George Lange

Picturing Joy: Stories of Connection, by George Lange, is an attractive and engaging book that highlights the stories behind the pictures as much as the photographs themselves, which makes for an interesting behind the scenes glimpse.

As an established and sought out photographer Lange has had sessions with celebrities, models for advertising images, and whoever he might encounter on the street. What stands out is the same sense of, well, respect for the subject, even one that I would have had a hard time being in the same room with. But, heck, I won't name names.

Speaking of names, I'm going to state what should be obvious, but apparently isn't. A book that covers the long career of a photographer who has photographed many big names, from politicians to musicians and beyond, and that has as a goal illustrating the connections made between photographer and subject (and hopefully anyone looking at the pictures), will include the names of those subjects as well as Lange's interactions with them. Pretty elementary, most of that is made clear in the book title. So this doesn't, in reality, count as "name dropping" or "humblebragging." How in the world would he talk about those people and his interactions without mentioning himself or them? So many self-important disingenuous reviewers who have to stretch to find things to complain about, even if it makes absolutely no sense. Ignore and let them stay in their little echo chamber, they feel better there.

The idea of joy is problematized with the inclusion of a couple of pictures of people who committed suicide. Outwardly, these people (like many of us with depression) seemed happy, or at least not down. The man I had to look up had a beautiful tribute written about him by an independent journalist from his town. These people brought joy into other lives, but did they themselves experience joy? I don't know, I'm not even sure what to call what I feel when I am at my highest. Happy? Joyful? Maybe simply not unhappy, or noy unjoyful. That middle ground we sometimes forget exists between the extremes.

This is a nice size, 8"x8", so would work on display tables smaller than a coffee table, though big enough to work nicely there too.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (más)