Tuesday, August 23, 2011

American Surfaces by Stephen Shore

Stephen Shore, born 1947, was second to get a solo show at the MoMA by a living photographer. He started photographing at a very early age and already sold three prints when he was 14 to Edward Steichen, the curator of photography at the MoMA back then. During the early seventies, he started doing road trips, at first with another friend and later on all by himself. That's when the photographs below were shot. He titled them American Surfaces. Although they seem like regular snapshots at first, they're unmistakably by Stephen Shore. He simply wanted to record everything he came across. Along William Eggleston, he helped establishing colour photography where it is today. Many famous photographers (Nan Goldin, Thomas Struth and Martin Parr just to name a few) have listed him as one of their influences. His work American Surfaces may have not been well received by the audience back then, but it was certainly a turning point for him and colour photography. American Surfaces is one of my favourite photography books and an endless source of inspiration. If you have only the slightest interest in colour photography, I suggest you have a look at this book as noone handles colours in photographs as Stephen Shore.






© Phaidon Press Limited and the book is available on Amazon

15 comments:

  1. Thats indeed really american. Empty spaces, motels, guns and girls.

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  2. diggin' this, guess i'll have to buy that book

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  3. Wow..truly amazing photography, thanks for sharing!

    xx
    Andy
    The Black Label

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  4. I must admit, I've taken a keen interest in searching for Western photography because of you and those who inspire you; have been hurdled behind my Japanese photo book collections a little too long.. Yeh.

    It's always exciting finding new fluff to love.

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  5. This is really cool! Than you for this!

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  6. I'm about to order that book :) Amazing photos!

    mcqistillalive.blogspot.com

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  7. Super nice photos!


    XOXO Giorgia

    P.s. Participate to my new giveaway and win a glamorous cocktail ring in vintage style!

    http://gvn-styleblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-glamorous-cocktail-rings.html

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  8. God amazing photos, thanks for sharing!

    Kisses
    Natalia

    www.mylittleframe.blogspot.com

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  9. wow, it's clear that he is one of your inspirations, i can nearly see some of your photos there! (if my english is weird it's because i'm french, huhu). The 7th and 8th photos especially, really remember me some pictures of your visual diary. That's not exactly the same level but personally I love your photos a lot and I think you can go very far in the "photo world" ;) Byebye~

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  10. J'adore ces photos avec leur coté très rétro ! ;D ♥




    http://dearliberty.illustrateur.org/


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  11. <3 amazing, simply

    www.philippe-girard.blogspot.com

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  12. nice photo

    http://danielverzeroli.blogspot.com/

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