Fotografiks - David Carson [Paperback]

Philip B. Meggs (Author), David Carson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 1999

A new expression of Carson's famously original way of seeing, 'fotografiks' are curiously fleeting images that seem to have been lifted out of their mundane context and abstracted to another realm. Street markings, graffiti and all sorts of signage have been obscured, enlarged or cropped to create strangely familiar but often enigmatic pictures that show Carson's acutely sensitive response to shapes, colors, shadows and light. An introductory essay explores the synergy between graphic design and photography, and the dynamic relationship that exists between words and pictures. Anecdotal captions provide philosophic comments on the nature of the photographs, aspects of the page design and observations on the process of assembling parts to form a whole. Possibly the most influential graphic designer working today, David Carson has been profiled by several of the world's leading publications including Newsweek and The New York Times, and has won an award from the International Center for Photography in New York for "the best use of design with photography". He creates cutting edge advertising for a number of high profile clients including Nike, Microsoft, MTV, Jaguar, Ray-Ban and Sony.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the images....are flung onto the pages like paint on a canvas that magically lands in just the right place." -- I.D.Magazine, Nov.1999, Chip Kidd

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Gingko Press; 1 edition (October 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584230045
• ISBN-13: 978-1584230045
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars eye of the beholder, July 19, 2001

By 

Matthew D. Mercer (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fotografiks - David Carson (Paperback)

David Carson first made a name for himself debunking high-brow design aesthetics with a decidedly impulsive and intuitive approach to the printed page. Here he similarly debunks high-brow photography, with this collection of obscured, abstracted and often out-of-focus photographs. These lo-fi photographs are then elevated to another level by Philip Meggs's typically lofty writing... be sure to check out Carson's grungy photograph of an empty chair, which Meggs decides is a study about "the absence of people." (That put a smile on my face, at least.) Aside from the almost farcical nature of the writing that accompanies these images, they are still effective on a purely emotional, visceral level, that same base that Carson has operated so well at as a designer for so many years. Who knows, you might even want to use it as a coffee table book... although you might confuse your company.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fotografiks, January 14, 2004

By 

preston-jarvis (Tampa Bay, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fotografiks - David Carson (Paperback)

Thank you, DC, for an inspiring book. You are forcing me to carry my camera wherever I go...(for a shot at Fotografiks 2!) I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who believes in the power of photography as art: It's not family portraits and birthday parties; it's the world thru a different lens... The photos display shape, color and symmetry that are often overlooked in everyday life. With Carson's unique layouts and great captions and text from Philip Meggs, the book comes alive. See for yourself. I was lucky enough to receive a signed copy! Thanks again, David.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Photo Art, January 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fotografiks - David Carson (Paperback)

This is one of the best photo books I have seen. It also has nice writing that emphasizes the various styles of Carson. It was also nice to spot some of the images used on The Fragile within.