WOW! Have You Seen This Work?? Jason Eskenazi's "Wonderland"

[RayPA]

If you spend any time in the "Latest Additions to Your Library" thread, then you've probably seen several of us praising the Jason Eskenazi's book, 'Wonderland: A Fairytale of the Soviet Monolith'.

Eskenazi is a native of Queens and NY MOMA security guard who decided to visit the Soviet Union after the fall of communism. What he came away with after more than a decade of shooting is something very special. These are some of the strongest images of the classic street/documentary style that I've seen in a long time. This work is right up there with the best of Koudelka.

If you haven't seen this work already, check it out:

'Wonderland: A Fairytale of the Soviet Monolith'

edit: I think it was RFF member, Palec that recommended this one in the 'Latest Additions...' thread. Thanks!





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a little more at my blog

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Ray, thanks for the link. I remember hearing about this some time ago on NRP but it fell off my mind. Great to see the information and pictures again.

 

[bogelgelbo]

Thanks for sharing this.

 

[martin s]

I want to throw in Anthony Suaus Beyond the Fall.

martin

 

[vincentbenoit]

Agree. Amazing stuff. Photoreportage at its very best.
Vincent

 

[vincentbenoit]

I want to throw in Anthony Suaus Beyond the Fall.

martin

Thanks Martin for the link. (I've just ordered the book).
Also worth checking out, very much in the same vein (although in colour) is Winterreise by Luc Delahaye.
Vincent

 

[brachal]

Ordered it as well. I hate to ask the question, but what camera was he using?

 

[le vrai rdu]

I want to throw in Anthony Suaus Beyond the Fall.

martin

I saw his books at the centre pompidou

Very nice, but I couldn't afford it 🙁

 

[Andy Kibber]

I didn't see anything in the book about what camera or cameras he used. Given that the photographs were taken over 11 years (1990-2001) I suspect he may have used a variety.

 

[vincentbenoit]

I didn't see anything in the book about what camera or cameras he used.

There's mention of an OM-1 in the ackowledgements section at the end of the book. I reckon most pictures were taken with a 28mm or 35mm lens.
Vincent

 

[martin s]

I saw his books at the centre pompidou

Very nice, but I couldn't afford it 🙁

Same here, there's one copy at Walter König in Berlin, the store is simply too close to our local film suppliers and in the end it's usually a few rolls of Portra in favor of Beyond the Fall. Occasionally there are used ones on Amazon for a little less than retail, I ordered two of them actually - both were "out of stock" an E-Mail explained to me a few days later.

But maybe get the World Press Photo Award Book from '09, his winning pictures are in there.

martin

 

[martin s]

Thanks Martin for the link. (I've just ordered the book).
Also worth checking out, very much in the same vein (although in colour) is Winterreise by Luc Delahaye.
Vincent

Hey Vincent, no problem. I mention him whenever I can. Where did you order the book if you don't mind me asking?

martin

 

[vincentbenoit]

Where did you order the book if you don't mind me asking?

WHSmith in the UK.
Vincent

 

[Andy Kibber]

There's mention of an OM-1 in the ackowledgements section at the end of the book. I reckon most pictures were taken with a 28mm or 35mm lens.
Vincent

Right you are! I didn't notice that. I agree that most of the photos look wide-ish.

 

[nksyoon]

Thanks Martin for the link. (I've just ordered the book).
Also worth checking out, very much in the same vein (although in colour) is Winterreise by Luc Delahaye.
Vincent

And in colour, Jonas Bendiksen's Satellites.

http://www.jonasbendiksen.com/satellites_book.html

 

[peter_n]

Ordered it as well. I hate to ask the question, but what camera was he using?

At the end of the NPR broadcast they mentioned that some of the photographs were on display at the Leica Gallery in NYC. Presumably that means he used a Leica for at least some of the pictures.

 

[J J Kapsberger]

I just bought this book ("Wonderland"). Worth every penny (only USD 35 or so plus shipping). Some of the shots are masterworks. The shot of the herion addict (shot 72) is moving.

There is mention of an OM-1 in the acknowlegement section ("Phillip Jones Griffith for the OM-1"), and also of the Leica Gallery.

 

[dcsang]

I'll have to look into this.

This sort of continues my personal belief that personal projects/work usually require a very long period of time (this case was a decade) to accomplish.

I'm not saying one can't do a "quick" project but the process, I believe, should take time and the artist, they must be patient. Given time and patience (and of course skill and a bit of luck) one can hopefully produce brilliance.

Cheers and thanks for the link Ray,
Dave

 

[PMCC]

Signed copies of Wonderland available for $25.60 here: http://www.strandbooks.com/app/www/p/profile/?isbn=0984195408

 

[shadowfox]

Excellent resource, this thread.

Two more of the same theme:

- Russia: Beyond Utopia - Andrew Moore
- Kosmos: A Portrait of the Russian Space Age - Adam Bartos