Where We Live: Photographs of America from the Berman Collection

by Judith Keller, Colin Westerbeck

Where We Live presents more than 150 images from the Bruce and Nancy Berman collection of contemporary photographs. From Mitch Epstein's Holyoke, Massachusetts, to Camilo Vergara's Detroit, to John Divola's 29 Palms in Southern California, the images here concentrate on the American landscape and the people and structures that can be found in its vast vistas--and its backyards. The photographs that the Bermans have been drawn to often represent changing American communities recorded by artists whose vision is passionate but unsentimental--a vision that acknowledges the present as fleeting, desolate, and lyrical.
Beautifully reproduced in this volume--which coincides with an exhibition to be held at the J. Paul Getty Museum from October 24, 2006, to February 25, 2007--are works from twenty-four contemporary photographers, the majority working in color, from William Christenberry and William Eggleston to Doug Dubois and Sheron Rupp. Accompanying the photographs are illuminating essays by Kenneth A. Breisch and Colin Westerbeck and an introduction by Judith Keller. An essay by novelist Bruce Wagner captures the mood that runs through this powerful assemblage of photographs.

227 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2006

Reviews

[Cami · Rating 1 out of 5]

These photographs, taken of various places in the US, were rather boring and really not very important other than as historical images.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am making an effort to study other photographers work this year. I think where I have always struggled before is, the suggested photographers to study are nothing close to my style or subject interest of photography. Finally I got smart and went to the library where a great collection of photography books live, and found photographers who photograph the same things I love. This book is a prime example of what I love.