Customer Reviews

America

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This new book by Whitney Biennial alumna Zoe Strauss is going to be a classic. She has a strong, unique vision, showing the side of America that people don't always want to look at. At the same time, there's a lot of wry humor. When you see her images, you realize she's captured the essence of the past four years -- its surreal patriotism, greed, and the people left behind in the boom. It's one of my favorite photography books ever.

America is a wonderful collection of color 'street' photography showing the beautiful and gritty side of the U.S. There are plenty of photos to look at and if there's one complain it's that the paper seems a little thin. But the work itself is fantastic so well worth a look.

Strauss is an inspiration and a master of the medium - I don't mean that in the oldschool zone system silver printing sense, I mean that she seems to have an instinctive (and finely crafted) understanding of what photography is for - seeing. Her images are curated from life so particularly, but seem to perfectly normal and instantly recognizable as real at first glance. They deserve a heart-racing quick readthrough followed immediately by hours of careful consideration.

Zoe Strauss takes us into her world with each frame. You don't really ease into her work, you have to jump in, both feet, into the abyss; but you won't be disappointed. Her color work across the United States from Philadelphia to Las Vegas (and she's traveled more since) shows us the similarities we all share. From the denizens of Philly's Kensington to Katrina ravaged Biloxi to Chicago's Cabrini Green to the edge of a forest in the Pacific northwest, we're all the same no matter what you might think. Strauss demonstrates this time and time again as you flip from page to page.

The book itself is a nice, big book too, landscape, roughly 8"x10". Apart from seeing her annual I-95 show (last one in 2010), this book is a wonderful way to get to know her work.

I received this amazing book for Christmas and could not put it down. Ms Strauss has a true gift for finding the innate beauty in people and places we often over look, and dose it with genuine compassion and love.

Zoe is an amazing talent and sees our world with an artistic eye that leaves an emotional impression.

What a transcendant, haunting elegy to the 'real' America. Zoe Strauss finds the places where we truly live- messy, tragic but ultimately human places naked and unadorned in all their industro-hellscape-inspired glory.

Strauss captures life as it really is, no flinching- her beautiful work is a true testament to an amazing and valuable photographer who has found her voice.

This book makes all other photography books look like crap. Throw them out immediately.

WOW - ZOE STRAUSS IS A VERY TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER - AND I AM SO PLEASED TO HAVE MY HANDS ON THIS BOOK!!! I HAVE READ IT COVER TO COVER! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO ANY LOVER OF SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHY.