THINK PORTRAITS BY CHRIS RAMSEY
May 19, 2009,
Written by The 405
Think Portraits is the first photographic publication created by the 405's very own photographer Chris Ramsey. For a first publication, Think Portraits attention to professional detail is clear, with the over all aesthetics of its glossy front cover and inside pages giving the desired impression and making it a referable edition to ones collection.
With a title like Think Portratits you'd be right in assuming that the book would deliver just that - A series of portrait photographs to ponder upon. Ramsey's thought provoking choice of imagery for the front cover; a hand clutching onto a childhood toy, sets the mood and tone for the rest of book. Ramsey's collection is constantly forcing it's readers to challenge each of the photographs deeper meanings and the stories attached to the characters featured in them. Whether or not this was the intention it is certainly conveyed in this way.
Ramsey assigns each character two photographs. The first is an under exposed and low lit shot of the persons torso, creating a rather dark and moody look. Those who are familiar with Chris's other photographic work will know that narrative is rarely conveyed. Turning the page brings a complete contrast to the photograph prior - brightly lit and colourful poses breathe life into the book with a mixture of different trends and fashionable styles of our youth.Think Portraits is evidently a book aimed at the "creative youth" as we like to say here at The405 and for a younger audience, depicting teenagers and young adults with various items of which hold interest or a significant meaning.
It's rather disappointing that age is not explored any further, as after the first 10 pages of people with guitars,handbags,footballs and Starbucks coffee cups (which come across as being very cliche) things become rather repetitive, if not a little redundant. Sure, Ramsey has hit the nail on the head in giving us insight into the lives and interests of his subjects, but Think Portraits delivers us nothing new, more times than none the content is all too expected and common of this type of age group. It would have been nice to see some diversity in age and how the older generation compares to that of todays. Unfortunately, there is very little sustenance to the book, something that could have been avoided by telling us just who these people are, why they're here and what their story is.
Surely I cannot be alone in the assumption that when one reads a book they have a certain level of expectation that by the end of reading the book, they will have actually found something out?
Think Portraits fill in the blanks approach is strenuous to the imagination to say the least. Where as Ramsey's fantastic live photography doesn't need any explanations what so ever,Think Portraits reads very much like the portfolio of a photographer just cutting his teeth in the industry - the grey backdrop, angles that cut off the tops of peoples heads, and sometimes being out of focus.
Perhaps Think Portraits was more of an experimental project, rather then a professional debut and that's really how it should be treated. Personally I would like to see Ramsey publish some of his much stronger live music photography. Think Portraits is interesting,very artsy and experimental, it's just rather frustrating that it all reads like a clothing catalog. It cannot go unmentioned that Chris Ramsey is a very talented photographer and that his abilities are very much an important and key part to The405's photography team, it just seems that Think Portraits was a little undeveloped and somewhat rushed in conception, but everyone here at The405 would like to congratulate Chris on his first publication and here's to many more.
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2 responses so far...
Chris Ramsey
Firstly, I would like to thank Aaron for his honesty, i respect that and for The405 for reviewing my book.
I have read and agree completely with the comments that Aaron has left on the book. There is alot of editing and development needed upon the the book and I see that now.
It was a Uni project that i chose to take a step further. I believe that I may have jumped to fast into the book publishing business and should have waited a little longer to develop and fine tune my editorial skills.
After showing my book to my fellow course students and course lectures I was able to see the mistakes throughout the book, and know where to adjust these problems in future.
However, I am still happy with the book, as a first book I believe i have covered a few amount of the outcomes requested of me.
Thank you again for reviewing the book and for those who have taken the time to read this. Hopefully the next time I have a book reviewed I would have taken these comments into account and used them to produce a successful book!
Chris Ramsey
Wade
Great review, and great response from Ramsey there. That's how we roll.
Will - 09/09/10
Now that's reflection! /\ [view article]
Kevin - 08/09/10
OH MY GOD HE HAS A VAGINA ON HIS FACE [view article]
Matthew - 08/09/10
You missed the point methinks... Seriously, I thought comments were to provide reflection, opinion, and clarification on the article or topic in question. Instead I get a throwaway! [view article]
Rob - 08/09/10
Because Oliver gets sad when no one comments, and I felt like expressing my opinion re: stokeage for this book. [view article]
Matthew - 08/09/10
Then why bother to comment?? [view article]