This is the reissue by Damiani of a legendary book published 50 years ago: When Two or More Are Gathered Together by Neal Slavin.
He sent us this text and these images.
One of my first inspirations for the idea of group portraiture was through the work of the French sociologist Alexis de Tocqueville who, on a trip to a young United States in 1840, remarked on the value of connection and cooperation in American society. That was how democracy would stay vibrant, he believed, by the power of the group. It is that very dynamic that I seek to explore in When Two or More Are Gathered Together, as I capture the intricate dynamics and relationships between the members of groups. In creating this book, I traveled throughout the United States photographing groups ranging from bodybuilders and dog owners to the entire assembly of traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange— the only such photograph to ever be taken in its history. Whether it took 16 hours or 6 hours to produce, each photograph reveals not just the physical faces in these groups, but underlying dynamics and interconnections, the larger story that emerges when individuals assemble and become a group.
Reflecting on my work in When Two or More Are Gathered Together, from 1972 to
1976, I am reminded of the profound impact that capturing group portraits has had on my understanding of human connections and community. This book – the revised 50th anniversary edition published by Damiani Books is an exploration of people coming together, for work, play, or other communal activities but always in the interest of human interaction – joking, commiserating, leaning on a shoulder or two and knowing that we’re all in the same boat . We need each other for survival. That to me is what de Toqueville meant by the vibrancy of American society.
Neal Slavin
Neal Slavin : When Two or More Are Gathered Together
Damiani
Edited with text by Kevin Moore
Binding: Hardbound
Language: English
Pages: 160
Illustrations: 118
ISBN: 9788862088299
https://www.damianibooks.com/en/products/6208829?_pos=2&_sid=a7c11dfb5&_ss=r
