4 comments about Yes Rasta.

1. Yes Rasta is the best photography book on Rasta, an extraordinary photo documentary on people never seen before



2. I came across Yes Rasta recently in a Black bookstore while visiting Paris.As an African Jamaican I was immediately attracted to the book based on the title!

   However,half way in the book I was overcome with immense disappointment.The images are mostly badly exposed and sadly 'déjà vu'.Yes Rasta lacks overall direction and many pages are blank which in my sincere opinion could have benefitted from text-so imperative here,as the photos fail to speak for themselves!

   Anyone interested in InI livity in book form,I would advise,in conclusion,to save your money and purchase instead Dreads,published by Artisan...trust me,you won't be disappointed!




3. I visited Jamaica many times in the fifteen years following my first Negril holiday in 1977. I was in search of Rastafarianism and reggae music. Of the natural mystic blowing through the air.

   My first morning in Negril I left my tourist hotel for a walk along the beach toward town. After a while of walking on the white sand and enjoying the glorious sunrise, I noticed two dread-locked men standing off to the side smoking a spliff and gazing out to sea. They were more like an apparition than flesh and blood but then they saw me staring. Smiles of incredible radiance slowly spread out upon their faces as they turned toward me and they nodded graciously. I felt their blessing like a wave of force across the beach. They had such tremendous presence, those two men. Such an aura of power.

   Patrick Cariou's homage to Rastafarianism takes this mesmeric presence of the Rastaman as the focus for his deeply moving, sensationally well-executed portfolio of black and white photographs of Jamaica and of its Rasta Nation. The portraits of these men of all ages are among the best I have ever seen. Partly this results from the great technical skill Cariou brings to his work. But clearly the strength of this collection is in the way the subjects felt about their photographer. The way in which they responded to his lens emotionally.

   There is one photograph of an elderly Rasta with matted locks down to the ground that is so remarkable. He stands for his portrait with his pancake-flattened dreadlock over one shoulder extending right to his feet in a sumptuous arc. His arms are extended at his sides and his stance suggests submission to fate, his attitude such a natural state of grace. But what makes this image so unforgettable is the communication you can feel between this man and his photographer. His willingness to open himself emotionally for his portrait. The unconditionality of his pose.

   Aside from portraits of individuals, there are also numerous photographs of adult men with their children in this gorgeous collection. Of men working in their ganja fields, preparing ital for their meals, smoking the bounty of the marijuana harvest.

   And there are photographs of Jamaica itself that capture just amazingly the dramatic mood of the mountains and of the thick, jungle-like vegetation that there abounds. And of the dwellings in which these people live and worship.

   In the few inspired pages of text at the beginning of this book Perry Henzell captures the paradox of the Rasta people when he says that 'they projected the humility of the social outcast but bore the high stride of a visionary on the move..." Yes Rasta understands this essential paradox well and visually transmits a view of life informed by it with tremendous sensitivity and respect. I could not imagine a better result




4. this book is a long awaited contribution to the knowledge base of Rastafarian culture. This book is a work of art, compassion and livity. In recent times there has been academic writings of the world of rastafari. This knowledge helps to expand our ways of knowing and provides us with a history of a people that is often lost in other worldviews. The pictures that Patrick captures gives us a visual of strength and dignity of his subjects in their own settings. He and his co-author give praises to the struggle for equal rights and justice and honors the plight of those who have been oppressed. Patrick is very skillful with the lens of the camera and provides us with the powerful images of the faces of Rastafarians in the hills, the beach and on the road. A beautiful tabletop book to pass along to friends for the upcoming holidays.

   I give thanks everytime for a remarkable book.

1 comments about The Angel Tree: A Christmas Celebration.

1. Each time I visit the Met at Christmas and see this exqusite creche, I am in awe at the magnitude and splendor of detail. The book was fascinating. I appreciated the in-depth history of Neapolitan artists who meticulosly hand carved the individual figures with such fastidious, detailed execution..

4 comments about Diane Arbus: Magazine Work.

1. Many of the photos in this book look, at first glance, like "family snapshots". "Oh, I could have taken those photos myself", you might say to yourself. But, what I love about this compilation is that there is a combination of "known" and "unknown" people...and she treats them ALL THE SAME! And, she puts in their "cluttered background" which is a way of informing you about the life of that person. And, there are written "stories" by Diane Arbus about that person. You feel as though you "know" the person a a result of the efforts and art of Diane Arbus. Thus she has "immortalized" the people...the famous and the not so famous. You'll enjoy meeting these people! boland7214@aol.com



2. This reasonably priced paperback collects much of Arbus' more accessible photos. These are photographs she took as commissions for such magazines as "Esquire" and "Harper's Bazaar," and most of them date from the early to mid-1960s. Arbus specialized in taking photos of the eccentric and the offbeat, and many of the subjects of the photos reproduced here were truly bizarre characters such as a man who claims to be the sole heir of the Byzantine Empire and a female Bishop who believes that the end is very near. Arbus also photographed the famous (we see Mae West, Jayne Mansfield, Roddy McDowell, Norman Mailer, Tiny Tim, etc), but did her best work photographing the offbeat and wacky rather than the glamourous.
   
   In a sense, Arbus photographed the uncool side of the Sixties. She wasn't afraid to record the tackier side of the decade, or reveal how working-class people really lived during the psychedelic days. Even though the hairstyles and clothing are now terribly dated, Arbus' gritty vision still rings true, and in her portraits we see the combination of absurdity and tragedy that characterizes many of our lives.
   
