Photographs by Patrick Demarchelier
ISBN-10: 0821225146
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'Photographs' opens with the obligatory introduction that monographs of this type seem to insist upon - in this instance it is penned by one Glenn O'Brien. I am of two minds as to the value of such texts as some can be rather pretentious, few, with notable exceptions, add anything to the images and I would rather let the photographs speak for themselves. O'Brien's introduction falls into the 'not adding anything' camp. Contained within the book's 144 pages are portraits of actors/celebrities - such as Meg Ryan, the late Princess Diana and Paul Newman - the odd elephant and, of interest here, a selection of nudes. All the images within 'Photographs' are monochrome.
The nudes are competent, and initially eye catching, but more in the style of fashion photography rather than fine art erotica. They lack the depth that would encourage repeated viewing and, like most fashion photography, are somewhat disposable.
The book is published in a large format of 12.8 x 10.2 x 0.7 inches and this allows the work to breathe. 'Photographs' is printed to a decent standard with, for the most part, one image to a page. I have reviewed the paperback version.
Worth a quick look if one happens to see 'Photographs' in a bookstore but not an essential purchase.
Review by Christopher John Ball
** Rating
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