Deus Ex Machina

Rating:
Summary: Deusex Machina (Klotz) by Ralph Gibson
Review: 'Deus ex Machina' is a powerful manifestation of Gibson's vision over the last 40 years. The book contains images that have been reproduced before, as well as many new images. However,although many images are well known, they can be seen in a fresh way because of the pairing and sequencing that Gibson is known for. The way that the book provides a context for these images makes "Deus ex Machina" much more than a collection of interesting pictures. This book also provides an opportunity to see Gibson's new color work, which is surprisingly strong for a "black- and- white photographer". It is inspiring to Ralph Gibson's work evolve over the years; he has a vision that is alive, and he is not just following a formula and pumping out more images, like many of the artisits that I see who have achieved some success and recognition. My only criticism is the format of the book; there are so many pages for such a small book, an it is somewhat unweildy, and maybe fragile since it is a paperback. On the other hand, since it is inexpensive, it is an opportunity for a wider audience to see Gibson's work. I recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: Ralph Gibson's Best Book!
Review: 'Deus ex Machina' is a powerful manifestation of Gibson's vision over the last 40 years. The book contains images that have been reproduced before, as well as many new images. However,although many images are well known, they can be seen in a fresh way because of the pairing and sequencing that Gibson is known for. The way that the book provides a context for these images makes "Deus ex Machina" much more than a collection of interesting pictures. This book also provides an opportunity to see Gibson's new color work, which is surprisingly strong for a "black- and- white photographer". It is inspiring to Ralph Gibson's work evolve over the years; he has a vision that is alive, and he is not just following a formula and pumping out more images, like many of the artisits that I see who have achieved some success and recognition. My only criticism is the format of the book; there are so many pages for such a small book, an it is somewhat unweildy, and maybe fragile since it is a paperback. On the other hand, since it is inexpensive, it is an opportunity for a wider audience to see Gibson's work. I recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: Deusex Machina (Klotz) by Ralph Gibson
Review: A must buy for any photographers to expand the horizon of thoughts. Contained variety of photo interest by a world class photographer, what else do you need?

Rating:
Summary: An overview of the works of a master
Review: Gibson was one of my early favorites when I became interested in photography back in 1973. I have always found his work to be thought-provoking and inspiring. This is a huge collection that covers his work from the beginning. If he has produced one indispensible book, this is it. My only complaint about the book is the format. It's just too many pages to be presented in a paperback. As much as I return to this volume, the binding is showing rapid wear.

Rating:
Summary: Great book for the price!
Review: I can recommend this book-brick sized, jam-packed with some 800 pages of mostly black and white (but some color) photographs on such things as street and travel photography, portraits and a few nudes.

It's interesting to witness the progression of Gibson's style since the 1960s, up to the late 90s. At first, he was more interested in photojournalism and took those kinds of shots-wider, more encompassing. Later, he became more interested in the abstract, usually singling out one subject/idea and getting very close in. I find it particularly interesting that the vast majority of his photos are shot vertically. This is Gibsons signature style and he does it quite well. And for a black and white photographer, his color stuff is sure great! All of this is in this book.

As to as the size of the book, I have no complaints. It's very think and feels sturdy so I feel like I got my money's worth. I have opened it up all the way, spreading the pages out nearly flat so that I can study the photographs better. Doing this creased the spine, but so what? I think the spine is supposed to be like that and the book has held up well, especially for the price paid. ... This book would make a neat gift for someone who is interested in photography and doesn't mind some bit of sexual content (ie. probably not for a child).

