I'm so happy to see you back. I have a kind of bedtime story kind of liking to these reviews. Halpern doesn't seem like my cup of tea, but it doesn't matter, because I enjoyed looking at the pictures none the less. Also, a few other people are doing the classics/big names already, so it is refreshing to see pictures from others. Thanks!
That's very kind of you to say Lisa. It's funny you mention classics and big names, because I've been wondering if I should throw one of those in every now and then. It's pretty interesting to cover these "compelling but less known" photographers. Aside from the classics, is there a certain photographer or book you'd like to see covered on the channel?
@@ThePhotobookReview I think doing classics/big names becomes more interesting if you have some personal perspective to them, if you felt particularly impressed by some picture or perhaps irritated by something, but then got over it. Or maybe you could juxtapose a classic with some contemporary work. I like it that you have been paying attention to the book as a medium in its own right, like noticing how important even the blank pages are and how much design there is behind the cover of the book etc. This should interest book people, too. Hmm, I don't know if there are book videos on UA-cam focusing on the book as an object (Isn't there everything? Just haven't found my algorithm yet.) I can't think of any photographer I would like to see reviewed right now; typically mind goes blank when asked. :D And I don't know the American scene. The latest thing that hit my radar was Vivian Maier, but she can probably be considered a classic now. I missed an exhibition of hers because it was closed down early due to Covid, but I have seen a documentary on her work and I loved the pictures. Yeah, blank mind now, but I will drop you a line if something pops up.
@18:16 I'm quite sure the right page is photographed before the second. And the sequencing is made like this simply becauseyou see the right page always first. Great review by the way.
Hi Tony, thank you for watching! Yes, I think that is the correct timeline he made the pictures. I was noting that they sequencing gives the opposite idea since we read and look from left to right, at least in most languages. I love the way Halpern plays lose and fast with the order.
@@ThePhotobookReview I like photobooks which circle around a bunch of themes and where the images are associatively connected to those themes, i.e. Sleeping By the Mississippi. In ZZYZX the range of images is very broad and/or they are too far-fetched or something, I'm struggling to find a common ground. But maybe that was Halpern's intention: at the same time I enjoy the vagueness. I see there's a meaning but it's just beyond reach.
I think I understand what you mean. To use your example, Sleeping By the Mississippi, all the photographs are actually anchored to a real thing (the river). However, Halpern is almost doing it backwards, taking photographs of real things and disconnecting it from reality. I agree, there isn't much obvious common ground between the images at first glance. Halpern discusses his interest in the genre of Magical Realism, and this is the first time I'm noticing a distinct connection between his interest in Magical Realism and his photographs, because of your comment.
Great review. This book reminds me other narratives and combinations of images creating a language, like Tillmanns books, in which photography language looks for its own way to signify experience: the experiencia of the book itself
This is a great point to bring up, and I could talk about this for a while. It wasn't until the last few years that I started realizing that a visual language isn't just how a photographer makes creative decisions, but that they are actually communicating a message or content through that language, and it's typically unique to the photographer.
Just got this book yesterday and this video helped to understand his work better. Thanks!
I'm so happy to see you back. I have a kind of bedtime story kind of liking to these reviews. Halpern doesn't seem like my cup of tea, but it doesn't matter, because I enjoyed looking at the pictures none the less. Also, a few other people are doing the classics/big names already, so it is refreshing to see pictures from others. Thanks!
That's very kind of you to say Lisa. It's funny you mention classics and big names, because I've been wondering if I should throw one of those in every now and then. It's pretty interesting to cover these "compelling but less known" photographers. Aside from the classics, is there a certain photographer or book you'd like to see covered on the channel?
@@ThePhotobookReview I think doing classics/big names becomes more interesting if you have some personal perspective to them, if you felt particularly impressed by some picture or perhaps irritated by something, but then got over it. Or maybe you could juxtapose a classic with some contemporary work.
I like it that you have been paying attention to the book as a medium in its own right, like noticing how important even the blank pages are and how much design there is behind the cover of the book etc. This should interest book people, too. Hmm, I don't know if there are book videos on UA-cam focusing on the book as an object (Isn't there everything? Just haven't found my algorithm yet.)
I can't think of any photographer I would like to see reviewed right now; typically mind goes blank when asked. :D And I don't know the American scene. The latest thing that hit my radar was Vivian Maier, but she can probably be considered a classic now. I missed an exhibition of hers because it was closed down early due to Covid, but I have seen a documentary on her work and I loved the pictures.
Yeah, blank mind now, but I will drop you a line if something pops up.
@18:16 I'm quite sure the right page is photographed before the second. And the sequencing is made like this simply becauseyou see the right page always first. Great review by the way.
Hi Tony, thank you for watching! Yes, I think that is the correct timeline he made the pictures. I was noting that they sequencing gives the opposite idea since we read and look from left to right, at least in most languages. I love the way Halpern plays lose and fast with the order.
Thanks for this. Creating a compelling narrative is no easy thing.
And there's so many different approaches to creating that narrative. Thanks for watching and commenting Gary!
Love the direction that you seem to take on this channel. Please keep it up.
That's gratifying to hear, and thanks for sharing. The newest review is in the works now.
For me, ZZYZX is a hard one to grasp. This certainly helped me appreciate the book more!
That's great to hear. Was there any aspect of the book in particular that was tough to get into?
@@ThePhotobookReview I like photobooks which circle around a bunch of themes and where the images are associatively connected to those themes, i.e. Sleeping By the Mississippi. In ZZYZX the range of images is very broad and/or they are too far-fetched or something, I'm struggling to find a common ground. But maybe that was Halpern's intention: at the same time I enjoy the vagueness. I see there's a meaning but it's just beyond reach.
I think I understand what you mean. To use your example, Sleeping By the Mississippi, all the photographs are actually anchored to a real thing (the river). However, Halpern is almost doing it backwards, taking photographs of real things and disconnecting it from reality. I agree, there isn't much obvious common ground between the images at first glance. Halpern discusses his interest in the genre of Magical Realism, and this is the first time I'm noticing a distinct connection between his interest in Magical Realism and his photographs, because of your comment.
@@ThePhotobookReview Thanks! Soon I will have another look in the book with this conversation in mind.
Great review! Love this book.
Thank you, Lasal! I love it too, and think it’s one of the most important books of the last decade.
Always enjoyed your reviews!
Thank you Disco! They take some time to research and make, but always rewarding when they're finished.
Great and insightful review! Please continue in this way :)
Hi Dirk, and thank you for the comment and encouragement! I'm working on the next book as I type. It'll be a very moving one.
thanks for the new upload bro
You bet! I'll try to keep them coming.
Very helpful, thank you very much.
Happy to hear, and thank you for watching
Great review. This book reminds me other narratives and combinations of images creating a language, like Tillmanns books, in which photography language looks for its own way to signify experience: the experiencia of the book itself
This is a great point to bring up, and I could talk about this for a while. It wasn't until the last few years that I started realizing that a visual language isn't just how a photographer makes creative decisions, but that they are actually communicating a message or content through that language, and it's typically unique to the photographer.
There’s a lost community in California with that name.