Illuminations [Hardcover]

Joyce Tenneson (Author), Anne Roiphe (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 1998

In this volume, photographer Joyce Tenneson presents ethereal portraits of the human body, expanding on past themes, working increasingly with combined imagery, and creating multi-panel images which incorporate architectural and sculptural details.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joyce Tenneson has achieved high distinction in both the fine art and commercial photography fields. Her personal work has been exhibited throughout the world in over 100 exhibitions and is included in many museum collections. Her most recent book, Transformations, was published by Bulfinch in both hardcover (1993) and paperback (1994), as well as in Italian and Japanese editions. Her fashion work for commercial clients in Europe, Japan, and the United States appears regularly in such magazines as French and Italian Vogue, the New York Times Magazine, Esquire, and L.A.Style. Her photograph appeared on the cover of Time for the recent issure on angels.
Anne Roiphe is the author of seven novels including the acclaimed Up the Sandbox and, most recently, Fruitful. She writes a bi-weekly column for The New York Observer.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 108 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch; 1 edition (January 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821223844
• ISBN-13: 978-0821223840
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 0.7 x 11.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,398,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant imagery with innovative compositing and design, June 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Illuminations (Hardcover)

Ms. Tenneson expands on her already impressive gallery of ethereal images , while nicely finding her niche in the digital age. Superb layout and an interesting section where the artist actually interviews herself make this a must-have for all photo book lovers...

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can we say "angelic"?, February 12, 1999

By 

D. Mok (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Illuminations (Hardcover)

Black and white photos may be all the rage for people who want poetic images, but Illuminations contains some of the most surreal, breathtakingly beautiful images I've ever seen. From the haunted old woman to the progression of the pregnant girl to the androgynous figures, every image in this book carries a power that reminds me of the cinematic.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surreal, beautiful photographs., January 16, 2005

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Illuminations (Hardcover)

Most of the photos in this collection have been shot in a form of lighting that causes a slight, white blurring of the image. It causes the image to have a surreal effect, and it is dramatic. Looking at the images causes an impression at two different levels. At the general level, you are seeing an image as if you are looking through a very thin white sheet. Underneath that, there are very subtle messages in the photos. On one page, there are photos of a nude woman at three points of her pregnancy and one after birth, with the newborn baby at her breast. The message here is obvious, but most of the rest are far subtler.
Most of the pictures are of a human form, and while there is some emotion on their faces, it is very low key and subject to interpretation. In looking at the same photo, you can see sadness, low-key joy and perhaps a hint of boredom. I looked through the book several times, scanning the photos, studying them sector by sector, finding new interpretations each time I delved deeper into the image.
Tenneson is an excellent photographer, her hazy white light technique of shooting adds a quality to the photos that gives them a spooky quality. However, they are also beautiful.