The Face of Texas: Portraits of Texans (Hardcover)

by Michael O'Brien (Author), Elizabeth O'Brien (Author) "When I stepped off the airplane in Austin for the first time on a spring night in 1985, I felt immediately comfortable and oddly at..." (more)
Key Phrases: University of Texas, Van Horn, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Hearing the word "Texas" conjures images of a state as diverse as it is large, and this book captures the array of people—from common folks "done well," such as Willie Nelson, to a couple who have gone to Washington to lead the nation and reside in the White House, yet still have Texas branded deep in their hearts and souls. The well-visualized and executed photographs pair with the penned portraits of the subjects, giving the reader a complete panoramic vision of Texas, expanding the horizon and confirming that there are many worlds in Texas.

About the Author

Michael O'Brien began his career as a staff photographer for the Miami News and now shoots portraits for a living. Some of his photographs are part of the permanent collection of the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, the Wittliff Collection of Southwestern & Mexican Photography at Southwest Texas State University, the Birmingham Museum of Art, and the International Center of Photography in New York. He lives in Austin, Texas. Elizabeth O'Brien is a former newspaper editor and Life Magazine reporter.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Bright Sky Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931721238
• ISBN-13: 978-1931721233
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 10.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #696,403 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a Masterpiece of Photography, June 12, 2003

By	Brian Lanker (Eugene, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This is simply one of the finest books of portraiture you will ever find. If you are a Texan it is a must. If you love photography and the ability of the camera to probe the lives of others and in return tell us more about ourselves you won't want to miss this.

Under the sensitive vision and the caring heart of Michael O'Brien the rich, the famous and the common folk come together in this extraordinary look at Texans and indeed all of humanity. Though his photographs span a wide cross section of various ethnic and socio-economic groups, Michael shows us that we have more in common with each other than we realize. We are more alike as humans than we are different.

He is an artist as well as an anthropologist who happens to use a camera. We are so much the better for his work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!!, June 20, 2003

By	Megan Langley (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

The Face of Texas stands out within the array of Texas books that have been published in recent years. The photographs by Michael O'Brien--portraits of Texans, both famous and ordinary--are stunning; and the subjects themselves, from celebrities like Earl Campbell and Lady Bird Johnson to regular folks like painter Ran Horn of Van Horn, TX, the self-described "Van Gogh of Van Horn," and Ila Johnston, the beloved, retired Spur, TX high school teacher who just renewed her Texas driver's license at the age of 97, are fascinating individuals. The pictures in The Face of Texas are accompanied by well-written, plainspoken stories by Elizabeth O'Brien about each subject. The text and photographs combine to create a substantial picture of each person that transcends the visual; both writer and photographer treat their subjects with warmth and respect. The book is not meant to be a definitive portrait of Texas; as photographer Michael O'Brien says in his introduction, it is simply a collection of his favorite portraits taken over the years on assignment, primarily for various magazines. Bravo for O'Brien--what a phenomenal photographic journey!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly Beautiful, Moving Portraits Capture Texans, June 24, 2003

By	Debby Schadt (Memphis, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This is a beautifully photographed coffee table book picturing Texans from small towns and large cities all over the state. Photographed by Michael O'Brien, a photographer with a background in photojournalism, the book spotlights Texans as diverse as Willie Nelson, Lady Bird Johnson, ZZ Top, small town chearleaders, ranch families, and Laura and George Bush. Michael's wife, Elizabeth O'Brien, a writer, captures each person in a sensitive, personal interview which describes each Texan in that moment in time. The Face of Texas would be a wonderful gift for anyone who lives in the state of Texas or has friends or relatives there, or for anyone who appreciates beautiful photography or Americana.