Places of Power, John Sexton's third book, transports the viewer to places few have experienced firsthand. This beautifully produced book explores the haunting mystery of ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings, the monumental scale of Hoover Dam, the massive energy of steam turbine power plants, and the intricacies of the Space Shuttle -- the single most complex system ever assembled in human history. John Sexton is internationally respected as a photographer, master print maker, and photographic educator. The photographs in Places of Power bring the viewer into intimate contact with these amazing technological achievements. Seen through Sexton's eyes, these structures and machines that were built for utilitarian purposes are transformed into miraculous sculptures.
In addition to the stunning reproductions, the book includes a fascinating foreword by Walter Cronkite, and an essay by noted computer scientist, Rob Pike. John Sexton shares his experiences and challenges in the making of these photographs in his own essay. Marked by the same excellence in printing and design as Sexton's two previous award-winning books, Quiet Light and Listen to the Trees, Places of Power is an equally outstanding experience.
I have known John Sexton for many years. He is an outstanding technician, and an accomplished photographic artist. -- Cole Weston, photographer
John Sexton is one of the most distinguished artists in the field of photography. -- Ruth Bernhard, Photographer
John is one of the stars of contemporary photography. -- ARTnews
Sexton's artistry illuminates the idea that within humanity's dreams and intellect there exists a divine spark. -- Walter Cronkite, from his Foreword to "Places of Power"
Sexton's images are rich and evocative. Immense detail is presented with a precision rarely seen in contemporary photography. -- Jerry N. Uelsmann, Photographer
These photographs capture the spirit with which humans have met the challenges of existence -- on this Earth, and beyond it. -- Andrew Chaikin, author of "A Man on the Moon"
We suspect that when the history of photography is written, Sexton will occupy a prominent position. -- The Photograph Collector
From the Author
I am thrilled with the way "Places of Power" has turned out. Ventana Editions gave me complete control over the project, and the results exceed my expectations in every way. This book is an exciting conclusion to my thirteen year photographic project exploring these monuments of human achievement.
John Sexton was born in 1953, and resides in Carmel Valley, California. Respected as a photographer, master printmaker, author, and workshop instructor, he is best known for his luminous, quiet, black and white photographs of the natural environment.
John's most recent book is Recollections: Three Decades of Photographs, an award-winning retrospective volume, published in late 2006 by Ventana Editions. John's previous award-winning books include Quiet Light, a monograph representing fifteen years of his work, and Listen to the Trees, which were published by Bulfinch Press/Little, Brown and Company, along with Places of Power: The Aesthetics of Technology published by Ventana Editions.
He is Director of the John Sexton Photography Workshops program, and teaches numerous photography workshops each year for other programs in the United States and abroad, emphasizing printing technique and mastery of the Zone System. Some of these other programs include: Anderson Ranch Arts Center, The Ansel Adams Gallery, Maine Photographic Workshops, and The Palm Beach Workshops.
His informed and entertaining lectures for photographic and professional organizations, colleges and universities, discuss the aesthetic and technical aspects of fine black and white photography. He has presented lectures for, among others, George Eastman House, Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, Boston University, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Photographic Arts, and the Seattle Art Museum.
A recipient of the 2005 North American Nature Photography Association Lifetime Achievement Award, John is a consultant to Eastman Kodak Company and other photographic manufacturers. He worked as both Technical and Photographic Assistant, and then Technical Consultant, to Ansel Adams from 1979 to 1984. Following Mr. Adams' death Sexton served as Photographic Special Projects Consultant to The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust. From 1985 to 1993 he was a member of the Board of Trustees of The Friends of Photography.
John's photographs are included in permanent collections, exhibitions, and publications throughout the world. His work has been featured on the CBS Sunday Morning show, and on the MacNeil Lehrer News Hour. Bank of America, General Motors, and Eastman Kodak Company have used his photographs in national advertising campaigns. Sexton's photographs have been featured in numerous periodicals including: Time, Life, American Photo, Backpacker, Photo Techniques, Darkroom Photography, LensWork Quarterly, View Camera, Black and White, Zoom, Outdoor Photographer, Outside, TWA Ambassador, Southern Accents and Popular Photography.
EDUCATION * Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, departmental honors, Art - Photography, Chapman University, Orange, California * Associate of Arts, with honors, Photography, Cypress College, Cypress, California
SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS * North American Nature Photography Association, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2005 * Kodak Professional Icon, 2004 * Kodak Professional Legends Online, 2000 * Cypress College, Thirtieth Anniversary Outstanding Alumnus. 1997 * Photographic Book of the Year Awards, First Place Monograph: Listen to the Trees, 1994 * Brooks Institute of Photography, Honorary Master of Science degree, 1990 * Imogen Cunningham Award, 1981
SELECTED ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS John Sexton: Twenty Years of Photographs, major retrospective exhibition, Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art. Quiet Light, traveling exhibition organized by the United States Information Agency, toured in fifteen countries in Europe, 1994 to 1996. International Center of Photography, New York, NY; Clarence Kennedy Gallery; Polaroid Corporation Cambridge, MA; The Weston Gallery, Carmel, CA; Photo Gallery International, Tokyo, Japan; Focus Gallery, San Francisco, CA; The Afterimage Gallery, Dallas, TX; Photokina, Cologne, Germany; Alinder Gallery, Gualala, CA; Folio Gallery, Calgary, Canada; The Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite National Park, CA; Susan Spiritus Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA; The Friends of Photography, Carmel, CA; Kathleen Ewing Gallery, Washington, D.C.
This review is from: Places of Power: The Aesthetics of Technology (Hardcover)
I am neither an employee of Ventana Publication, nor am I paid to write good words about this book. I have always been a fan of John Sexton's work. Who else alive can match his fantastic printmaking skills. I will say it with confident; none. John Sexton is the only person I know who comes close to the printmaking standards of Ansel Adams. "Places of Power" is all about beautiful prints. I am not a technology "freak," so I am in no postion to comment in this area. But if you love black-and-white images, photography, the zone system or large format images, this IS the book for you. Personally, I think $60.00 is a small price to pay to be able to appreciate John Sexton's work.
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This review is from: Places of Power: The Aesthetics of Technology (Hardcover)
The real places of power are on the pages of this book. I saw objects of stone and steel glow...an artist who respectfully renders them to black & white film and paper...skillfully crafting an image warm and luminous...bringing it to life. I feel that this book is a wonderful inspiration to people who are trying to understand the artistry of black & white photography.
Gordon & Marilyn Bowie
Boise, Idaho
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