Vivian comes out of the shade

I'm surprised how many one, two and three star reviews there are on Amazon US for this excellent photobook. On any level it really can not be faulted. Blank pages in a photo book are quite common though here the confusion which probably Caused by having them very close to eachother and repeated as seeking Throughout The pages. Book designer would normally space a few blanks Roughly evenly between all the photos. The printing by Asia Pacific is Comparable to any other quality printed art book (and it costs less than Quality Printing in Europe or the US). The duotones use a 200 screen on a very acceptable 157gsm matt art with perfect register. The slight black / ocher to feel thesis photos, I thought what a wise color choice.

As to Vivian Maier's photos, the 106 in the book are quite stunning. In Particular the framing is just prefect and I think this separate her work from other wellknown street photographers Especially Those classed as the New York School who go for a more emotional style of imagery. The photos reveal everyday street scenes in Chicago and New York and work so well Because They always pull you into the composition without any distractions about what to look at first. The pacing helps here too, close-up portraits merge into medium shots and then, Perhaps, a longshot saturated with detail. The more I Looked Through These pages the more the sequencing added to the photos.

If I have a criticism it is thatthere is really nothing about Vivian Maier. Her website gives some background and named I think it would have been helpful to the reader to have included some of this material

John Maloof, the book's editor, is to be congratulated on finding and preserving a treasure trove of photos by an unknown photographer who had examined a remarkable eye. I'm hoping this will be the first of many books revealing Ms Maier's creative vision.