WOW! Have You Seen This Work?? Jason Eskenazi's "Wonderland"

[RayPA]

If you spend any time in the "Latest Additions to Your Library (http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58268)" thread, then you've probably seen several of us praising the Jason Eskenazi's book, 'Wonderland: A Fairytale of the Soviet Monolith'.

Eskenazi is a native of Queens and NY MOMA security guard who decided to visit the Soviet Union after the fall of communism. What he came away with after more than a decade of shooting is something very special. These are some of the strongest images of the classic street/documentary style that I've seen in a long time. This work is right up there with the best of Koudelka.

If you haven't seen this work already, check it out:

'Wonderland: A Fairytale of the Soviet Monolith' (http://www.jasoneskenazi.com/wonderland.html)

edit: I think it was RFF member, Palec that recommended this one in the 'Latest Additions...' thread. Thanks!





/



a little more at my blog (http://thereforeiblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/eskanzis-wonderland.html)

[ItsReallyDarren]

Ray, thanks for the link. I remember hearing about this some time ago on NRP but it fell off my mind. Great to see the information and pictures again.

[bogelgelbo]

Thanks for sharing this.

[martin s]

I want to throw in Anthony Suaus Beyond the Fall (http://www.time.com/time/btf/index_opening.html).

martin

[vincentbenoit]

Agree. Amazing stuff. Photoreportage at its very best.
Vincent

[vincentbenoit]

I want to throw in Anthony Suaus Beyond the Fall (http://www.time.com/time/btf/index_opening.html).

martin

Thanks Martin for the link. (I've just ordered the book).
Also worth checking out, very much in the same vein (although in colour) is Winterreise by Luc Delahaye.
Vincent

[brachal]

Ordered it as well. I hate to ask the question, but what camera was he using?

[le vrai rdu]

I want to throw in Anthony Suaus Beyond the Fall (http://www.time.com/time/btf/index_opening.html).

martin
I saw his books at the centre pompidou

Very nice, but I couldn't afford it :(

[Andy Kibber]

I didn't see anything in the book about what camera or cameras he used. Given that the photographs were taken over 11 years (1990-2001) I suspect he may have used a variety.

[vincentbenoit]

I didn't see anything in the book about what camera or cameras he used.There's mention of an OM-1 in the ackowledgements section at the end of the book. I reckon most pictures were taken with a 28mm or 35mm lens.
Vincent

[martin s]

I saw his books at the centre pompidou

Very nice, but I couldn't afford it :(

Same here, there's one copy at Walter König in Berlin, the store is simply too close to our local film suppliers and in the end it's usually a few rolls of Portra in favor of Beyond the Fall. Occasionally there are used ones on Amazon for a little less than retail, I ordered two of them actually - both were "out of stock" an E-Mail explained to me a few days later.

But maybe get the World Press Photo Award Book from '09, his winning pictures are in there.

martin

[martin s]

Thanks Martin for the link. (I've just ordered the book).
Also worth checking out, very much in the same vein (although in colour) is Winterreise by Luc Delahaye.
Vincent

Hey Vincent, no problem. I mention him whenever I can. Where did you order the book if you don't mind me asking?

martin

[vincentbenoit]

Where did you order the book if you don't mind me asking?WHSmith in the UK.
Vincent

[Andy Kibber]

There's mention of an OM-1 in the ackowledgements section at the end of the book. I reckon most pictures were taken with a 28mm or 35mm lens.
Vincent

Right you are! I didn't notice that. I agree that most of the photos look wide-ish.

[nksyoon]

Thanks Martin for the link. (I've just ordered the book).
Also worth checking out, very much in the same vein (although in colour) is Winterreise by Luc Delahaye.
Vincent

And in colour, Jonas Bendiksen's Satellites.

http://www.jonasbendiksen.com/satellites_book.html

[peter_n]

Ordered it as well. I hate to ask the question, but what camera was he using?At the end of the NPR broadcast they mentioned that some of the photographs were on display at the Leica Gallery in NYC. Presumably that means he used a Leica for at least some of the pictures.

[J J Kapsberger]

I just bought this book ("Wonderland"). Worth every penny (only USD 35 or so plus shipping). Some of the shots are masterworks. The shot of the herion addict (shot 72) is moving.

There is mention of an OM-1 in the acknowlegement section ("Phillip Jones Griffith for the OM-1"), and also of the Leica Gallery.

[dcsang]

I'll have to look into this.

This sort of continues my personal belief that personal projects/work usually require a very long period of time (this case was a decade) to accomplish.