Rating:
Summary: A great collection by a great artist
Review: I found out about this book, and about Gibson, in the June/July issue of Camera Arts Magazine, and I have been profoundly influenced by Gibson's work in my own photography ever since. In the article I learned that Gibson uses his musical knowledge, especially of rhythm, in creating photos that technically could be called 'street photography', but are so carefully composed in the moment that almost all of the randomness that one commonly associates with that genre has been removed. Rather, the pictures transcend the random moment by extracting from that moment a more universal subject, of which the literal photographic subject is merely a temporary vessel or embodiment. Gibson's work is extremely empowering to any 35mm user who has experienced large format snobbery and grain-phobia. Gibson embraces 35mm, with all its "limitations," and the results are striking. The photos are arranged on facing pages in order to suggest associations to the reader (conscious or unconscious) that begin to tell a story. The pictures are also punctuated by glimpses of Gibson's philosophy, in his own words, that leave you full of wonder, and wanting more. His sparseness of words leaves the reader with only one option: go back to the pictures again and again, and try to understand what words can only hint at.

Rating:
Summary: A great collection by a great artist
Review: I found out about this book, and about Gibson, in the June/July issue of Camera Arts Magazine, and I have been profoundly influenced by Gibson's work in my own photography ever since. In the article I learned that Gibson uses his musical knowledge, especially of rhythm, in creating photos that technically could be called 'street photography', but are so carefully composed in the moment that almost all of the randomness that one commonly associates with that genre has been removed. Rather, the pictures transcend the random moment by extracting from that moment a more universal subject, of which the literal photographic subject is merely a temporary vessel or embodiment. Gibson's work is extremely empowering to any 35mm user who has experienced large format snobbery and grain-phobia. Gibson embraces 35mm, with all its "limitations," and the results are striking. The photos are arranged on facing pages in order to suggest associations to the reader (conscious or unconscious) that begin to tell a story. The pictures are also punctuated by glimpses of Gibson's philosophy, in his own words, that leave you full of wonder, and wanting more. His sparseness of words leaves the reader with only one option: go back to the pictures again and again, and try to understand what words can only hint at.

Rating:
Summary: Photographer Very Good; Taschen Publishing So-So
Review: I've bought other art-photo books by this publisher, Taschen, and this may be my last one. I do not like the way they are all jammed together into a chunk of a mid-size paperback book. For one, you cannot open this book to a page and study it without using your hands to grip the book to keep it open to that page. I bought this book chiefly to study the nudes. They are very good but I can't say this work absolutely knocks me out the way other books I've reviewed here have done. After reading the other reviews of this book here at Amazon, I think one of the problems is that the book is intended more for an audience of art photographers than for artists working in other media. If you are an art photographer, this may be a 5 star book for you, although I think you still may dislike the publishing format of it. This is the first time I've noticed that Amazon has run other pictures, which are inside the book, which you can click to see. This addresses the biggest problem with buying visual books outside of a real world book store. At long last, we do not have to rely solely on the cover image in buying the visual book online. Now we can see inside pages as well.

Rating:
Summary: Photographer Very Good; Taschen Publishing So-So
Review: I've bought other art-photo books by this publisher, Taschen, and this may be my last one. I do not like the way they are all jammed together into a chunk of a mid-size paperback book. For one, you cannot open this book to a page and study it without using your hands to grip the book to keep it open to that page. I bought this book chiefly to study the nudes. They are very good but I can't say this work absolutely knocks me out the way other books I've reviewed here have done. After reading the other reviews of this book here at Amazon, I think one of the problems is that the book is intended more for an audience of art photographers than for artists working in other media. If you are an art photographer, this may be a 5 star book for you, although I think you still may dislike the publishing format of it. This is the first time I've noticed that Amazon has run other pictures, which are inside the book, which you can click to see. This addresses the biggest problem with buying visual books outside of a real world book store. At long last, we do not have to rely solely on the cover image in buying the visual book online. Now we can see inside pages as well.

Rating:
Summary: Well worth it!
Review: This is a very comprehensive collection of Gibson's photographs, spanning his career right up to 1999. There are some notes on the collections, but it concentrates on the photos. It includes "Chiaroscuro" and "Days At Sea" among others - all very cool shots; his use of contrast is amazing! My only disappointment is the format of the book - it is paperback-sized but incredibly thick, I hope the spine will last! I love his work and enjoy browsing through the book (be warned for many nude shots though).