Dennis Hopper had the keen eye of a photographer. He always had a camera on him everywhere he went and photographed anything from movie idols to complete strangers. And now, his photographs can be viewed as a collection in this volume. There are a limited number of copies, 1,500 out there, each signed by the photographer himself. As a photographer of the 1960s, he took the opportunity to document the historical moments of Tina Turner in the studio, Andy Warhol at his first West Coast show, Paul Newman on set, and Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Not only did he capture notable faces but he also got shots of Tijuana bullfights, LA happenings and the urban street scene, all expressive of not only a place in time but a cultural movement of that time. A compilation of Hopper’s photographs collected by Tony Shafrazi best portray the essence of Hopper’s phenomenal photographic career. A third of these photographs were previously unpublished and will be the first time they will be viewed in the public eye. With introductory essays written by Tony Shafrazi, interviews of Hopper’s famous subjects, friends and family by Victor Bockris, and an extensive biography by journalist Jessica Hundley, this volume sheds light upon the numerous everyday happenings and unsung heroes that deserve our attention and some appreciation.

via Saeko Oishi, 21 October 2009 12:00pm | |