Mary Ellen Mark: Exposure
By Weston Naef
Published by Phaidon Press
Reviewed by Kristy Caruso
The
average person is not a connoisseur of fine art photography. Ever hear of
Steven Meisel? Richard Avedon? Annie Liebovitz? Maybe, maybe
not. No bothers here-you don't have to know your stuff to know that
Exposure, Mary Ellen Mark's latest masterpiece, is poignant,
effective, and will leave an impression. Mark’s pictures are a
celebration of humanity in its most diverse and eccentric forms-something anyone
can (and will) appreciate.
Exposure
is a 288-page paperback perfect for either the coffee table or art
gallery. It offers a career retrospective on one of the world's most renowned
documentary photographers-and it won't matter if you’re familiar with the work
beforehand. From a circus in India to a high-security women's mental
ward in Oregon to the streets of the
South Bronx, Mary Ellen Mark takes the reader on a trip that will
undoubtedly inspire some sort of feeling. Sadness, nostalgia, disgust, awe,
confusion and joy are all evident in these iconic photos—and it doesn't take a
trained eye to be touched by their emotion.
Mary Ellen Mark has achieved worldwide visibility as a documentary photographer through her numerous books, exhibitions and editorial work. For almost thirty years, she has traveled the world shooting people in both mundane and bizarre situations. No matter where, who, or what she shoots, one comment trait is found-an eerie sense of humanity.
An
interview with Mark appropriately closes Exposure. We get
insight into her point of view, hear entertaining quips of what happened where,
learn about her favorite places and favorite people, and experience the honor of
looking at the world through Mary Ellen Mark’s eyes.
For feedback, visit our message board or e-mail the author at feedback@g-pop.net.