Customer Reviews

Crossings: Photographs from the U. S. Mexico Border

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There aren't many good street photographers shooting with color film. Alex Webb is one of the best. The images in this book span 25 years and focus on the U.S.-Mexico border geographically but their impact is universal.

Webb fills the frame with people and objects that make the viewer think and reflect about life and not just about life near the border. You will see Elvis, leather belts for sale, restaurants, the beach, a deserted bar, children playing, an elderly man on a bus, wrestlers, a father hugging his son, checker players and a wonderful image of Tijuana taken in 1999 that includes Santa Claus, the Backstreet Boys and other well known symbols of our time arranged beautifully in one image. This is life as it is -- not as someone wishes it would be -- and is also positive and uplifting. Webb is at the top of his game.

webb has worked on and off for 25 years on this, and because of it the book seems a bit uneven, mixing old and new, color and B/W in a distracting way. i would highly recommend 'amazon' and 'sunshine state' by the same author before this, but all of webb's books are worthy, important additions to contemporary photography.