1.3: Images from My Phone [Hardcover]

Joel Grey (Photographer)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1576874850 | ISBN-13: 978-1576874851 | Publication Date: May 12, 2009

On an out-of-town trip in 2007, Joel Grey found himself in a small St. Lucie, Florida museum, filled with bizarre and eminently photographable objects. Feeling, as he had with the images that became 2003's Pictures I Had to Take, compelled to capture these provocative tableaux, but without his trusty Nikon Nikkormat by his side, Grey did the next-best thing he could--he reached for his cell phone.

Grey had never had any use for the camera function of his Nokia 133 before, and was skeptical about the capabilities of its tiny 1.3-megapixel lens. But to his surprise, the same familiar perspective he'd always had when taking photographs was still there; even without a viewfinder, he could make the kinds of pictures he had always loved to make. The limitations of the format--the inability to control the aperture stop, focus, or any of the other variables of traditional photography besides framing--proved a thrilling new challenge, which Grey likens to "collaborating with a power larger than yourself." Grey spent the next eight months shooting with his phone, and the result is 1.3: Images from My Phone, a collection of slices cut from diverse visual worlds: street art and still life, advertising and architecture, shadows and reflections, natural beauty and urban grit.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Whenever I see something I don't quite understand--a shape, a color, an odd juxtaposition of the real and the abstract--nine times out of ten, it's my reason for taking a photograph. For me, taking pictures is like asking questions." --Joel Grey

About the Author

Joel Grey is best known for his extensive work in the theater and on film. A Tony and Academy Award-winning actor, he is also the author of the powerHouse monograph Pictures I Had to Take (powerHouse Books, 2003). He lives and works in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: powerHouse Books (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576874850
• ISBN-13: 978-1576874851
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,788,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Postage Stamp Sized Phots Are No Fun, December 24, 2010

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Ronald S. Hamilton - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 1.3: Images from My Phone (Hardcover)

I wanted to use this book to show my students that the best camera is the one they have with them and demonstrate that Joel Grey used his crummy 1.3MP camera phone to take some great shots... well, maybe if the book shipped with a magnifying glass so you could actually *see* the photos.. I'm not going to comment on the perceived quality of the photography because art, as beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, it's just that my eyes could barely see those teeny-tiny photos printed on the pages of this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant gift for Christmas!, November 18, 2009

By 

BB Booklover (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1.3: Images from My Phone (Hardcover)

I was drawn to this book when I first saw it because of its unusual small size and curious cover. I had no idea what was inside. What a wonderful surprise when you open it! The images are unexpected and beautiful. They can be mysterious or funny or sad, all are intriguing and generate conversation. Mr. Grey takes you on a marvelous journey and shows you people and sights you might have missed. You see the world differently after seeing it through his eyes. My grown kids are even buying copies for their friends, no greater compliment. The fact that the photos were all taken on his iPhone adds to the playful, spontaneous feel of the book. It is a delight!

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly compelling., November 19, 2009

By 

Jeffrey Marsh "Swampy" (Venice, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 1.3: Images from My Phone (Hardcover)

Loved this book! The concept was intriguing and the execution was fabulous. I'm not usually one to sit and 'read' a book of images from cover to cover, but I couldn't put this down. I have given it as a gift to some close friends and family and have received rave reviews from all of them. Please do more!