I'm not saying one can't do a "quick" project but the process, I believe, should take time and the artist, they must be patient. Given time and patience (and of course skill and a bit of luck) one can hopefully produce brilliance.

Cheers and thanks for the link Ray,
Dave

[PMCC]

Signed copies of Wonderland available for $25.60 here: http://www.strandbooks.com/app/www/p/profile/?isbn=0984195408

[shadowfox]

Excellent resource, this thread.

Two more of the same theme:

- Russia: Beyond Utopia - Andrew Moore
- Kosmos: A Portrait of the Russian Space Age - Adam Bartos

[Pablito]

Eskenazi is a native of Queens and NY MOMA security guard who decided to visit the Soviet Union after the fall of communism.

Actually he was a guard at the Metropolitan Musuem not MOMA

[Andy Kibber]

Excellent resource, this thread.

Two more of the same theme:

- Russia: Beyond Utopia - Andrew Moore
- Kosmos: A Portrait of the Russian Space Age - Adam Bartos

I also really like Rob Hornstra's 101 Billionaires and Simon Robert's Motherland. Great colour work.

[emraphoto]

I'll have to look into this.

This sort of continues my personal belief that personal projects/work usually require a very long period of time (this case was a decade) to accomplish.

I'm not saying one can't do a "quick" project but the process, I believe, should take time and the artist, they must be patient. Given time and patience (and of course skill and a bit of luck) one can hopefully produce brilliance.

Cheers and thanks for the link Ray,
Dave

for reference, and not to imply i am of the same stock as the above mentioned, in 1 full year of work on a book project i have 5 frames i would call "keepers". year two begins tomorrow at 4 a.m.

[Turtle]

Looks really interesting!

Salgado's projects are all very long-term and many photographers produce their best work when truly immersed for long periods. In fact I think many of the best photo essays fall into this category.

[peter_n]

for reference, and not to imply i am of the same stock as the above mentioned, in 1 full year of work on a book project i have 5 frames i would call "keepers". year two begins tomorrow at 4 a.m.With the same qualification that John makes, I started a project with a youth orchestra five years ago. I worked at it for three years, then took the last two years off. I have maybe 10 keepers. I'm planning on returning to the project in the fall and expect to be working at it for several years.

[ryan26]

"My plan was to just walk the wall…to be there…to be close to where history was unfolding. I had a Nikon F3, I think it was. Kodak Tri-x film. Maybe I had a leica? I had a Leica M6 since the late 80s."

From an interview here:
http://www.aphotostudent.com/2010/02/08/a-conversation-with-jason-eskenazi/

[Lumpy]

Is this book only 5"x7"? I was considering buying it, but that seems terribly small for a photo book.

[brachal]

Is this book only 5"x7"? I was considering buying it, but that seems terribly small for a photo book.

Yes it is. It's small, but still a very powerful book.

[shadowfox]

This is weird,
if a photo-book can have a theme song, there's this melancholic song "Wonderland" by Simply Red that would fit this book perfectly.

Lyrics:

Words and music Mick Hucknall

People, places
Pursuing the chases
Our moments were chosen
Her senses, explosion

Take your pulse and read it well
She never said you'd only get one chance
Pay your debt and bleed as well
You're living in the same circumstances

The end of an era
Our future no clearer
My people no stronger
The blame I lay on her

Wonderland, Wonderland
It's beautiful
Wonderland, wonderland
It's beautiful

Take your pulse and read it well
She never said you'd only get one chance
Pay your debt and bleed as well
You're living in the same circumstances

The end of an era
My future no clearer
Our people no stronger
The blame I lay on her

Wonderland, wonderland
It's beautiful
Wonderland, wonderland
It's beautiful

Fading away, fading away until tomorrow comes
To haunt us all
It's coming again, it's gonna pick up on you
And haunt you always

Wonderland wonderland

[Ezzie]

And in colour, Jonas Bendiksen's Satellites.

http://www.jonasbendiksen.com/satellites_book.html

Lovely book. Pity its sold out. Second hand the hardcover version is fetching $200 and up. :(

[benlees]

"My plan was to just walk the wall…to be there…to be close to where history was unfolding. I had a Nikon F3, I think it was. Kodak Tri-x film. Maybe I had a leica? I had a Leica M6 since the late 80s."

From an interview here:
http://www.aphotostudent.com/2010/02/08/a-conversation-with-jason-eskenazi/


Hey! Thanks for posting that interview.

[RayPA]

Hey! Thanks for posting that interview.

Yes. ryan26, thanks. That was a fun and interesting read.



/