What's up photography fans welcome back
to All About Street Photography channel!
Today I'm here with a review of iconic
book by legendary photographer Alex Webb.
The suffering of light. So let's check
out the book and the photographs.
Alex Webb is an American photographer who had
exhibitions at Museum worldwide.
He has been member of Magnum photos
since 1979 and has published more than
15 photography books. You can check them
on http://webbnorriswebb.co/ website.  Alex Webb is known
for his vibrant color photographs which
this book is full of. You can actually
find 115 of them in the book. Even though
Webb has been a part of second
generation of American photographers
working in color, he said to be a pioneer
of American color photography. The
Suffering of light is a photography book
published by Aperture in 2011. It is the
first comprehensive monograph charting
the career of acclaimed American
photographer Alex Webb, Gathering some of
his most iconic color images he had been
taken since 1978. If I would like to define
his work in four words it will be
intense colors and brilliant composition.
What I admire most is his ability to
create layers and still maintain the
high standard of composition quality. The
book presents street photography and
photojournalism in a form of fine art.
What is interesting about this book is
that the book is organized
chronologically. It is the only book that
focuses on Webb's work chronologically
and not thematically. These other books
focus on places where he photographed. I
like how his photographs work in sets as
well as individual photographs. Sometimes
I just look at the photograph and I'm
like wow it's such a unique photograph
but at the same time there is this vibe
theme which is very similar when you look at more of his
photographs. I think that is actually
very difficult thing to do because once
you find what you're good at
it's easy to fall into a trap of
producing the same type of images over
and over again and that in my opinion
locks your creative process. Talking
about creative process Webb often stays and
the places he feels like a good scene
for the photographs and takes a lot of
different pictures. When we talk about
composition and composition techniques,
this book is full of silhouettes shadows
and reflections. However, perhaps the most
recurring composition technique is a
rhythm. You can identify it in many of
Webb's photos. The size of the book is 13 by
12 inches and as you guessed it it is a
typical photography book that does not
fit well into your bookshelf! I wonder
why there is no law to enforce a
standard for photography book dimensions.
The book has a preface where Webb
explains his transition from black and
white to colors as well as an afterword
by Geof Dyer. Alex Webb was influenced
by a Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Garry
Winogrand or Lee Friedlander. I think I
can actually see it in some of his
photographs. But you know, it's an art and
anyone can see anything.
Goe Dyer said in the afterword: Webb has
described his work as a highly
interpretive presentation of the world.
My favorite typical photograph from this
book is probably Sancti spíritus from
Cuba. I just love those complementary
colors he was able to catch in the frame.
However for some reason my most favorite
image, even though it's not Webb's
typical one, is this one. I just can't
help but laugh every time I see that
picture.
So, who is this book for? I would say for
someone who is into street and
documentary photography. What I like
about the book is that it is a fine art
book of color street photography. Which I
would say is quite rare. I mean, it's not
rare like, there are no other color
photography books but I would say there
are still more street photography books
in black and white. So, should you buy
this book? Well if it is for you then you
probably already know the answer, if you
actually want to have the book in your
collection. If it is for someone just
consider what I said about the genre of
the book and that it is in colours. So,
That's it for today's review of The
suffering of light. If you want to find
out more about Alex Webb check out his
website. You can also follow his
Instagram and while you are at it you
can also follow me on the instagram.
All links will be in the description thank
you for watching and I will see you next time!
 
