Joseph Rodriguez – Where it’s at part 5
Written by duckrabbitI was recently was given a much coveted copy of Joseph Rodriguez’s East Side Stories. It’s lush. It just re-confirms for me that the best place to see photography is in a book.
Galleries are good, but they often carry an elitist edge and rednecks like duckrabbit can feel a bit out of place.
The computer screen is good too, but photographs often get lost in the noise and knocked about unfairly by snap judgements.
Book print runs are often very small and expensive. They reach a small and often pretty exclusive group of people. I’d like everyone to see Joseph’s pictures, so if you come by my house there’s a good chance you’ll get the book put down in front of you.
Of course if you want to reach a really wide audience than the internet is the place to go That’s why Joseph’s latest project has its own website, and bloody good it is too.
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Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (7 Comments)
An excellent and compelling piece of work, thanks for sharing. I agree re. books as best way to view photos but this website isn’t bad either. This collection reminds me of a recent LSE podcast focussing on poverty in the UK. Although not explicitly about prison and rehabilitation, it spoke of a significant section of society who were almost invisible in the cultural sphere. Or, when given coverage were stereotyped or negatively presented. The figures in the UK in regard to poverty were shocking, particularly in regard to children living in what are considered ‘economically poor’ households. The analysis focussed on how we view poverty and how it is represented in the media (or, is under represented in the media). And how this representation impacts on policy solutions. Prof. David Campbell from Durham Uni was on the panel discussing how we picture the poor, so to speak. Projects like this would surely go some way to address the silence and stereotypes that exist in the UK.
…and I look forward to my invitation to your pad for beer and sandwiches in order to view the book!
Thanks Rob,
you certainly are guaranteed a cold beer and warm welcome at duckrabbit towers anytime.
The worst area (statistically) for child poverty is just down the road from me and you are so right, they are invisable. Where are the UK Joseph Rodriguez’s documenting this stuff … they’re too busy feasting on the current crisis in East Africa.
Wouldn’t it be great though Amnesty started getting people like us in to produce this kind of stuff?
Donovan Wylie has produced some, what I consider powerful, images of poverty in the British Isles and Whitechapel London. Some of his work is in the book “Magnum” . Look him up. What do you think?
Can’t agree more…first, about Joe’s new work and the incredible thought and effort that has gone into this site. And second, about the power of photo books. I’ve amassed a decent little collection from my time at American Photo and my monthly raids on the used photo book section of Green Apple Books in SF. Now, whenever it gets late and parties are winding down at my apartment, I pull out the photo books and everyone in the room is quickly engrossed. I’m happy to say that two friends have purchased Ed Kashi’s THREE after seeing it at my house, and I’m doing my part to persuade my online friends too, by posting this interview and preview of the book: http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/10/ed-kashi-a-new-book-a-new-visual-perspective/ I need to add East Side Stories to my collection, or at the very least stop by your house to check it out, Ben 🙂
I have three absolute favourite photo books out of the 20 or so I own. One is East Side Stories, another is Ed Kashi’s Aging in America and the other is Vietnam Inc. I think those three are a brilliant jumping off point for anyone wanting to know how to put forward a meaningful long-term project about an issue that really matters
Would you also include Don Mc Cullin. I have so so much respect for him as a hard working photographer and his coverage of world wars. If you have not alredy read his autobiograghy “Unreasonable Behaviour” is really is a must! How it used to be done, no rules, no boundries, no passes required. Go where you are prepared to go and risking all. I really give thanks to their commitment to bring us images and stories so we know how it really is..no glory no honor.
Vietnam Inc is by Philip Jones Griffiths, by the way (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vietnam-Inc-Noam-Chomsky/dp/0714841528). some go as far as to say it changed the course of the Vietnam War, such was its impact on American public opinion. JUST BUY IT