Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel: Evidence Hardcover – April 25, 2017

Glad this is still in print. So many classic Photobooks like this are out of print and unavailable.

This is the document of a found photography project from the 70s. Apparently there is a current retrospective of it that attempts to put the works in a narrative framework. That is against the original intention of the project, but don't worry: there is no way to assemble a linear narrative, open to only one interpretation, from this work. The power of these photographs rests on two fundamentals: 1 - they are all found photos taken from corporate archives, not intended as art, and 2 - no caption, explanation, or context is offered. Any original contextualizing aspects have been carefully removed. What you are left with are some really enigmatic images of human activity. You may read criticism of technological society in some, but the artists very wisely avoid all overt "social commentary". Not only does this respect the intelligence of the audience, but it preserves the wonder implicit in most of these images. If I were to distill a "message" out of this work, it is: we are capable of astonishing ourselves simply by going about our business.

Had seen this book back in the late 70's and absolutely loved it. It was a very big influence on me as a developing photographer.I was very happy to find it reissued and quickly ordered myself a copy. Just love it!

It is a classic. What else do you need to know. All lovers of photography and image editing should own this book or at the very least know about it.

It's hard to decide what's more brilliant here: the images themselves, the archives they're tied to, the idea behind the project, or the methods the artists used (imitation "offical" letters of recommendation). But not only is this a great collection of images, it says a lot both about the military-inductrial complex of the '50s through '70s and how it represents itself. A smart book on every level, and the reprint contains some archive photos not included in the original book.

Classic. An essential addition to any photo-book library

My expectations were more than met, I received something that I will cherish til my dying days...The price was great compared to everyone else.

THERE IS MORE EVIDENCEFinally this is released again. While I have not seen the additional photos, I expect that this trove of non-art photos is without end ... (see Pinterest)! Personally, I was not aware that this endeavor was a touchstone of conceptual something. I can't remember if the original gave information, say in the back of the book,on what we are looking at. While it is one of the great human short comings to read the label BEFORE looking, context can also be a source of further enjoyment. My 2 cents: the conceptual approach, now recognized as an historical art approach, makes this book enshrined there. Perhaps it's just so much "smarty pants marketing." This relates back to a time when stoners turned off the sound to the TV to experience the visual without the wordy explanations, great! When this became a something more than human monkeys learning to just look and get it, I don't know, Calling it art,maybe is a way to wear fancy pants. While this is a great book to have back out there, may I suggest 2 books where we know who the photographer is, HIS vision (not the finders). JOE STEINMETZ with his iconic Tupperware parties (all at Yale). BUT above all there is the "TESTING" book by Consumers Union, with most of the photographs taken by Michael Miller. Subject of NY State Museum retrospective, curated by that wildcat curator L. Datene,1989? These are product testing photos, made iconic by the vision of Miller. They are are surreal, in place, logical but not giving up their mystery. It's been said, there is always more, yes, but I hope we will always find and celebrate the people that had a vision and encouraged the mystery. Mr. Davis,a previous reviewer (who possibly might have issues with my take) had a wonderful and memorable phrase, "we are capable of astonishing ourselves simply by going about our business." GREAT! This is all to say it's a good book, but worth thinking about! Thanks

Dal mio punto di vista , un grande libro perché visionario e perché dietro ha un infrastruttura concettuale molto forte , grazie alla quale i due autori sono riusciti a selezionare una sequenza di immagini da un archivio di migliaia di foto, portando il fruitore in una condizione di straniamento totale.

Un libro di fotografie molto interessante e particolare. Per appassionati di fotografia. Consigliato dal grande fotografo inglese Martin Parr in un’intervista con Lee Shulman.

Osservi una foto e pensi che il contenuto sia chiaro, osservi una sequenza di foto e pensi sia chiarissimo anche il significato, e invece no. La sequenza delle 59 foto di Evidence sono un puzzle in grado di demolire ogni certezza relativa al significato di un immagine.

Excelente! Buen producto y entrega expedita.

If you're looking to add a photo book/Art book library, then this book is a must!