   As these are photos that were published in mainstream magazines, there's little of the trademark surreal darkness that characterizes Arbus' best work. I don't think many people would find the photos here to be disturbing in the way that her later work (which focused on circus sideshow performers, freaks, and the mentally retarded) touches uncomfortable chords inside the viewer. So, while the reader will probably get the sense that Arbus is "holding back" somewhat, the very accessibility of the imagery presented here will lure many into a deeper examination of Arbus' work. If you've never seen Arbus' photography and would like to know what the fuss is all about, this is a great place to start.
   
   As a side note, I recently saw many of the photos reproduced here in person at an exhibition in New York. The reproductions in this book are excellent.



3. To really understand what an incredible artist Arbus was, I suggest you check this bad boy out. The photographs are, of coures, brilliant, but her text on the subjects contains some really fantastic writing. the OilCan does not think Arbus, or even Mr. Arbus, get thier due. This woman taught Kubrick how to take pictures, for the love of god. A genuine artistic talent!



4. The way that the pictures evoke, not memories, but images is just fantastic.

1 comments about Havana Style (Icon (Taschen)).

1. I have always been a fan of Cuban culture and this book gives you the Cuban color palate to enjoy!

1 comments about So Sexy It Hurts.

1. i don't love all of the images in this well-packaged photo book. but once i saw my friend's copy, i knew that i had to pick it up.
   
   mettraux is playing around with the space in between ad photography and erotic photography. and he's definitely playing - some of the photos seem contrived and pointless; others are raw and sexy, sometimes for reasons that are hard to pin down, which is always a good sign. the boys are pretty much hot bodies, ripped and all that. but mettraux gets some of them into odd territory - playing in dirt, being covered in paint or with a pile of sneakers.
   
   in all, some really good visual inspiration for photographers, or at least some hot eye candy.

No comments about Elizabeth Taylor: A Life in Pictures.

4 comments about Rear Ends: Found Photos.

1. A very entertaining collection of photos that would be a perfect off-beat gift for anyone who enjoys found art - especially of real people by real people. The lay-out is clean, not cluttered and allows the well chosen snapshots speak for themselves. Plus half the fun is bringing your own story to each of these images. For anyone who appreciates found art, this one tells a great tale with a very satisfying ending.



2. The rear end of human anatomy always fascinates us, particularly in these found photos. The fact that they come from non commercial photographers provides more than mere sociological appeal. They charm us and remind us of former times and places, and the innocent sensibilities that surrounded them. Those who like this book will find a companion book, "Couples," equally appealing.



3. In case you can't tell from the product description, this book is a collection of photographs the author compiled from photo albums he found at antique stores or garage sales or where ever
   
   They're not funny, they're not sexy, they're not in the least bit interesting. Its just dozens of photos of people's (or in some cases animal's or statue's) rear ends.
   
   There's a one-page introduction at the first that does nothing to enlighten you as to why these photos were chosen, or what they have in common, other than that they are all obviously pictures of rear ends. Other than that there are no words in the book, just picture after picture, most of them of very old or very fat people's butts
   
   From the cover I expected it to be a sort of tame collection of vaguely sexy photographs rescued from the trashbin, or something like that. At the very least, i expected the back grounds or compositions to be interesting.
   
   Its just randomly selected pictures of people's butts though. Most of the photos are very old, from the 30's and 40's. I'm not sure how that makes them more or less worthy of publication, but apparently it figures in somehow.
   
   Do yourself a favor and skip this one. I wish I had



4. If you're looking for a tasteful book about people's posteriors then you've found it here. This hardcover tome has over one hundred photographs culled from thrift stores depicting average people's bottoms throughout the 20th century. If you're an aficionado of found objects or just a fan of butts then this book's for you.

2 comments about Move.

1. After reading reviews in magazines, I was really interested in this book. What I found was VERY surprising and so much more intense than what the reviews and sample pages show. It made me wholly appreciate the beauty of the human body even more. Maybe I missed it somewhere but I had no idea the book was for AIDS ("Move for AIDS"). Also, IT WAS A HUGE BOOK. It really gave a second level when I was going through the book.
   The diversity of the dancers was amazing, definitely targeting a more world wide audience for a universal cause.
   
   Only reason I didn't give it a 5 was because of some of the blurry pictures towards the back. The first couple I appreciated for its intensity and 'movement.' But after awhile I started getting a headache.



2. This is an amazing piece of work by an extremely gifted artist for a superworthy cause. The content is beautiful and inspiring through the mere aesthetic of the dancer's form and grace. It speaks without words. My only issue with it was the actual physical condition of the book itself. There are some light scratch marks on the cover, a deep pockmark-like dent on the front, and one of the corners is smashed.

No comments about Reuters: Our World Now (Reuters).

3 comments about London/Wales.

1. It's a nice book. Not quite like seeing them in person, but hey, what can you do.



2. The collaborative effort of Scalo in collaboration with the Corcoran Gallery (Washington, D.C.), London/Wales is a photography collection 72 early 1950's tritone images taken by the famous and "museum-worthy" photographer Robert Frank. An informed and informative text is minimally present in this collection, which is primarily dedicated to showcasing the powerful still images of urban life and the people who lived in 1950s London, England and Careau, Wales. A superbly presented and enthralling compilation, London/Wales memorably illustrates the very essence of London and Wales and is a strongly recommended addition to professional, academic, and community library History of Photography collections.



3. Robert Frank's previously unpublished photographs of London and Wales from the early 1950s are a revelation. With insightful text from curator Philip Brookman, this book is a must-buy for casual fans and scholars alike. Having recently seen the exhibition of this work at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, I must say viewing the photographs first hand was a wonderful experience. Yes, the prints are often too gray and dark, the negatives poorly exposed, and some images slightly out of focus, but through this work we can see an evolving photographic style that reached perfection a few years later in the seminal book, "The Americans." And witnessing that transformation is what made the exhibit, and this book, so memorable and priceless.