Sharp [Hardcover]

Nigel Parry (Photographer), Liam Neeson (Introduction), Pentagram (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2000

The result is Sharp, a collection the likes of which have never been seen before. Parry's exacting precision, most spectacularly distilled in his disquieting close-ups of the most powerful people in the public eye, places the viewer face-to-face with pop culture movers and shakers on a level unprecedented in contemporary celebrity portraiture: Giorgio Armani's steely-eyed determination; Sir Anthony Hopkin's spine-chilling intensity; Meryl Streep's delicate grace; Placido Domingo's actor-like transparency under opera makeup; Asia Argento's sexy demureness; Nicolas Cage's "will kill you" attitude; Michael Caine's serene distance; Tommy Lee Jones' plaintiveness; and Christopher Walken's evilness, and many, many others. All are framed tightly within Parry's brilliant lenswork, allowing one repeated viewings that never tire or bore.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The high-profile magazines call prestigious portrait photographer Nigel Parry for only the most illustrious assignments: President Bill Clinton for The New York Times Magazine; Martin Scorsese for Vanity Fair; Dennis Quaid for Entertainment Weekly; Susan Sarandon for Premier; Tommy Lee Jones for W; John Cusak for GQ; Jake Lamotta for Esquire; and Liam Neeson for The London Sunday Times; and so on. With such distinguished occasions to encounter the powers that be, Parry has used these opportunities to create his own portfolio of private images of today's top movie stars, film directors, musicians, politicians, and sundry entertainment celebrities.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: powerHouse Books (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157687088X
• ISBN-13: 978-1576870884
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 12.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,583,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Film Noir look!, March 25, 2005

By 

Ian Mccausland "Photographer" (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sharp (Hardcover)

This book is indeed a bargain if you are a fan of dark moody B&W portraiture. Along the likes of Corbjin, some of Rolston, Matt Mahurin, Albest Watson,Parry manages to do more with less light.

As for the criticism of monotony this is suppose to be a monograph which is a collection if images that are part of a theme.

If you think his lighting is simple and boring, set it up and see if you can get the same results. Now add into the mix a limited time with a famous ego and see how you do. The fact that he gets what he does in this age of restrictive celebrity photography is amazing. The "real life" lighting doesn't always flatter the subject in a way that would drive most publicists over the edge.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stripping Away the Fat, January 11, 2001

By 

A. A. Madden "A Reader" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sharp (Hardcover)

What's astonishing about this book is that, while most portraits you see these days are of the subjects's clothes, or "new look", or whatever movie, product, political end, image, etc they are plugging at that moment, Parry's camera gets past all that and photographs a human being. In doing so he captures the secret lives of our most fascinating personlities while at the same time creating icons. I find myself staring through his microscope over and over and discovering something new every time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great coffee table book!, December 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sharp (Hardcover)

parry's work is exceptional and he's photographed everyone who's anyone! get the annie liebovitz off your coffee table. this is better. and it makes a great christmas gift. i just bought one for my dad.