4 out of 4 stars
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Finding the beauty and artistry in everyday life has become popular with photographers and artists of late. Crowded streets and urban settings have a poetry all their own. Abandoned buildings and deserts evoke a similar mood in a different way. All of these locations have the similar theme of finding the extraordinary in the commonplace for photographers. Forensic Foraging by William C. Crawford and Jim Provencher provides not only a handbook for those interested in this type of art, but it also shows a variety of mediums of expression for the curious.
Forensic Foraging is a collection of essays, photography, and poetry that reveals the beauty in the mundane. Pictures include rusted signs, abandoned houses, broken windows, individuals in crowds, and colorful buildings, all of them showcasing a certain stunning quality of their own. The essays included in the book mostly ruminate over the adventures or methods that the photographers used to get their pictures. The last section of the book features poetry that evokes a similar mood to that of the photography. The pictures and poems feel worn and gritty, but also evidence a unique style that isn’t unpleasant.
I ended up giving Forensic Foraging 4 out of 4 stars. The writing is exceptionally good. I was unable to find any grammatical errors in it, and the poetry is all well-formatted. People interested in art or photography should really enjoy this book. The pages are colorful and the neat, and I enjoyed the variety of mediums that the authors used. I admit I’m not a huge fan of poetry, but this book had a very enjoyable selection of poems. The essays mostly describe the ideas behind the style of “found” art that celebrates beauty in the mundane. The authors clearly enjoy the style of art they are making, and they encourage others to try out this type of photography. The poetry might not seem to go along with a book of photography, but I found the addition of this section to fit right in. The photography is stunning in its own unique way.
The only downside I could find to this book is that it might not be for those uninterested in art or photography. This is an art book, and those looking for a heart-pounding read might want to look elsewhere. The poems and essays are to set a mood, not provide a lot of excitement.
On the whole, I found Forensic Foraging a very interesting read. Not only is the book very professionally edited, but it provides a fascinating spin on what people consider traditional art. I may never look at an abandoned building the same way again.
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Forensic Foraging
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