Hips [Hardcover]

Patrick Roddie (Author), Mark Morford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2005

The human hip is one of the most enigmatic and alluring parts of the body. Photographer Patrick Roddie makes portraits by framing the sensuous curve and swell of his subjects to create a stunning body of work that reveals endless variations on the same shot. Hips is a collection of 250 arresting and inspired photographs of hips (some in costume, some in body paint, some in nothing at all), taken at the vibrant and insanely creative annual international arts festival known as Burning Man. Each subject is photographed in the exact same position, but the images themselves are varied and unique, providing a rich kaleidoscope of self-expression and individuality wherein conventional rules and regulations no longer apply. This highly original photographic document, captured in a chunky and irresistible package, portrays a style and sensibility that cannot be properly defined with words, and offers a visual portfolio to spur the imagination from an instinctive photographer who shoots straight from the hip.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patrick Roddie is a Belfast-born, self-taught photographer. Having won the green card lottery, he moved to San Francisco in 1994. His work has appeared in Teen People , the San Francisco Chronicle , and the San Francisco Bay Guardian . This is his first book. Mark Morford is a columnist and editor for sfgate.com. He lives in San Francisco.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; 1st edition (May 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811847047
• ISBN-13: 978-0811847049
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,089,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, September 14, 2005

By 

A Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hips (Hardcover)

This is a quirky and cool book that delivers exactly what it promises....hips! Lots, and lots and lots of hips. And if you thought that the vocabulary of hips was limited, think again. Without showing a single name or face, or using any descriptive text, Patrick Roddie manages to capture a unique and distinct personality in every shot. As he notes in the afterword, these pictures speak for themselves. Recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rainbow's palette of Burning Man, June 26, 2005

By 

M. Ozol "Peggy Flower" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hips (Hardcover)

It is so hard to describe the Burningman experience to some one who hasn't been there. When looking at any pictures of BM you view the experience from the eyes of the participant and in this case the artist/photographer. Whilst you can never truly understand the experience from afar, this book will give you a good idea of the creativity not only spawned by the hips (and creative minds) of these participants, but what the event spawns in the creativity that it creates in me and those whom experience what is a life changing, artistic event. Roddie, a great photographer, gives the reader a good idea and road trip of that which inspires this wild, creative epoch of BM fashion. And for those whom have been to BM, it will forever bring up a cascade of good vibes and reminenicenses.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love it!, October 16, 2005

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hips (Hardcover)

The whole book is shots like the one on the cover: one per page, face-on view, thigh to ribs, across the navel and pubis. Lighting, scale, and pose are constants. It's almost a controlled experiment in portraiture.

And what results! Male and female, clothed or not, jeweled or not, covered or not - and the categories don't always overlap the way you'd expect. The clothes often decorate without covering. Figures that are nude except for jewelry or paint are often more modest than the clothed ones. Each two-page spread shows two hips, one per page, often chosen for analogy or for contrast.

The pictures are fun, humorous, outrageous, silly, and lovely - often at the same time. They show a range of figures and features, but the range could have been wider. Most (but not all) display young, unwrinkled skin; most (but not all) show European skin tones. There's nothing erotic here, but it's not for the nudity-sensitive viewer. It is for anyone who loves figure and loves to see the way each individual wants it seen. And, the number of photos for the Amazon price, nicely printed and bound, is really a deal.

//wiredweird