[Leica] lee friedlander's new monograph

[Photovilla@aol.com]

Has anyone else seen Lee Friedlander's new monograph? Yesterday, I ran into 
fellow LUGGER Patrick Witty at Photographer's Place picking this book up.

It is another book of self portraits, but this time not in mirrors or 
shadows- strait on IN your face. Perhaps the perfect antidote to the first 
book of self portraits where you only get one look at Friedlander "strait 
on." Of course he was younger and slimmer then, so I hardly recognized him 
when I first saw this new book!

At first these are hard to look at, as they are shot with a wide angle lens 
(my guess would be an SWC since I saw him once on the street carrying one) 
and he is not exactly, lets say, "pretty." I guess that makes this post a bit 
OT, although I'm not sure that none of them are Leica negs. cropped square. I 
do know that Friedlander shoots plenty with a Leica.

I would say the object of the monograph was to catch some real stinkers and 
stick them in our faces. So just like him. Now when everyone expects him to 
lurk in the backgrounds/reflections/shadows he jumps out in front of us.  I 
think this work is beginning to grow on me, especially because they are self 
portraits taken around the world...no one travels more and has the tenacity 
to keep a project up! (well maybe HCB did in the day?)

While I found $35 a bit high to pay for this book, it is worth at least 
taking a look at. As all of Lee's work it is a "limited edition" of about 
4000. I would predict that they won't be around for ever either judging from 
his last books. (American Monuments sells for over $600 now at PP! I remember 
buying it for $100 at PP in the early 80's and thinking it was out of control 
then...)

I think Friedlander has really continued to add new dimensions to his body of 
work with each new book. 

Now, the fireworks will begin I suppose...please no "attacks" as I don't have 
time to respond to them all. ;-/

later,
Rich