The baby in the playpen near the dam is such an interesting image, especially with the baby looking at the camera. The elephant in the street though! I had to try and zoom in from my phone then came to the site on a laptop to I could look at it closer. I need the full story!!! Great feature!
I’ve always wondered what possessed someone to setup their pack and play on the Glen Canyon Dam, but I love the fact Sternfeld was there to document it. I believe the story behind the elephant is that it escaped from a circus. Again though, Sternfeld happening upon that scene with his 8x10 is incredible. The amount of time he must have spent on the road to be able to capture stuff like this when the opportunity presented itself will never cease to amaze me.
Definitely a favorite project of mine and appreciate the addition of the out-takes.
Of the ones I’ve not seen before, I love the winter hillside and mobile home with weird angular building behind it. The latter feels surreal like something AI would generate today.
Joel is definitely one photographer I regret that I’ve never met.
It does make me sad to see how AI is reshaping our collective understanding about surrealism in images. That’s not a knock on your comment, I agree with the sentiment, it’s just something I’ve been thinking a lot about as I’m getting increasing numbers of comments referencing AI when talking about unusual things in photographs. Including people accusing real photographs (which are the only thing I’ll ever shows) of being AI. If our default reaction to seeing something out of the ordinary becomes “that must be fake” instead “wow, that’s a great photograph” I feel like we’ve lost something.
Yeah, I agree in regard to AI. Interesting things can and will be done with it, but so far it tends to lend itself to the uncanny, strange, and surreal which does indeed do a disservice to our collective understanding of just how interesting and strange the world actually is when we pay attention. Combined with looking at pictures for a decade on our phones in a scrolling news feed format the damage to the medium, the act of observation, and really seeing is pretty disheartening.
In short, I'm very glad you are here on Substack and to read the comments that others are taking the time to switch to their desktops to look at these incredible pictures. Hallelujah!
Quite a few of these were just *wow* moments for me. Farm store and fire was my favorite (the fireman selecting a pumpkin!) but the elephant in the road was practically heartbreaking. These deceptively simple images provoke emotion.
I think I might be more impressed by Joel Sternfeld than any other photographer. The fact that he found all of these amazing and unusual moments (the firefighter and elephant are probably the most iconic) which shooting with an 8x10 view camera (which takes at least 10 minutes to setup a shot) is mind blowing.
Interesting, the one I have is already pretty big. Perhaps some of the ones we included here that aren’t in book. Sternfeld’s website had quite a few I hadn’t seen previously.
Getting nostalgic for these days so well captured, not just the image but the feel, it's visceral. Great work. Guy shopping for pumpkins while house burns, priceless.
The image of the rocket on its side is fascinating, I love the sense of scale! At first my eye was drawn to the rocket engines, then to the vehicles, and finally to the couple standing directly in front of it. I never realized how massive these machines are.
First, I think it’s dope to see some of your work Noah! Beautiful!!! Second, Sternfeld along with Shore and Herzog are the people who have inspired my urban landscape/street work the most. They provide me inspiration as well as motivation to go out and express myself. I’m also inspired to start using large format in the near future. This particular set of images are my personal favorite project from Sternfeld’s collection.
The baby in the playpen near the dam is such an interesting image, especially with the baby looking at the camera. The elephant in the street though! I had to try and zoom in from my phone then came to the site on a laptop to I could look at it closer. I need the full story!!! Great feature!
I’ve always wondered what possessed someone to setup their pack and play on the Glen Canyon Dam, but I love the fact Sternfeld was there to document it. I believe the story behind the elephant is that it escaped from a circus. Again though, Sternfeld happening upon that scene with his 8x10 is incredible. The amount of time he must have spent on the road to be able to capture stuff like this when the opportunity presented itself will never cease to amaze me.
Definitely a favorite project of mine and appreciate the addition of the out-takes.
Of the ones I’ve not seen before, I love the winter hillside and mobile home with weird angular building behind it. The latter feels surreal like something AI would generate today.
Joel is definitely one photographer I regret that I’ve never met.
Thanks 🙏
It does make me sad to see how AI is reshaping our collective understanding about surrealism in images. That’s not a knock on your comment, I agree with the sentiment, it’s just something I’ve been thinking a lot about as I’m getting increasing numbers of comments referencing AI when talking about unusual things in photographs. Including people accusing real photographs (which are the only thing I’ll ever shows) of being AI. If our default reaction to seeing something out of the ordinary becomes “that must be fake” instead “wow, that’s a great photograph” I feel like we’ve lost something.
Yeah, I agree in regard to AI. Interesting things can and will be done with it, but so far it tends to lend itself to the uncanny, strange, and surreal which does indeed do a disservice to our collective understanding of just how interesting and strange the world actually is when we pay attention. Combined with looking at pictures for a decade on our phones in a scrolling news feed format the damage to the medium, the act of observation, and really seeing is pretty disheartening.
In short, I'm very glad you are here on Substack and to read the comments that others are taking the time to switch to their desktops to look at these incredible pictures. Hallelujah!
Mine too Randall! I was really excited to find ones I hadn’t seen before on Sternfeld’s website.
I really enjoy that one too. That is a very strange, surreal looking building behind it.
Joel is only 81, it’s not too late!
One of my guiding lights.
Mine too!
Quite a few of these were just *wow* moments for me. Farm store and fire was my favorite (the fireman selecting a pumpkin!) but the elephant in the road was practically heartbreaking. These deceptively simple images provoke emotion.
I think I might be more impressed by Joel Sternfeld than any other photographer. The fact that he found all of these amazing and unusual moments (the firefighter and elephant are probably the most iconic) which shooting with an 8x10 view camera (which takes at least 10 minutes to setup a shot) is mind blowing.
As someone who has lugged an 8x10 camera around SE Michigan one year, I can attest to how amazing his vision is.
Me too! Are you from Michigan Brooke?
I lived in Ann Arbor for about 18 years. It’s as close to “home” as I have. You?
I love the shot of the RV with the flash!
Also wanted to mention that Steidl is issuing a new addition of American Prospects this summer and I'm patiently waiting for my copy.
Thank you so much Rob, I really appreciate that!
I saw that too, I’m curious how it will compare to the version I have currently.
It's apparently a physically larger book and has some added photos, but I'm not sure how many.
Interesting, the one I have is already pretty big. Perhaps some of the ones we included here that aren’t in book. Sternfeld’s website had quite a few I hadn’t seen previously.
Love his work so much! Wish I were heading to ICP, hope it goes well.
Getting nostalgic for these days so well captured, not just the image but the feel, it's visceral. Great work. Guy shopping for pumpkins while house burns, priceless.
The image of the rocket on its side is fascinating, I love the sense of scale! At first my eye was drawn to the rocket engines, then to the vehicles, and finally to the couple standing directly in front of it. I never realized how massive these machines are.
First, I think it’s dope to see some of your work Noah! Beautiful!!! Second, Sternfeld along with Shore and Herzog are the people who have inspired my urban landscape/street work the most. They provide me inspiration as well as motivation to go out and express myself. I’m also inspired to start using large format in the near future. This particular set of images are my personal favorite project from Sternfeld’s collection.