Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE book to own of Friedlander's work, March 20, 2006
This review is from: Friedlander (Hardcover)
An excellent overview of Lee Friedlander's pioneering career. If you are only peripherally interested in Friedlander and his photography, this is the book to buy. If you are a longtime admirer of his work, this will be the book you will return to again and again. In addition to a generous display of photographs, the introductory essay (although a bit dense at times) gives insight into Friedlander's motivations and achievements. Friedlander seems to be a controversial subject on photography forums across the Net. It's interesting to read the opinions of other photographers on these internet forums who think his work is sloppy, unsophisticated, amateurish, etc. Once confronted with this enlightening overview of Friedlander's work, it becomes obvious that what is truly sloppy, unsophisticated and amateurish is the perspective of those espousing these opinions. What evolves is the fact that Friedlander is a treasure.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Splendid Overview of Lee Friedlander's Work, July 3, 2005
This review is from: Friedlander (Hardcover)
Without question one of America's great photographers, Lee Friedlander can also be regarded as among the world's most influential photographers. This heavy, massive coffee table-sized book is a collection of every important body of work Lee Friedlander has made since the 1950's, beginning with his early commercial photographs of jazz musicians to his classic "American Monuments" series from the 1970's, to his unique nudes taken over two decades, Sonoran cacti depicted in his classic mid 1990's landscape book "The Desert Seen", and of course his recent body of work. It is the companion volume to the current Lee Friedlander retrospective - the first in over a decade - organized and shown currently at New York City's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). It contains an excellent critical overview by the exhibition's curator, Peter Galassi, chairperson of MoMA's photography department. Lee Friedlander first appeared as one of several influential photographers who had a "Snapshot Aesthetic" to their documentary photography (Others include the late Garry Winogrand, William Klein and Joel Meyerowitz, to name but a few.) during the 1950's and 1960's. However, Friedlander's vision has always been unique, drawing upon his love of jazz music for his often spellbinding, distinctive photographic compositions. At first glance a Lee Friedlander image may be poorly composed, but upon further inspection, you can't help but feel impressed by his odd, yet still sensible logic in composing images. If you have a chance to visit New York City before the end of August, then by all means see this exhibition, which contains more than 500 images selected and sequenced by Galassi himself; otherwise, I highly recommend acquiring this splendid book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a major figure, July 19, 2006
This review is from: Friedlander (Hardcover)
by its scope, this book, like the photographer who's work it represents, is unique. not just the amount of photos, but the richness of them, their cool intelligence. it is a major volume, by one of the most influential non-color artists of our time. many people either hate or love friedlander's work, and i love it. if you do, just looking at this book a few times will be a great joy. if you're lucky (and rich) enough to buy or own it - what a treat.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|