Customer Reviews

Rough Beauty

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was very impressed with this incredible book with quiet and poetic images. Photographer Dave Anderson is doing what the best and most important photography today does - addressing social issues in a dignified manner. The resulting portrait of Vidor is a difficult but sweet one that presses into details of quiet beauty that we might never see if we were walking through the same streets. I found the photographs of children endearing and sweet. I have never been through the town in question but but love to visit after seeing Anderson's view of the town. I think the people of Vidor would be complemented by this sweet portrayal of a part of their town that is surely ignored by most.

Recalling the great photojournalists of old, Anderson's photographs conjure stories -- great and small, joyous and sorrowful -- of his subjects, though we are to guess them ourselves. The title, Rough Beauty, is apt because while the eye initially falls on the center of a perfectly captured beautiful moment, around the periphery lie markers of a difficult place (poor, small town East Texas) and a difficult time (now).

I recommend this work without reservation.

For me personally, this book was a breath of fresh air. Admittedly Rough Beauty's focus is on Vidor's poverty, but the book tries to show my home town for its humanity. Every other media outlet has shown similar people, but instead has focused their inhumanity. It's a good book and the photographs are beautiful. For anyone from Southeast Texas or anyone familiar with Vidor's reputation, I strongly recommend this book.

This is great insight into an infamous East Texas town, that is trying to shed its stigma.

The photographer uses the stark realism of b&W photography to capture the essence of the townfolk and their mostly poverty ridden environ.

Highly recommended.

I sound like an NPR nut, but after I heard David Anderson's interview on NRP's Day-to-Day, I had to take a look at this book. Anderson's camera opens our eyes to areas of our world that we overlook, whether it asks us to see a part of the country with a troubled history that we'd rather leave to our own prejudice, or it asks us to find our own inner landscape unexpectedly reflected in the portrait of a stranger. The presentation of Anderson's beautiful photos of Vidor, Texas by Tucker and Anderson are clearly products of a photographer with a thoughtful eye. I hope I'm conveying my enthusiasm well without sounding too thinky-thinky. These photos grab the eye and don't let you sit down. It's themes and beauty are perfect for the holidays-- I'm definitely gifting this book.

I grew up and live near Vidor the focus of Dave Andersons book. I can say Vidor does not have the best or reputations in the surrounding areas. Daves work is a poignant look at an area plagued by stereotypes and missunderstandings. His photographs show the area and in such a beautiful way. I'm impressed that he was able to capture the spirit of the area without focussing on the negative aspects the town is so known for.

What a beautiful book. I found Anderson's photographs very emotionally engaging. Anderson was able to capture expressions and movement in his subjects that made me feel as though I could understand what they were thinking or feeling. At points in the book, I found myself smiling - feeling as though I had made a personal connection with the people in this town.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding this book. I have lived in Vidor for two years now. I grew up in Houston and moved here for work. I won't live here forever. A few more years perhaps. I met Dave anderson three days after Hurricane Rita made a direct hit on Southeast Texas and Soutwest Louisiana. I was standing amongst the debris that was my home when Dave came along and asked to take a few pictures. He did help me move some furniture that was too big for me to handle by myself. The pictures in this book show very dreary looking Vidorians living in poverty. The black and white amplifies this look. There is another side of Vidor that is middle class that doesn't show up in this book. Vidor looks identical to dozens of other east Texas towns. Dave is a good photographer and I commend him on the photographs. They are well done and interesting. I can tell he put a lot of time into the photos. Please don't form a full opinion of Vidor from this one book. Look around the town yourself and get a balanced look.

This is a gorgeous book full of gripping images of real people who live in real poverty here in the U.S. Anderson captures them beautifully, with each image succeeding in communicating a compelling story. These photos will resonate with you whether you are a photography expert or a novice who just enjoys beautiful images of real life. This would make an excellent "coffee-table" book to have around to show your friends, and a great gift as well. Anderson is clearly destined for great success in the world of photography.

I ran across an article in FOTO Magazine, and I would have to say I was appalled. I was raised in Vidor, Texas and have lived there all of my childhood. I had family memembers that walked with the KKK, I'm not proud of that by no means. But going as far as saying that it is still active there, is just wrong. Vidor residents have wanted so badly to get rid of that title. Yeah the klan back in 2005 set up right on HWY 105. But living near the area where they where set up. I watched and NEVER saw a person stop. The Klan has been dead in Vidor for a VERY long time. Yes, there are a few people in Vidor who hate blacks, but that is everywhere. People just need to stop saying it. After hurricane Rita, Vidor opened many doors for the people of LA and not just whites but blacks as well. I my self have black friends and I don't see color I see them.
Vidor does not have the most poverty in southeast Texas. I can name a few towns who are far worse than Vidor and who do infact hate the black community. The schools in Vidor are some of the best in the area. I was told by many teachers whom I'm friends with and whom also have worked in other school in the state. And everyone in Southeast Texas does some form of labor work, construction, etc... but that is the type of work needed around our area. I've lived in other states, and laborers are all over the world. I have more to say, but I'm just not going to go on.