.diane arbus.
An Aperture Monograph
Aperture, 1972, 184 pages
ISBN 0-912334-40-1
Diane Arbus was a remarkable photographer who created unique and unusual portraits.
She seemed to be drawn by people who were different from what society might consider normal: transvestites, nudists, midgets, etc. Of course, she photographed "normal" people as well… but they never seem to look quite normal in her photos.
The people in these photographs rarely smile, and when they do smile the effect is usually unnerving rather than friendly. Her images are always disturbing or unsettling in some way.
The book's text is Diane's own words, from recordings of her workshops, interviews, and her own writings. But this text is presented without any context whatsoever: while reading these comments from Arbus, you never know who she was speaking to or when she made them. It's a bit disconcerting, but maybe that's the point, as looking at her photos can also be a bit disconcerting.
The black & white square format photos collected in this monograph form a definitive collection of her best work. Highly recommended.