William Eggleston's Stranded in Canton

01

Image

—01. Photographs by William Eggleston.

Words

I was recommended William Eggleston’s film, Stranded in Canton, a while ago when discussing his work with a colleague, unbeknownst to me that on top of his influential body of photographs he had also produced this bizarre and innovative piece of video art. Shot using a black-and-white Sony Portapak unit with an infrared tube attached so he could record in dark places without lights, the outcome is part Southern Gothic circus sideshow and part hallucinatory cinéma-vérité documentation. In 2009, it was released as a book featuring 40 frame enlargements and other bonus materials, as well as a DVD copy of the remastered film. This volume, published by Twin Palms, is definitely one to check out, especially if you're interested in the fringes of 1970s American artistic expression or want to gain a deeper understanding of a highly influential career that is still going strong.

—Available from Photo-Eye Bookstore

Album: The Portraits of Duane Michals 1958-1988

01

02

Images

—01. Dennis Hopper.
—02. Ludmilla Tchérina.

Words

First published in 1988 and now into its second edition, this book of portraits from the acclaimed photographer Duane Michals presents 125 gravure printed plates in a large 11 x 14-inch volume. The composition of Michals' images is masterful and totally distinct, relying on visiting the subject and capturing their essence on location, rather than bringing them into the studio. It’s this approach of avoiding shooting outside of the subject's element that instills all of his photography with the ephemerality of passing moments – his trademark for nearly 60 years. 

—Available from Twin Palms