Beneath The Roses (Hardcover)

~ Gregory Crewdson (Photographer), Russell Banks (Collaborator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In these 49 elaborately staged photographs, Crewdson (Twilight) reveals his vision of America in lush and brooding images of dusk, each one bristling with atmosphere: a young boy stares at a naked woman standing in the open door of her trailer; a woman, observed through a motel window, looks at a baby sleeping on the bed; a man stands in a deserted intersection in the rain, his car door open behind him. Although Crewdson's work is frequently interpreted cinematically, and stylistic comparisons are drawn between him and David Lynch and Wes Anderson, in the book's preface, writer Banks argues that analogies to the movies do the photographer a disservice. According to Banks, looking at Crewdson's photographs resembles reading fiction more than anything else; it is not a passive experience (such as watching a movie) but an invitation to actively imagine alongside the artist. Crewdson's sets do boast the budgets and crew normally associated with movies, however, and this collection includes 23 extra pages of set drawings, location shots and images of the actors and props used to create the photographs—perfectly in keeping with a body of work that, as Banks states, tests the limits of realism while making no effort to disguise its artificiality. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description

Best known for his elaborately choreographed, large-scale photographs, Gregory Crewdson is one of the most exciting and important artists working today. The images that comprise Crewdson’s new series, “Beneath the Roses,” take place in the homes, streets, and forests of unnamed small towns. The photographs portray emotionally charged moments of seemingly ordinary individuals caught in ambiguous and often disquieting circumstances. Both epic in scale and intimate in scope, these visually breathtaking photographs blur the distinctions between cinema and photography, reality and fantasy, what has happened and what is to come.

Beneath the Roses features an essay by acclaimed fiction writer Russell Banks, as well as many never-before-seen photographs, including production stills, lighting charts, sketches, and architectural plans, that serve as a window into Crewdson’s working process. The book is published to coincide with exhibitions in New York, London, and Los Angeles.

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Product Details Hardcover: 140 pages Publisher: Abrams; First Edition edition (March 1, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0810993805 ISBN-13: 978-0810993808 Product Dimensions: 16.3 x 11.9 x 0.9 inches Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #140,011 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	75% buy the item featured on this page: Beneath The Roses 4.7 out of 5 stars (16) $37.80
	9% buy Twilight: Photographs by Gregory Crewdson 3.8 out of 5 stars (18) $26.40
	8% buy Gregory Crewdson 3.7 out of 5 stars (7) $43.87
	5% buy Approaching Nowhere: Photographs 5.0 out of 5 stars (4) $40.95

