Lee Friedlander Monograph

[RayPA]

PhotoEye is finally shipping Lee Friedlander [Monograph], which, from what I understand, is the book from the NY MOMA show (?). I got mine today. It was expensive, but well worth it. I logged some thoughts, but I was curious whether anyone made it to the show, or ordered the book, what they thought, or even if Friedlander is interesting to anyone here.

The book definitely made me a Friedlander fan. I hadn't seen much of his stuff, aside from the more popular images, but wow, what an interesting photographer! I think the scenic stuff and the complexity of his street work is fabulous. He's like a melting pot of every modern day photographer. There are shades of Walker, Arbus, Winogrand, and even Adams and Weston.

My only complaint about the book is it is so big and heavy that I can't really kick back with it, but the plates are all big and gorgeous. There's what appears to be a fairly comprehensive text section that precedes the images (I haven't had the time to read a single word of it). This is very good stuff that'll keep me busy for a while! 🙂

 

[aizan]

good god, this thing is huge.

 

[flamingo]

I just got my copy yesterday as well. This book is so huge and heavy that it feels like the spine is going to crack every time I open it. It is not a coffee table book. It IS a coffee table !!! (Seinfeld 1995).

But seriously, I raced through the first 80 pages of text, which is mainly Lee's bio.
This guy had quite a career as a commercial and freelance shooter as well as squeezing in his own personal work in between.

It gives real good insight into the Photo "art" and Gallery world of the 50's, 60's and 70's and discusses many of Lee's contemporaries particularly Winogrand, Evans, Arbus, et al. These guys apparently all fed off each others' ideas, whether consciously or unconsciously to some degree. Lots of great quality reproductions. Amazon.com has it for $47.25. The book lists for $75.00 .

Highly recommended.

 

[RayPA]

dang! I paid list for mine, but a what a great testament to a time, the apex of street photography! Very cool stuff, but get it for $47 bucks!