William Klein: ABC

Love William Klein, I enjoyed this book because it's one of the books William Klein put together himself. The only thing is the books is farily small in size, not a big coffee table book but non the less very beautiful and amazing photos.

William Klein's books have been mostly published in Europe, and in the US prices of used copies have become prohibitive for all but deep-pocketed collectors, typically topping $200 for a copy in good or better condition. So it was with some real anticipation that I ordered "ABC" when it become available a few months ago. And it is with some real regret that I have to judge this book a serious disappointment, and don't believe it serves well as a retrospective of a 60 year career. The reproduction is very good, as is the binding, paper, jacket, and all other superficial physical features by whichI usually judge a photo or art book. I know I will raise a few hackles saying so, but the use of double-spreads for nearly all of the large "straight" photographs (not collaged, painted, or otherwise changed) is more than a distraction. I find double spreads ruin viewing a photograph, anyone's photograph (though I realize Klein himself has often chosen this layout, to a lesser degree, in earlier books). It interrupts what should be a continuous, flowing experience just as much as splitting a single piece of music into two tracks (or onto two 'sides,' if you remember that). The gutter, and the curvature of the open book distort and obfuscate the essential image. Klein and his publishers could have made a number of other choices that would have avoided what really is a small disaster, and we would have had a more substantial, more pleasing book for the same or lower production cost. For me, this is non-negotiable, especially in a book that purports to be a summary and review, so I will have to keep hope alive that I will someday find an affordable used copy of the '54-'55 book, or wait for Klein (or his estate) to issue a more proper "collected works." The spreads may not bother you as much, but I'd be surprised to find anyone defend their use here, to the extent used here, as adding rather than taking away from viewing the photographs. If you are not familiar with Klein's work, you would be better served to find a library copy of "Life is Good/'54-'55" or the "Rome, " Tokyo," or "Moscow" books and study that (or buy them, if you can afford it). "ABC" does précis his entire ouevre fairly well, and the painted contacts are a delight here, and of course the quality of production is excellent overall and in every particular (except: the all-cap helvetica essay is hard to read, more so since it is printed so lightly). But the double-spreads, eek! And so many missing Klein-gems. Klein famously reduced a great photographer's life to about two seconds: 200 or fewer images taken at an average of 125th/second. But where are they? I'd gladly pay $75 (more than twice what Amazon charges for "ABC") for a more direct, inclusive scan of William Klein's work. If you have been waiting years for this book, I think you may be as disappointed with it as I am. Sorry, I really am.

Very interesting retrospective and format. I liked both the street and fashion shots. I was skeptical about the collages but in the end felt they added to the book. I saw a while ago an interview with Klein and this put all in perspective

Rude, crude with plenty of 'tude...and yet an empathetic eye--that's what I like about Klein. I don't have the same issues with the layout as some other reviewers--I think it is well designed and printed, and printing photos across the gutter is a trade-off that I accept in books that want to show you larger images.

Fantastic survey of Klein's work with a great introductory essay. At $10, this is a no-brainer! And Klein is said to have designed the book himself.

ABC is a valuable survey of Klein's still and motion photography. His major books and film projects are all sampled here. If you don't need the entire collection of Moscow, Paris, Rome and Tokyo books, some now quite expensive, this will do. (His 2014 Brooklyn work is a lesser effort.)Fore and aft material provide a handy reference guide to Klein's life, influences and output. And it all comes at a reasonable price for such a large-format hardcover volume of 182 pages.Unfortunately, Klein's greatest photography in his native New York receives only 16 pages of images. Originals of his 1950s masterpiece Life is Good and Good For You in New York are many thousands of dollars, with only a poor-quality Errata reproduction currently available (my review is on Amazon).The brief New York section in ABC omits way too much, and doesn't even sample Klein's manic layout of Life is Good. But it includes a two-page spread of an image Klein initially overlooked that has since become one of his best-known: "Blacks + Pepsi, Harlem 1955."I found ABC's artsy typography and spreads across gutters annoying. But the printing job, paper and binding are excellent. Tonal detail of the New York images is way above Errata's glorified reduced-sized photocopy of Life is Good.I would suggest getting both books and viewing Klein's on-line videos. The two volumes can be dipped into time and time again, greatly repaying the cost of purchase. Together, they offer a comprehensive look at Klein's "still" photographs...which are anything but.

I know, he is a GREAT photographer, and, a "talented" graphic artist and all that, but the only good photo is the one on the cover that is not crossed out. Of all the photography books I have collected I could afford, I would not recommend this one at all. If you want to pay the postage, I will mail you mine for free. I don't know what this book was meant to reflect or reveal, and I am at least semi-intelligent? Don't answer that. His other books have contents much more ponderous and accessible.

I ordered this book thinking it was a composite of William Klein's best work on great quality stock and written well. None of these qualities are part of this book. William Klein is an amazing talented photographer. I had been looking for a very long time for a book about him and came across this one. If I wasn't familiar with this photographer"s work, I would probably assume he was second rate after reading and viewing the photos in this book. I returned it.

William Klein lässt einen in der Szene dabei sein. Die Fotos nehmen einen mit in alte Zeiten und sind meisterhaft aufgenommen. Das Buch selbst ist sehr günstig und die Foto immer formatfüllend. Einige sind auf Doppelseiten und das Buch lässt sich zum Glück weit aufschlagen, ohne dass es Schaden nimmt.

This is a piece of the puzzle. Remember when you heard Hendrix for the first time? Like, last year? And you said, whoa! Sounds like SRV. Right. Everything is evolutionary, yes, but there are certain luminaries that cause major shifts. Miles Davis, Picasso, Caravaggio, Haas, HCB, Maisel.Klein...

Bellissimo libro, godibile per il formato adeguato, oltre che per la qualitá delle fotografie.William Klein ha uno stile "aggressivo", che sempre ti colpisce per l'intensitá delle emozioni che è in grado di suscitare. Incredibile poi la modernità dell'approcio grafico, sicuramente attuale ed influente ancora oggi.

Le vendeur ArtBooksOnline a parfaitement emballé le livre qui est arrivé en état parfait. Le livre en lui-même est très bien imprimé et le travail de William Klein est respecté. Le génie photographique et artistique de Klein est bien mis en valeur.

Great inspiration