There is a new book of photographs of photographers. But don’t roll your eyes and move on. Behind Photographs, photos and text by Tim Mantoani, is the result of six years of self-financed work and many sheets of 20”x24” Polaroid. The project started when Mantoani decided to photograph two of his photographic “heros”, Jim Marshall and Michael Zagaris with a large Polaroid in San Francisco. He had each of them bring their favorite photo to the studio (Marshall, of course, brought a portfolio) to hold in their portrait and afterward he decided on the spur of the moment to have them write something about the photo on the Polaroid print. Tim was so affected by, and so enjoyed the process he decided to keep doing it. The book includes some of the most famous single images and the photographers that made them from the last 65 years, like Steve McCurry and the Afghan Girl. It also includes photographers and images, not so famous that crossed Mantoani’s path while he worked on the project. It is a marvelous book, but make sure you have a loupe (you remember where you put it, don’t you) handy to read the photographers comments on their pictures.
Bob McNeely
Behind Photographs by Tim Mantoani & Mark Murphy
ISBN 13: 9780982613795
Pages: 208
