Monday, November 23, 2009

Atomic Age


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Atomic Age by Martin Benjamin is a great book I've been living with for the past few weeks, trying to figure out what to say about it. A press release describes it minimally:

Atomic Age contains images from 1978 to 2007. The series is a lyrical set of pictures that include locations such as Alamogordo, NM; Three Mile Island, PA; Hiroshima, Japan; Oak Ridge, TN, as well as other photographs from around the world. The body of work is about life in the atomic age - from people to locations to lyrical photographs about love and life.

I can describe it as a meditation on life in the Atomic Age. That all sounds scary, but there is a sense of harmony and wonder in these photographs. The tone of the book is hopeful even though the viewer never forgets the threat is there. By the time one finishes Atomic Age, the vibe coming from these photographs is optimistic and empowering...it kinda feels like love and humanity win in the end.
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With a preface by Michael Hochanadel and designed by Nina Witschonke.
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See more of it HERE. Buy it HERE.
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4 comments:

Robert Holmgren said...

The fall out from some of the notable photographers of the 70s and 80s seems to have fallen upon Martin Benjamin. One sees the cosmic dust of Garry Winogrand, Elliot Erwitt, Ralph Gibson and the even earlier Robert Frank spread around this nice collection of images. At times the images seem casually inspired, at other times somewhat preachy and forced. Nonetheless, Benjamin shows himself to be a product of his time and it was a time when photography was finding a voice to fit its time. Pleasure comes from the nostalgia derived from seeing how we used to process information. Martin Benjamin is there to remind us of what is currently in short supply.

Anonymous said...

Arresting work on the atomic age site.thanks ta!
Becca

gabriel said...

just really beautiful.
cheeers,
gabby.

Anonymous said...

I have to stay away from Atomic Age! You see, I have a bit of a bad habit when it comes to comic books. I used to go in each week and drop about $60-$70 dollars on a multitude of titles. I've quit buying singles and now go in for trade paper backs, which when I go in I buy several so my total is still $80-$100, but I don't go each week anymore - more like every other month.sex free chatLondon Escort Agencies