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In the American West Hardcover – 1985

by Laura Wilson (Author), Richard Avedon (Photographer)

29 customer reviews

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$494.95

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$398.00

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The 120 full-page photographs in this book depict people at country fairs, rodeos, mining camps, drilling sites, and even a slaughterhouse - men and women of the American West who work at hard, everyday jobs. Richard Avedon introduces the volume with an essay on his working method and portrait philosophy, and Laura Wilson, who accompanied Avedon and his team, provides a journal of their travels, between 1979 and 1984.

In the American West

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Here, Avedon abandons fashion photography in favor of this collection of "strong, occasionally shocking portraits...of miners, drifters, wildcatters, slaughterhouse workers, and adolescents" (LJ 1/86).
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Richard Avedon was one of the most influential photographers of the second half of the 20th century, and his portrait work comprises an authoritative record of our era. As a staff photographer for Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, Avedon redefined fashion photography. In 1992 he was named the first staff photographer in the history of The New Yorker.

Laura Wilson is a photographer whose previous books are Hutterites of Montana, Watt Matthews of Lambshead, and Avedon at Work. She lives in Dallas.

John Rohrbach is senior photography curator at the Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Hardcover: 172 pages
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1st edition (1985)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0810911051
ISBN-13: 978-0810911055
Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 1 x 14.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #467 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Photojournalism & Essays > Photo Essays
- #478 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Portraits
- #745 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Individual Photographers

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Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars

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Top Customer Reviews

A timeless, classic photography book

ByFuzzy Widdle Doggieon October 31, 2008

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I remember seeing this book on its release in the 1980s. I couldn't afford it at the time, but I never forgot those images. Looking at them again, I can see the re-release of this group of Richard Avedon's work was fully justified.
These portraits are raw - each man, woman and child is exposed. Avedon recognised that each of the individuals in these portraits were an entity unto themselves. Their lives are in their faces; there is no need for props or pictorial backgrounds. Everyone was photographed against a simple sheet of white paper - a groundbreaking approach for this genre at the time. No staging, nothing concealed, nothing enhanced and there is no evidence of tweeking.
These photos distressed the romantic notion of 'the west' that prevailed until the late 1980s, and in turn contributed to its redefinition in popular culture. I still find myself looking at these pictures over and over again, wondering about the fate of some of these folks. This is another benefit of a book like this - it poses questions which cannot be easily answered - what happened to these people?
I'm so very thankful I got myself a copy. If you, like myself, are working on building a photography book collection, then this is an essential addition.

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Great Reference Material

ByMary Hall Patroneon January 12, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Great information about Richard Avedon's project.

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Great coffee table book and a great conversation piece

ByAmazon Customeron December 29, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great coffee table book and a great conversation piece. I love Avedon's work in this book. You may have to be an old school photo nerd to appreciate it though.

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An amazing book

ByDavid Kaplanon November 17, 1999

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I have never seen anythink like what I saw in this book. The photos are haunting and show how hard some peoples lifes are. I just finished ordering 3 more of his books, wish I could afford his "Autobiography" book.

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Five Stars

Byjacob messexon November 16, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Thank you!

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great portrait book

ByA. Francolinion October 2, 2007

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

If you like portraits this book is for you. The images are all the same: white background and a person looking in the camera. Take your time to look at it. Focus on the faces and eyes and you will understand the power behind these images. That is what Avedon was looking for. A book with no wording, but who needs words when an image can say 1000 words?