Illuminations

These photos create a unique sense for which I have no good words. The cover image gives an example: Stiffly posed, but without real tension, pale and luminous, and somehow beyond reach of human touch. Many of Tenneson's figures are swathed in flows of gauze or something just a little heavier. Only a few photos feature the clean-shorn model that appears on the front, but I find them appealing in that extra degree of nudity and truth to the body itself. Several of these photos capture ranges of the human spectrum that others often ignore: a male model with whitened beard and sagging skin, a heavy-set woman with rolling curves, wide-eyed children in chaste and formal poses. The most remarkable among these remarkable photos might be a sequence of four, showing the same woman and child. The first three show the burgeoning pregnancy with the child inside, the last shows the newborn infant, held close against the belly that contained her just one photo ago. I understand least the images in which a seminude model is carefully capped, her body exposed and her hair hidden - or, more baffling still, only partly hidden. Understanding is over-rated, though, and not necessary for many kinds of appreciation. Whether I understand or not, I appreciate this memorable collection. -- wiredweird

Most of the photos in this collection have been shot in a form of lighting that causes a slight, white blurring of the image. It causes the image to have a surreal effect, and it is dramatic. Looking at the images causes an impression at two different levels. At the general level, you are seeing an image as if you are looking through a very thin white sheet. Underneath that, there are very subtle messages in the photos. On one page, there are photos of a nude woman at three points of her pregnancy and one after birth, with the newborn baby at her breast. The message here is obvious, but most of the rest are far subtler. Most of the pictures are of a human form, and while there is some emotion on their faces, it is very low key and subject to interpretation. In looking at the same photo, you can see sadness, low-key joy and perhaps a hint of boredom. I looked through the book several times, scanning the photos, studying them sector by sector, finding new interpretations each time I delved deeper into the image. Tenneson is an excellent photographer, her hazy white light technique of shooting adds a quality to the photos that gives them a spooky quality. However, they are also beautiful.

I am not an expert in critiquing photography, but I know what I like, so know this: Joyce Tenneson's work is incredible! If only more of her books were still in print...But if you don't believe me, see for yourself.

Black and white photos may be all the rage for people who want poetic images, but Illuminations contains some of the most surreal, breathtakingly beautiful images I've ever seen. From the haunted old woman to the progression of the pregnant girl to the androgynous figures, every image in this book carries a power that reminds me of the cinematic.

Ms. Tenneson expands on her already impressive gallery of ethereal images , while nicely finding her niche in the digital age. Superb layout and an interesting section where the artist actually interviews herself make this a must-have for all photo book lovers...