I just got this photo book yesterday, and I am excited by the quality of it. There are about 93 5x5" squares in total (94 if you counted the photo of Mr Wagner himself). They look like photo prints (as they should be for a book about photos), not made by bargain press. I am glad I can focus on Mr Wagner's work without technical distraction. When I opened up the package, I found out my copy was dented. I was a bit unhappy about it. It's a signed and numbered copy so I don't know if it can be replaced.
Now the important part, the content. This is a photo book about people, the whole spectrum of them: from young to old, man to woman (and anything in between), people of different skin colors, people of different sub-cultures, some serious, some fun-loving, some formalistic, and some candid. That's what I like the most about it, not shying away from seeing something different, perhaps outside of our own comfort zone.
The setting seems to be mostly New York City. The B&W treatment gives an old school look to them, but the subject matter is universal and relevant today. It reminds me of Robert Frank (I am mostly a West Coast Photographer, so I hope I do not misinterpret). Most photos tend to curl the sides of my mouth upward: a clown framed by his own hoola-hoop, a drag-queen (perhaps impersonating Liza Minelli) smiling toward the camera in a bar, or a palm reader frowning at the photographer to read her palm. Many subjects were in the attires of their profession (or lack of), reminiscent of Cindy Sherman's "types" (though none of the main photo is a selfie, as far as I know). However, Mr. Wagner isn't shying to tackle on more difficult subject matters: a handcuffed man entering the back of police van, a lady posing for the camera with shopping bag that says "Look" while the homeless lady by the trash bin looking away, or a bunch of protesters lying on the ground. Then more homelessness, and more marginalized members of New York streets. Those are just a few examples. The photos will evoke as many reactions as there are emotions exhibited by the people in the photos. I don't know the technique Mr. Wagner used when shooting these photos, but the result is a treat.
Let me end the review (or perhaps, rambling induced by photos) with a description of an imagery from the book. A group of young folks hanging out together, two looking up and two looking down. The black guy holding his white lady friend looking toward the camera, both smiling confidently toward the camera, which cannot be done if they were subjected to a judging lens. I'll leave you thinking about it. It is a big world. It would be a loss if we can't get out of our comfort zone and stop seeing, and there are many photos in the book worthy of your pondering.
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