Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A gallery of Alastair Thain's photographic portraits. Gathered together, they offer an exploration of modern celebrity and myth.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Booklist Review

The celebrity portrait, always important in photography, has been especially popular lately. Leibovitz, Ritts, Rolston, Newton--the world can't seem to get enough of their artful, aggressive images in big, luxurious books. These two new titles suggest just how much variety is possible in the genre. Famous as a portraitist for half a century, Karsh adds to his pantheon a group of "American Legends" who've sat for him mostly during the last two years. Contrary to the jacket blurb, Karsh is not "breaking new ground," for here are the same old exquisite lighting, crisp focus, careful poses, hands clasping each other or a characteristic object, gentle smiles, and allover fine craftsmanship. Not a bad approach, and certainly rather refreshing when applied to subjects as varied as Andy Warhol, Norman Schwarzkopf, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Cesar Chavez.Thain, at 31 young enough to be Karsh's grandson, provides a different perspective. His oversize volume full of extreme close-ups bled to cover the page--contrast-y pictures with lots of deep black shadows--makes the reader squirm. Everything about the book, including the huge type in the section breaks, feels rude, too close--and therein lies Thain's brilliance. Not for him is Karsh's reverent, jewel-box approach. He tears off his sitters' protective coverings, even when they are celebrities well used to the camera. Somewhat reminiscent of the harsh early portraits of Bill Brandt, Thain's gritty images of William Burroughs, Sandra Bernhard, Anthony Hopkins, and Kenny Scharf, in particular, have the feel of timelessness. Not all the others are equally good, and the book's editing is its weak point. The color photos, which look not only out of place but downright awful, should have been cut first (including the cover photo of Annie Lennox). But Thain's a talent to watch. ~--Gretchen Garner