Bookstore Gallery Auctions Blog Editions VisualServer
 
BEST OF 2012
BEST OF 2011
BEST OF 2010
BEST OF 2009
BACK TO BLOG HOME f.a.q.mastheadinquiriesfeedbackadvertisenewsletter
back
back
Redwood Saw
view comments [5]
Reviewed by Adam Bell, published on Monday, January 9, 2012
Font Size: T T T | print | email
Richard Rothman Redwood Saw
Photographs by Richard Rothman
Nazraeli Press, Portland, 2011. Hardbound. 136 pp., 81 duotone illustrations, 12x13".
Redwood Saw Photographs by Richard Rothman Published by Nazraeli Press, 2011.
As sentient animals, we arrogantly pride ourselves on our dominion over the land and its creatures. Entering the 21st century, the demands we have placed on the earth are reaching their limits. In the long view, after we are gone, the forest and animals will reclaim the Earth, and humans will likely become a footnote in Earth's long history. Richard Rothman's first monograph, Redwood Saw, tackles the thorny problem of our relationship to the planet. Rather than show often clich�d images of environmental destruction, as powerful and real as they are, Rothman focuses on a dying timber town, Crescent City, CA. Beginning in the forest and weaving his way through the town, Rothman leads us through the landscape and the inhabitant's lives, and offers an affecting portrait of America struggling in the face of depletion and worn-down dreams.
Redwood Saw, by Richard Rothman. Published by Nazraeli Press, 2011.

As Rothman discusses in the accompanying interview, he began the work five years ago and was primarily interested in the old growth forest that surrounds Crescent City. Seduced by the baroque chaos of the forest, Rothman spent a long time documenting the area, but was eventually drawn to the town and its inhabitants. Evolving from a more traditional landscape project, the work is given metaphoric weight and depth as the project expands and we move out of the woods. Rothman's own journey serves as the editorial guide and path through the book and work. Beginning in the forest, we slowly approach the outskirts of the town, the clear-cut forest and the ramshackle houses and shops on the edge of town. Along the way, we encounter the town's residents, at times clothed or unclothed, modest homes and stores. The tension between the gnarled splendor of the woods and the threadbare existence of the town and the people that live there creates a mournful evocation of consumption, depletion and lost dreams. Ending at the sea, we are brought full circle and offered a vision of beauty, albeit tinged with sadness, as well as proof of the ultimate power of nature.
Redwood Saw, by Richard Rothman. Published by Nazraeli Press, 2011.

Redwood Saw, by Richard Rothman. Published by Nazraeli Press, 2011.

Measuring 12"x13", Redwood Saw is a large and sumptuous book. The printing and B&W reproductions are gorgeous. Although the book might be a bit too long, the slight lack of editorial restraint can be forgiven because the images are all so beautiful. A classic monograph with single or double image spreads, fussy design does not interfere with the images and they are each given ample space to breathe. Accompanying the book, which is otherwise free of text, is a pamphlet with numerous photographs and an extended interview with Rothman. Emerging from a chance encounter on a plane, Alex Stein's interview with Rothman provides insight into the work, as well as Rothman and the town's history.
Redwood Saw, by Richard Rothman. Published by Nazraeli Press, 2011.

In 1893, the historian Frederick Jackson Turner wrote a seminal essay � "The Significance of the Frontier in American History." Although the American frontier was long gone, Frederick wrote about how it offered a perfect transformative foil that shaped and defined America as a unique nation. However problematic this assertion and belief, the myth of the American West and our frontier has always offered the promise of redefinition, plenty and transformation. Crescent City, like so many resource rich western towns, once embodied this possibility. From mineral resources to timber to fish, Crescent City drew from the land and sea to sustain itself, but has reached an impasse and exhausted its riches. Rothman's powerful work leads us through these exhausted hopes and dreams, and offers us glimpses of restoration and renewal � not only for towns like Crescent City, but for us all. —Adam Bell

purchase book
Adam Bell is a photographer and writer based in Brooklyn, NY. He received his MFA from the School of Visual Arts, and his work has been exhibited and published internationally. He is the co-editor and co-author, with Charles H. Traub and Steve Heller, of The Education of a Photographer (Allworth Press, 2006). His writing has appeared in Foam Magazine, Lay Flat and Ahorn Magazine. He is currently on staff and faculty at the School of Visual Arts' MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department. His website and blog are adambbell.com and adambellphoto.blogspot.com.
comments
No one has commented on this review yet, be the first to add a comment.
ADD A COMMENT


NOTE: Comments will not appear until they have been approved by our editors. Read more about our policy regarding comments.

One of our chief goals with photo-eye Magazine is to create a space where intelligent dialog about photography books can flourish. As such, we are excited about engaging directly with our readers and the larger online photo-community through interactive content such as these article comments. However, to best acheive an interesting, ongoing discourse, all comments will be published only after they have been vetted by the editors.

We will not edit anything that is posted, nor reject any comment because we disagree with it, we simply reserve the right to reject comments that we feel do not make a contribution or are designed to offend. All we ask is that comments are thoughtful and substantive.

Thank you.
* indicates a required field

Your Name/Pseudonym: *
please enter a name

Your Email: *
please enter an valid email addressplease enter an email address
This is for contact / verification only, your email will not be displayed or given out under any circumstances.

Your website:
must be a vaild URL (ex. http://www.yourwebsite.com)

Your Comment: *

please enter a comment

To help prevent auto-spamming
Please enter the text and/or numbers below, in order, left to right:
enter text from the image below



← Return to the Magazine front page
← Return to reviews
© photo-eye Magazine. This article is printed from photo-eye Magazine (http://www.photoeye.com/magazine/) and is intended for personal use. Please contact us if you would like permission to reprint this article for commercial or educational use. Text © by the author, all images © their respective owners. All rights reserved.
© PHOTO-EYE, LLC, 2022. All Rights Reserved Copyrights-Trademarks Privacy Policy Returns Policy Staff/Hours/Location 505.988.5152 info@photoeye.com