Mary Ellen Mark: Exposure [Hardcover]

Weston Naef (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2005

This book is a collection of approximately 135 of the most significant photographs of Mary Ellen Mark's career to date, selected by the photographer and carefully edited and designed with her collaboration. While there have been many publications of Mark's photographs over the years, most are out of print and of limited scope; Exposure will therefore stand as the most definitive retrospective of Mary Ellen Mark's career in print. It will include many of her iconic photographs (such as Federico Fellini on the set of Fellini Satyricon, 1969, Tiny in Her Halloween Costume, 1983, The Damm Family in Their Car, 1987), but also little-known images from Mark's archive. The book begins with introductions by Weston Naef and Mary Ellen Mark, followed by the photographs, most reproduced either one per page or one per spread and each accompanied solely by a caption consisting of title and date. The sequencing of the images is personal and organic rather than chronological or by subject, in order to suggest a dialogue among the pictures and to enhance their similarities and differences in terms of subject, composition, or tone. The result is a surprise and intensity of emotions at every turn of page. Concluding the book is an interview with Mark in which she discusses her career and explains in a conversational tone the stories behind some of the photographs in the book. A chronology at the end of the book provides general context and biographical information on the photographer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Street kids, prostitutes, mental patients and other desperate characters haunt this retrospective of documentary photographer Mark's 40-year career. Though Mark cites Federico Fellini as a major influence (there's a lovely photo of the director on the set of Satyricon), it's hard not to see strong overtones of Diane Arbus in these pages, with all of Arbus's strengths and flaws. To their credit, Mark's images have a stark, dramatic flair and present gripping scenes that quickly seize viewers' attention. When her images are at their most potent, as in her portraits of Indian circus performers proudly demonstrating their art, the photos seem naturally observed, insightful rather than sensational. In her weaker moments, however, Mark can seem heavy-handed, and the images lean too hard on the absurdity, or luridness, of their subjects for their power. But if this beautifully produced compilation is sometimes uneven, it is a must for Mark fans, who will particularly appreciate the photographer's afterword, which reveals the stories behind many of her favorite images. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Weston Naef is curator of the Department of Photographs at the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, a position he has held since 1984 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (May 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714844047
• ISBN-13: 978-0714844046
• Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 10.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #629,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible documentary photography, October 8, 2005

By 

L. Hartwell (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mary Ellen Mark: Exposure (Hardcover)

I popped into a book store tonight before a movie and saw this book on the shelf and thought I'd leaf through it...I ended up sitting on a bench and looking at almost every photo, and even calling my companion over to take a look.

I've seen Mark's work before and never really was blown away by it, but this was different. It's a large book with large photos and it covers a wide variety of subjects. When you look at these candid portraits, you are instantly struck by not only the power of the images themselves, but a sense of wonder as to where she had to go to get these photos and the trust she had to gain to get such intimacy with her subjects. It's mostly black and white, but there are some color images too.

I wanted to buy the book on the spot, but it was really expensive in the store, so I am going to order it here.

If you are into documentary photography, you'll love this book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars disappointing format, March 20, 2006

By 

P. G Lee "paullee52" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mary Ellen Mark: Exposure (Hardcover)

This is a nice collection of haunting, melancholy images that span the artist's career. You can certainly feel her affinity for the deprived and the castaways of society. The images often precariously balance the line between documentary and exploitation, yet the subjects never appear to be disingenuous. The reproductions and the quality of the paper are top-notch. However, most of the images span across the spine of the book, which I find quite annoying. Imagine taking a fine art photograph and putting a large crease in the middle of it. I know it allows the images to be larger, but I find it really distracting. Don't do like I did. Make sure you check the book out in person before ordering it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mary Ellen Mark: Exposure, August 2, 2007

By 

V. Green - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mary Ellen Mark: Exposure (Paperback)

The contents of the book mandate a rating of 5 stars... this is an excellent book. But the binding of the book rate a one star. The book - which is paper back - has no real way to keep the pages in... and the pages began to separate upon first use. So sad to put together such superb material in such a shoddy manner.