Aaron Rose Photographs

This book deserves more than five stars.Until 5 prints of Mr. Rose's were included in the Whitney Biennial in 1997, few had seen his work. In fact, his first solo show came in 1998. Despite this, his oeuvre covers more than four decades and some of the best photography I have ever seen. You will find Mr. Rose to be a rewarding photographer who will remind you of some of the best of Edward Weston. His subjects in this outstanding volume of 100 color photographs include shells, New York City, the milky way, reflections, trees, leaves, the sun and clouds, and sky. His images are often created with very long exposures using early 20th century equipment and lenses. More recently, he often uses only pinholes and small aperature cameras. The book's only drawback is that Mr. Rose is fond of a four letter word beginning with "f" that appears several times in his interview.Mr. Rose's work is mostly about light, and seeks to create a meditative mood. For example, the images of New York City are taken from very high perspectives and are almost abstract. You will be reminded of Cubist rectangles. His shells are translucent and surreal. The milky way looks like fine bubbles in good champagne. The reflections are almost totally abstract and remind me of drip paintings. The trees and leaf photographs build on fractals as recurring images and provide a sense of optimism. The sun and cloud images are wonderfully romantic and mysterious. His images of the sky are done as circles that provide the impression of peering through the porthole of a space ship, an airplane, or a boat.In each case, Mr. Rose is giving you a private view of the world that you have never seen before. These new subjective realities will inspire you to have new perceptions and thoughts. The work evokes an earlier age, and will cause you to slow down and feel more comfortable. The images could easily have been done in the 1920s in terms of the feelings they evoke. Unlike most books of photography, I do not need to issue any warnings about the images. Except for the language in the interview, this book would be rated "G" if it were a motion picture. After you finish enjoying these wonderful images, think of ways that you can create similar moods in your daily life. Wouldn't life be wonderful if we always saw it as subtle, gentle, and eternal?Slow down . . . and see more!

The quality of this book is unsurpassed, The images are unique and beautiful. A must buy for any book collection.

I can't say enough about the photographs of Aaron Rose. His photographs are some of the most unique and thoughtful photographs made by a contemporary practitioner. Rose is a self-taught chemist, and his work explifies a true mastery of the fundamentals of photography--light and chemistry. This book does real justice to the intense and unique craftsmanships behind his photographs. It is a must for any serious photographer, and anyone interested in the mechanics and possibilities of photographic processing.

The photography in this book is incredible. Corn and Rose are a good pair. This book makes you open your eyes and pay more attention to the detail in everyday life. Breathtaking.