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews 5 star:  (11) 4 star:  (5) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 15 of 15 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Small towns, large fantasies, April 2, 2008 By  Robin Benson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    The first thing Russell Banks mentions in the book's introduction is the comparison between Crewdson's work and Hollywood. Not surprising of course because the photos are produced like the movies only here it's one shot at a time. Looking at the fascinating production photos at the back of the book I'm reminded of Winston Link, another photographer who went to endless trouble for the one shot and mostly in small town America, too. Crewdson provides you with forty-nine content rich photos, you have to provide everything else and that is not difficult because the people and situations before your eyes pull you into their lives. What is she thinking, is she speaking to him, what is he doing, why are they together? I thought the small town setting ideal for these tableaux, the streets, houses and people seem to fit together and allow the viewer to focus on the characters. Maybe the plates should have been loose in a box making it easier for the viewer to create an ever changing scenario according to their sequence. I was rather disappointed though with part of the book's production. The photos, thankfully suitable larger than those in Twilight, are only printed in 175dpi. These images are saturated with detail and texture and I would have thought a minimum of 200 or preferably 250dpi would be necessary to bring out their quality. So many of them have a long depth of field but also feature some small detail or frozen action that is important: a person in a car, the items on a bedside table or people seen through the window of a motel room. Like Twilight the back of this book has chapters on Location and Soundstage, both have production shots (unfortunately not captioned) and drawings to show the amazing amount of work that goes into these photos. A look at the Production Credits also confirms this (and reinforces the movie connection) with Lighting, Best Boys, Gaffers, Key Grip, Special Effects, Prop Masters, Wardrobe, Transportation, Hair and Make-up, Casting, Catering, Legal and more. Oh yes, let's not forget Swamp Design by Buzz Gray, too. Overall a remarkable book but if you are new to his work have a look at Gregory Crewdson which includes twenty plates from Beneath the Roses. ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover. 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars One of Crewdson's best books, March 31, 2008 By  David T. Sherman (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    There are several books that contain Crewdson's cinematic photography, and I think that most people would agree that this one is the best so far. In his other books, people have complained that the images were not large enough. This book has larger images. The book contains 49 plates, which measure about 14.5" x 9.5" The book also has photographs and sketches of a lot of the work that went into the final photographs, such as set design, lighting, props, and more. Some of the photos in this book are also in the book "1985-2005", but they are larger in this book. The book still doesn't come close to capturing how breathtaking his full-size 4' x 5' photographs are, but it does a better job than any of his other books. It would make a great addition to any photography book collection. 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Some Amazing Exterior Work, April 22, 2008 By  Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)       In his opening essay of this volume of photographs, Russell Banks describes the cinematic qualities of Crewdson's work; in particular, how "the pictures are assembled and staged." Though not necessarily immediately obvious in all of the individual pictures, after looking for awhile the viewer does begin to recognize the artificiality of the moments. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however. In many cases, particularly when the setting is an exterior, it works very well. The eye searches out the odd detail in the landscape. In the interiors, however, it seems to work less well. In these, the overall effect seems to be oddity and garishness. More interesting is the theme of isolation that runs through these photos. Even in the shots where more than one person is present, each seems trapped inside their own space. Raised to an even higher degree in some of the wide exteriors, you end up searching out the individual who is nearly swallowed up by the rest of the picture. Perhaps it is that very searching quality required by some of the photographs that makes them the most moving of the group. When I first received this book, I wasn't sure if I would like it. I was first put off by the unwieldiness of its size--bigger than a normal volume and wider than it is high. As I looked through the photographs and grew to like many of them, I realized the importance of the book's size and shape--to take advantage of the movie aspect ratio Crewdson uses as well as the need for as much space as possible in his wide, detailed exterior shots. In fact, I went to see a gallery presentation of some of the photographs in this volume. The prints hanging on the wall were large, perhaps six feet or more wide, which I thought did much better justice to Crewdson's work. I found this experience to be of great benefit. When I came home and looked through the book again, I was moved to look even more closely at some of the pictures, seeking out that isolation and detail. Still, as I said, I think Crewdson's work is uneven. The exteriors, for the most part, greatly outdo the interiors and there is a tendency towards a garishness I don't like in some of his work. However, when he hits the right notes, his landscapes are as beautiful and interesting as anything I've seen.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting and Beautiful This is my favorite book by photographer Gregory Crewdson. The images are beautiful and it's the largest format of any of his books which adds to the movie-like feel of the... Read more Published 2 months ago by W. Rosen 4.0 out of 5 stars Photography or Politics? It's a fine Crewdson book, but I have a real problem with the essay by Russell Banks. Call me nuts, but I like to read my own "meaning" into photographs, or, more often, just... Read more Published 9 months ago by J. H. Haley 5.0 out of 5 stars I like 'em big and beautiful... ...and this book IS both big and beautiful. The big-budget photographs are as thought-provoking as they are complex. Read more Published 9 months ago by Eric Slay 4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating I had seen the french edition of that book, but couldn't afford it at $100,00. The good surprise was to find it cheaper, even with postage to Europe included. Read more Published 10 months ago by B. Jean 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book Beautifully Presented Great book showcasing some of Texas' best and most memorable homes--would have been timeless had it included the Bishop's Palace in Galveston, the Governor's Palace in San Antonio... Read more Published 11 months ago by J. Dyer 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing atmosphere This book is amazing. Our curriculum requires to discuss the work of Gregory Crewdson and I ordered this collection without really knowing what to expect. Read more Published 14 months ago by M. Hofmann 4.0 out of 5 stars thought provoking shows a spectacular level of creativity, not only from crewsdon himself but to all the other faces behind the scenes, that it surely takes, in order to pull off this type of... Read more Published 15 months ago by Little Man Chi 5.0 out of 5 stars Truly an amazing book Beneath The Roses I saw a couple of pictures in Beneath the Roses and had to own it. I have never spent longer on a picture book, savoring four or five pictures for... Read more Published 16 months ago by David P. Kelly 5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous home book Beautifully photographed with interesting history on the diversity of Texas homes, this book details the unique blend of European sophistication and "homegrown" design that... Read more Published 17 months ago by Kathleen Kent 5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful book! Great Houses of Texas would be appreciated by anyone with an interest in great architecture as exhibited in this book. Read more Published 17 months ago by Lee J. Govatos Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 140 pages
• Publisher: Abrams; First Edition edition (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810993805
• ISBN-13: 978-0810993808
• Product Dimensions: 16.3 x 11.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #140,011 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small towns, large fantasies, April 2, 2008

By	Robin Benson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first thing Russell Banks mentions in the book's introduction is the comparison between Crewdson's work and Hollywood. Not surprising of course because the photos are produced like the movies only here it's one shot at a time. Looking at the fascinating production photos at the back of the book I'm reminded of Winston Link, another photographer who went to endless trouble for the one shot and mostly in small town America, too.

