The Creative Journey: The Transparent City by Michael Wolf

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The Transparent City by Michael Wolf

This week's Photo Book Tuesday selection is The Transparent City by Michael Wolf. Produced by the Aperture Foundation, I chose this book for evoking the challenges I always deal with when traveling to big cities. Being from rural Tennessee, the vertical nature of being in a larger building while being surrounded by same has always burdened me with a sense of loneliness and a fascination with what other people are doing in their tiny space just a short distance away. It's confining and altogether weird to me. It's also really cool.

I've been a fan of Wolf's work for years after a friend sent me a link to his Architecture of Density series covering high rise buildings in Hong Kong.

From the publisher,

Bringing his unique perspective on changing urban environments to a city renowned for its architectural legacy, Wolf chose to photograph the central downtown area, focusing specifically on issues of voyeurism and the contemporary urban landscape in flux.

Hardcover

112 pages, 60 color images

released in November 2008

$42.00 currently at Aperture's website

Sphere: Related Content

No comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Artist Bio

Byron O'Neal was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, the eldest son of two teachers. Drawn to the arts from an early age, he worked for over a decade in various technical and production positions for live theatre, musical artists, film, and television. His university studies culminated with a degree in Environmental Science and Anthropology, and it is at this intersection between art and the larger human environment where Byron's photographic interests lie.

Now in his second year as a professional photographer, Byron's award-winning work has been shown in numerous gallery shows in the U.S. and Canada. His unique, cutting-edge work also graces the walls of several hotels around the country, and he continues to offer custom photography for discriminating patrons. Currently, Byron makes his home in Oklahoma with his wife, their young son, and two dogs. He enjoys traveling to gather new ideas and subject matter.

The photography of Byron O'Neal blends imagination, satire, emotion, and symbolism in innovative ways. He gleans his inspiration from the world through a lens, sometimes dreamy, sometimes gritty, always creative.

"I want to convey the beauty of our world in some way through each image. It is everywhere, all around us, sometimes in shocking or seemingly mundane places. It can take your breath away with its simplicity. Using images to transmit ideas and feelings transcends the limitations of language the way few other things can.