Product Description

Acclaimed American documentary photographer Mary Ellen Mark (b. 1940) made her first iconic pictures when living in Turkey on a Fulbright Fellowship in the mid-1960s. Her photographs of Bombay brothels, shot in the late 1970s, were published in 1981 in "Falkland Road", a book that became legendary and confirmed her status as one of the most prominent and provocative documentary photographers working today. Mark's pictures are a celebration of humanity in its most diverse and eccentric forms. Circuses, gypsy camps, children yearning for adulthood, the poor and destitute are some of her recurring themes. Mark has the unique ability to capture gestures and expressions that translate the intense emotions of her subjects. Compassionate but never literal, her pictures can be humorous, tragic, enigmatic, shocking, and oftentimes, all of these simultaneously. This book presents, for the first time, a selection of the strongest pictures of Mark's forty-year career, drawing from emblematic series such as "Falkland Road," "Indian Circus," and "Twins," as well as a selection of previously unpublished images. The photographs are accompanied by an introduction by Weston Naef, and an interview with Mark that provides context and behind-the-scene anecdotes. Together Mark's images and words provide intimate insights into the lives of others, presenting compelling stories of human strength and suffering.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #361290 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Street kids, prostitutes, mental patients and other desperate characters haunt this retrospective of documentary photographer Mark's 40-year career. Though Mark cites Federico Fellini as a major influence (there's a lovely photo of the director on the set of Satyricon), it's hard not to see strong overtones of Diane Arbus in these pages, with all of Arbus's strengths and flaws. To their credit, Mark's images have a stark, dramatic flair and present gripping scenes that quickly seize viewers' attention. When her images are at their most potent, as in her portraits of Indian circus performers proudly demonstrating their art, the photos seem naturally observed, insightful rather than sensational. In her weaker moments, however, Mark can seem heavy-handed, and the images lean too hard on the absurdity, or luridness, of their subjects for their power. But if this beautifully produced compilation is sometimes uneven, it is a must for Mark fans, who will particularly appreciate the photographer's afterword, which reveals the stories behind many of her favorite images. (Aug.)
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About the Author
Weston Naef is curator of the Department of Photographs at the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, a position he has held since 1984

Customer Reviews

Incredible documentary photography
I popped into a book store tonight before a movie and saw this book on the shelf and thought I'd leaf through it...I ended up sitting on a bench and looking at almost every photo, and even calling my companion over to take a look.

I've seen Mark's work before and never really was blown away by it, but this was different. It's a large book with large photos and it covers a wide variety of subjects. When you look at these candid portraits, you are instantly struck by not only the power of the images themselves, but a sense of wonder as to where she had to go to get these photos and the trust she had to gain to get such intimacy with her subjects. It's mostly black and white, but there are some color images too.

I wanted to buy the book on the spot, but it was really expensive in the store, so I am going to order it here.

If you are into documentary photography, you'll love this book.

disappointing format
This is a nice collection of haunting, melancholy images that span the artist's career. You can certainly feel her affinity for the deprived and the castaways of society. The images often precariously balance the line between documentary and exploitation, yet the subjects never appear to be disingenuous. The reproductions and the quality of the paper are top-notch. However, most of the images span across the spine of the book, which I find quite annoying. Imagine taking a fine art photograph and putting a large crease in the middle of it. I know it allows the images to be larger, but I find it really distracting. Don't do like I did. Make sure you check the book out in person before ordering it.

Mary Ellen Mark: Exposure
The contents of the book mandate a rating of 5 stars... this is an excellent book. But the binding of the book rate a one star. The book - which is paper back - has no real way to keep the pages in... and the pages began to separate upon first use. So sad to put together such superb material in such a shoddy manner.