Crewdson provides you with forty-nine content rich photos, you have to provide everything else and that is not difficult because the people and situations before your eyes pull you into their lives. What is she thinking, is she speaking to him, what is he doing, why are they together? I thought the small town setting ideal for these tableaux, the streets, houses and people seem to fit together and allow the viewer to focus on the characters. Maybe the plates should have been loose in a box making it easier for the viewer to create an ever changing scenario according to their sequence.

I was rather disappointed though with part of the book's production. The photos, thankfully suitable larger than those in Twilight, are only printed in 175dpi. These images are saturated with detail and texture and I would have thought a minimum of 200 or preferably 250dpi would be necessary to bring out their quality. So many of them have a long depth of field but also feature some small detail or frozen action that is important: a person in a car, the items on a bedside table or people seen through the window of a motel room.

Like Twilight the back of this book has chapters on Location and Soundstage, both have production shots (unfortunately not captioned) and drawings to show the amazing amount of work that goes into these photos. A look at the Production Credits also confirms this (and reinforces the movie connection) with Lighting, Best Boys, Gaffers, Key Grip, Special Effects, Prop Masters, Wardrobe, Transportation, Hair and Make-up, Casting, Catering, Legal and more. Oh yes, let's not forget Swamp Design by Buzz Gray, too.

Overall a remarkable book but if you are new to his work have a look at Gregory Crewdson which includes twenty plates from Beneath the Roses.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Crewdson's best books, March 31, 2008

By	David T. Sherman (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are several books that contain Crewdson's cinematic photography, and I think that most people would agree that this one is the best so far.

In his other books, people have complained that the images were not large enough. This book has larger images. The book contains 49 plates, which measure about 14.5" x 9.5"

The book also has photographs and sketches of a lot of the work that went into the final photographs, such as set design, lighting, props, and more.

Some of the photos in this book are also in the book "1985-2005", but they are larger in this book.

The book still doesn't come close to capturing how breathtaking his full-size 4' x 5' photographs are, but it does a better job than any of his other books. It would make a great addition to any photography book collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Amazing Exterior Work, April 22, 2008

By	Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In his opening essay of this volume of photographs, Russell Banks describes the cinematic qualities of Crewdson's work; in particular, how "the pictures are assembled and staged." Though not necessarily immediately obvious in all of the individual pictures, after looking for awhile the viewer does begin to recognize the artificiality of the moments. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however. In many cases, particularly when the setting is an exterior, it works very well. The eye searches out the odd detail in the landscape. In the interiors, however, it seems to work less well. In these, the overall effect seems to be oddity and garishness.

More interesting is the theme of isolation that runs through these photos. Even in the shots where more than one person is present, each seems trapped inside their own space. Raised to an even higher degree in some of the wide exteriors, you end up searching out the individual who is nearly swallowed up by the rest of the picture. Perhaps it is that very searching quality required by some of the photographs that makes them the most moving of the group.

When I first received this book, I wasn't sure if I would like it. I was first put off by the unwieldiness of its size--bigger than a normal volume and wider than it is high. As I looked through the photographs and grew to like many of them, I realized the importance of the book's size and shape--to take advantage of the movie aspect ratio Crewdson uses as well as the need for as much space as possible in his wide, detailed exterior shots.

In fact, I went to see a gallery presentation of some of the photographs in this volume. The prints hanging on the wall were large, perhaps six feet or more wide, which I thought did much better justice to Crewdson's work. I found this experience to be of great benefit. When I came home and looked through the book again, I was moved to look even more closely at some of the pictures, seeking out that isolation and detail.

Still, as I said, I think Crewdson's work is uneven. The exteriors, for the most part, greatly outdo the interiors and there is a tendency towards a garishness I don't like in some of his work. However, when he hits the right notes, his landscapes are as beautiful and interesting as anything I've seen.