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Rodney Smith

A Leap of Faith
4.47 goodreads logo

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( 17 ratings, 9 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Elegant, charming, and stunningly beautiful, Rodney Smith's fashion photography is a delightful revelation. Mystery and manners, romance and fun—the sophisticated compositions and stylish characters in the extraordinary pictures of Rodney Smith (1947–2016) exist in a timeless world of his imagination. This volume features nearly two hundred reproductions of Smith's images, including many never before published, alongside insightful essays that explore his creative journey, personal life, and artistic techniques. It is the definitive record of a truly original artist's life's work and worldview.
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Format: Hardback
$13199
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Rodney Smith will appeal to enthusiasts of fashion and art photography, admirers of timeless, surreal imagery, and readers interested in the creative process behind iconic photographic works.

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Elegant, charming, and stunningly beautiful, Rodney Smith's fashion photography is a delightful revelation.

"Rodney Smith’s lifework stands out for its expression of joy, humor, and wistfulness, and it serves as a reminder of the ways in which both fashion photography and fashion itself are in dialogue with art historical discourses. This comprehensive survey of Smith’s career illuminates not only how his playful embrace of experimentation and extraordinary technical mastery of photography resulted in imaginative, timeless images but also how these images broaden our understanding of fashion photography as a collaborative and expressive art form." - Michal Raz-Russo

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Elegant, charming, and stunningly beautiful, Rodney Smith's fashion photography is a delightful revelation.

"I would hope that I am one of a kind." —Rodney Smith

Mystery and manners, romance and fun—the sophisticated compositions and stylish characters in the extraordinary pictures of fashion photographer Rodney Smith (1947–2016) exist in a timeless world of his imagination. Born in New York City, Smith started out as a photo-essayist, turned to portrait photography, and found his niche, and greatest success, in fashion photography. Inspired by W. Eugene Smith, taught by Walker Evans, and devoted to the techniques of Ansel Adams, Smith was driven by the dual ideals of technical mastery and pure beauty.

This lavish volume features nearly two hundred reproductions of Smith's images—many that have never before been published—and weaves together a biocritical essay by Getty Museum curator Paul Martineau and a technical assessment of Smith's production by the Center for Creative Photography's chief curator, Rebecca A. Senf. It maps Smith's creative trajectory—including his introduction to photography, early personal projects, teaching, commissioned pieces, and career in fashion—and provides insight into his personal life and character, contextualising his work and creative tendencies within his privileged but lonely upbringing and complex emotional and psychological makeup. Rodney Smith is the definitive record of the life's work and worldview of a truly original artist.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Photographer Elliott Erwitt praises the book as a "delightful romp through a world where the mundane becomes magical," highlighting Smith's simplicity, instinct for beauty, and touch of surrealism and humour. Erwitt recommends it as a collection that transforms how readers see the world.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781606068465

Publisher: Getty Trust Publications

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 16 May 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Getty Publications

Illustration: 197 colour and 22 b/w illustrations

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Graydon Carter
  • Contributions by Rebecca A. Senf
  • Contributions by Leslie Smolan

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 241.0mm

Height: 292.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Paul Martineau is curator in the Department of Photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

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