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Author Archive: Michael Ernest Sweet

Book Review: Last Laughs by Elliott Erwitt
Listen: Last Laughs by Elliott Erwitt has certainly taken its pound of flesh from me for neglecting to review it more promptly—literally. I was carrying this behemoth of a book from one room to another when I hit the door frame. The book slammed into my ribs and took a chunk of me with it.
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Location: Online Type: Book Review

Book Review: The Lives of Others By James Carroll
James Carroll had an eye for life, a rare quality that his only monograph, The Lives of Others, magnificently showcases. His deep passion for the beauty of existence is evident in every frame—something not always associated with the street photography genre. As Sean Corcoran writes in his essay for the book, Carroll possessed a unique
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Location: Online Type: Book Review

Book Review: Work In Progress By Peter Essick
In Work in Progress Peter Essick compellingly reaffirms the vitality of photography as an art form. In an era saturated with imagery, where social media has dulled our senses to the remarkable, it is rare to encounter photographs that genuinely captivate. Yet, Essick’s latest volume does precisely that, offering a stunning collection that is both
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Location: Online Type: Book Review

Book Review: Advice For Young Artists By Alec Soth
Alec Soth’s new book, Advice for Young Artists, presents an intriguing paradox. While one might anticipate a collection rich with practical guidance and inspiration, it ultimately offers a rather different experience. As someone who appreciates certain aspects of Soth’s photography, I find myself both intrigued and a bit disappointed by this particular volume. There are
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Location: Online Type: Book Review

Book Review: Distant Journeys By David Katzenstein
David Katzenstein’s Distant Journeys is a book that offers both promise and disappointment. While it showcases a number of outstanding photographs, it is ultimately hampered by issues of editing and presentation. The collection is unified by its monochrome palette, which serves as a consistent thread throughout the work. Katzenstein presents this book as an overview
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Location: Online Type: Black and White, Book Review

Book Review: Daily Self-Portraits 1972-1973 by Melissa Shook
I have spent a considerable amount of time with Melissa Shook’s newly published, though posthumous, Daily Self-Portraits 1972-1973. Initially, I found myself at a loss for words, uncertain of how to engage with this collection. In an era where ego often eclipses artistic intent in photography, Shook’s self-portraits present a challenge. Though they hail from
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Location: Online Type: Black and White, Book Review, Portraits

Book Review: A Photographer and a Writer: A Review of Allan Sekula’s Art Isn’t Fair
Photography lacks a tradition of serious writing. This is most evident in contemporary photography, where we have a mountain of photographs and virtually nothing serious written about them. What writing we can find most often is nonsense written by people with little to zero knowledge of art history, theory, or criticism. That is, what we
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Location: Online Type: Book Review

Book Review: Punk, Post Punk, New Wave by Michael Grecco
Michael Grecco grew up in the Boston area during the era of punk and new wave music. In fact, Boston was a center, if not the epicenter, of these movements. But in the 70s and 80s, when Grecco was shooting most of these images, a lot of the people featured in his book were from
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Location: Online Type: Black and White, Book Review

Book Review: Night Calls by Rebecca Norris Webb
Night Calls, Rebecca Norris Webb’s third full-length monograph, is a bit more complex than a simple collection of photography. The book is photography, family history, and Webb’s own personal story all wrapped up into one. In essence, it is her journey back to her home, Rush County, Indiana, to reunite with both the people and
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Location: New York, Online, United States Type: Book Review

Book Review: Linda Simpson’s The Drag Explosion
As famed drag queen Lady Bunny says in her foreword, “It was an era that took place entirely after dark.” These days our drag queens are very much out in the light of day. They star in prime-time television shows, where they find their way into even the most modest of American homes. Without minimizing
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Location: Online Type: Book Review, Portraits
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