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Rating: 
Summary: Great collection of Mondino's work
Review: Although the images of this book were all taken in the 1990's and seem to be part of the "past", Mondino definitely had transcendent artistic visions. I'd describe his work as a cross between Mark Seliger and David LaChapelle with a heavy dose of contemporary European flair and humor. Aside from your usual models and pop musicians, Mondino has pointed his camera at many art-world icons, and lesser-knowns...and I also commend his abilities to include a wider range of ethnic faces/subjects, and even body-types. And as was prevalent in the 90's (and common among many fashion photographers), there is that dose of homoeroticism, for whatever it stands for.I own the first-edition of this book published by Te Neues NY, the USA/Canada branch publisher of Schirmer-Mosel in Europe. For this edition, the majority of the images were very well-reproduced on semi-glossy paper and are sharp, bright, vivid, with nice contrast. It is especially the case in works which emphasize Mondino's lighting usage, with lots of color-casted shadows, highlights and backdrops which make the images striking eye-candy. There are also a couple of video-stills included. All the images in the book are full-page, and I felt some images could've been scaled down on the pages to make them look sharper and eliminate the "graininess" (such as the photo of Bjork sticking her tongue out at a silver bubble). And many images are double-page spreads, which don't work as well visually, due to the binding. But it also would've been great if this were an oversized edition like many fashion books. The sequencing of the images could've been better (they seem scattered, rather than grouped with related images). There are no references to where the images were used in publications. Also, certain works of Mondino's that I have recalled seeing in the past were excluded from this book. And there is no extensive bio of Mondino's life etc. I know I may sound too serious, but I'm a print-quality freak when it comes to art monographs. Another complaint I have is that a couple of the pages have tiny ink "spottage" and one of my copy's pages had slight discolored "streaking" (it's an eye-sore, esp. since they were bluish streaks on a B&W photo of a male model's face painted black). But this was obviously a flaw in the printing process. This came to a surprise to me, as Schirmer-Mosel releases some of the highest quality fashion monographs on the market with high regard to state-of-the-art printing techniques (I highly recommend getting their Nick Knight release "Nicknight"). But looking aside from my trivial complaints, this is one of the most visually stunning and "entertaining" monographs I own. I'm looking forward to getting the follow-up book "Mondino: Two Much, 2003" which has already been released in Europe. ....Enough said, just buy it, you know you want it.
Rating:
Summary: Truly unique,visionary,stunning fashion/celeb photography
Review: I was only vaguely acquainted with Mondino's work,but I LOVE fashion photography so I took a chance on this book.The low expectations I had made this book all the more STAGGERING-it is a MAGNIFICENT book,filled with the most unique,visionary approach to fashion and celebrity photography I have ever seen!And unlike some other big-name photographers,Mondino can leap from one style to another,he doesn't limit himself to any one technique or style.ALWAYS,however,he is original and endlessly clever and witty.This book conveys a sense of humor and whimsy that is delightful.Yet many of the pictures are tremendously moving in their beauty and power.And he photographs such a WIDE range of subjects,yet they all have one thing in common:an offbeat,striking,unusual type of beauty or appearance.He makes EVERYONE he photographs look extraordinary,by adding his singular eccentric touch.This is an awesome book,I LOVE it,I can't get enough of it.Five stars doesn't suffice!
Rating:
Summary: Mondino - A look at a master of creative style and image.
Review: Mondino could quite possibly be one of the greatest photographers our time. If you enjoy David LaChapelle and Stephane Sednaoui, whose works are similar, than you will enjoy Mondino. However Mondino seems to have an edge over his peers. I don't think that I would have bought the book if it didn't have any relation to Jean Paul Gaultier, a long time client of Mondino's. But in viewing the book I found that he worked with other designers and treated them all as individual as they are, without loosing his own edge. It seems to me that this book is a compilation of his favorite work, and it serves to communicate the artist's sensibilities on a personal level. His signature lies in that he can keep the photographs very simple yet thoroughly enjoyable, full of life, most of all he's capable of almost animating them, making them jump out to you - from paper to life!! There is an aspect of pleasure and "joie de vivre" in his work, despite the fact the fact that some of the photographs are dark and are made with a devilish sense of humor (at best)!! All in all I am very pleased with the book and Mondino's ideas on image and style.
Rating:
Summary: Mondino - A look at a master of creative style and image.
Review: Mondino could quite possibly be one of the greatest photographers our time. If you enjoy David LaChapelle and Stephane Sednaoui, whose works are similar, than you will enjoy Mondino. However Mondino seems to have an edge over his peers. I don't think that I would have bought the book if it didn't have any relation to Jean Paul Gaultier, a long time client of Mondino's. But in viewing the book I found that he worked with other designers and treated them all as individual as they are, without loosing his own edge. It seems to me that this book is a compilation of his favorite work, and it serves to communicate the artist's sensibilities on a personal level. His signature lies in that he can keep the photographs very simple yet thoroughly enjoyable, full of life, most of all he's capable of almost animating them, making them jump out to you - from paper to life!! There is an aspect of pleasure and "joie de vivre" in his work, despite the fact the fact that some of the photographs are dark and are made with a devilish sense of humor (at best)!! All in all I am very pleased with the book and Mondino's ideas on image and style.
Rating:
Summary: great artist and creative photos
Review: needless to mention, one of the best. color saturation and creativity is impressive. It worths the money. If you like fashion and studio photography, u should not miss out this one.
Rating:
Summary: great artist and creative photos
Review: needless to mention, one of the best. color saturation and creativity is impressive. It worths the money. If you like fashion and studio photography, u should not miss out this one.
Rating: 
Summary: good, but not dope
Review: the long awaited mondino book, deja vu, is a disappointment for mondino enthusiats like myself. jean-baptiste mondino is the best photographer in the world, hands down. so much so that his injection of an untramodern (read ultrasexy) fashion sensibility into music and popular culture images can be considered definitive by all accounts. in that respect, he is the direct descendent of the legendary jean-paul goude. but deja vu is unfortunately just that. a career retrospective which fails to offer any new images to the many fans (like myself) who have followed every step of mondino's career. i expected amazing new fashion imagery, and a delirious portfolio of the millennium's up-and-coming artists and musicians. instead i got a mickey rourke cover and endless variations on the vanessa paradis theme. very eighties. for newcomers, this book will be a revelation, for no one masters image manipulation - and its effects on our pop saturated psyches - better than mondino. yet the initiated will feel that, grand though this first book effort is, the key to the future-forward lies in mondino's french vogue pages. mondino has seen the future, maybe he should start leading us to its doors again. could it be that he is saving that trip for his next book? i certainly hope so.
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