Naked City, author Arthur Fellig Weegee

So despite the possibility of being mocked for reading a picture book, I have decided based on the recommendation of my Uncle, who happens to be a professional photographer, to read a book that almost entirely pictures. The book is called Naked City, by Arthur Weegee. You can find it here on amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Naked-City-Arthur-Fellig-Weegee/dp/0306812045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299580830&sr=8-1.

This is the first book that I have read that I do not personally own. It is on loan from my uncle, whom mentioned above is a professional photographer and journalist. Art appreciation is a difficult task for me. I am sure my friends can attest that I am a very logical and straightforward thinker. So looking at, for instance, a photograph and determining whether or not it is good is pretty beyond me. That being said I always find it quite amazing the things one can catch in a photograph. Whether it be a moment of bliss, or that of sorrow. The book in question contains photographs of New York city taken by the author and brought together in a large collection. Therein one can find photographs of tragedy, fires in the city that have claimed lives. Photographs of hero's, the men who put their life on the line to catch criminals and put out those fires. Snapshots of love, whether it be lovers gazing deeply into each others eyes or holding one another in a quick embrace. The thing that intrigues me about photos is trying to determine at that split second what is going on in people's minds. There are a few pictures of murderers and some of thieves. Weegee actually comments about it in the short write ups he puts in for every chapter that the murderers are not shy. They almost always, as judged purely by these photographs, have an eerie sense of calm. Where as the miscreants of the lesser crimes are always hiding their faces and appear quite embarrassed. Although who wouldn't be embarrassed about getting busted for dressing up as an old woman merely for the sake of robbing people in a park. This book is also solely comprised of photographs taken in the 1930s and 40s. Which of course means they are black and white. There is something I find almost serene about black and white photos. They to me seem almost fake and fantastical. That the world they were captured in is not real, but a shimmering reflection of reality. If you have ever had one of those "old times" photos taken where they dress you up in awesome turn of the century garb, I think you can appreciate my previous statement. This is a book that honestly did not really excite me too much for the reasons mentioned above and my inability to appreciate much the art world has to offer. But I can also say that it is an almost unseen view into the "real world" of those times that is often glorified and mutated into a grandiose form for our entertainment in modern television and film. Interesting to say the least, but not too inspiring to someone with very little vested interest in photography. Observe at your own discretion!