner because of it. I do wonder how he has become a Magnum photographer. I suppose diversity has something to do with it. I wanted to like his images and in some cases I do. Maybe they're a slow burn - but at least with Petersen's images, I get an instantaneous gut reaction of wanting see more. Not so much with D'Agata.
Which is a shame, as I have already ordered D'Agata's Ice.