Book review by Andrea Karen Hammer
For anyone who treasures the print editions of photography books, the experience of unwrapping Atlantic City by photographer Brian Rose involves sensations similar to opening an intriguing gift.
Pulling off the protective cellophane wrapper to discover a deep blue textured cover is the beginning of this intensely visual and tactile exploration. From the striking cover design to the gold interior page spread, every element of this high-quality book, supported through Kickstarter and published by Circa Press in London, signals careful attention to details. Some of these include the thoughtful selection of fonts and strategic placement of quotes on glossy pages, serving as eye-catching frames with generous white space.
Photographer Brian Rose‘s striking images, largely focusing on dilapidated buildings in decayed areas of Atlantic City, achieve an artist’s ultimate purpose: stirring visceral reactions. Some of the standouts, which prompt pausing during the turning of pages, grab attention but contain troubling elements on further scrutiny.
For example, a photo of a smiling woman taking a selfie in front of a gold Miss America statue and near a smartphone-distracted couple, is set in front of outdoor toilets. Another shot of an ornate elephant sculpture is accompanied by a quote indicating that the artist never received payment for his work. Tweets on several pages and other strong political commentary present a specific viewpoint of a city that undeniably has seen better days.
Atlantic City Photos Prompt Larger Questions for Artists, Photographers, Journalists and Individuals
For those of us with an openly confessed attachment to the shore and cameras that naturally gravitate to the ocean, seagulls, bike riders and families enjoying “Simple Pleasures by the Ocean,” the images in Atlantic City give rise to several larger questions:
- As artists and individuals, what do we choose to see and focus on in our lives and work?
- As photographers and journalists, is it important–or even possible–to present a balanced view of any landscape?
- For cities in distress, what are the most productive ways of tackling the issues and commenting on the problems?
The photographs and text in Atlantic City succeed in stirring strong reactions, particularly about the observation that hope does not exist for Atlantic City. From the vibrant Orange Loop businesses on Tennessee Avenue to the Atlantic City Arts Foundation projects, the energy of emerging enterprises and splashes of color on boardwalk Adirondack chairs as well as exhibits in vacant spaces are tangible evidence of steps toward renewal.
Atlantic City by photographer Brian Rose, without a doubt, captures the demise in some pockets of a once glorious shore town. However, this new photography book strengthens the motivation of those with an indestructible love of this city to search for and support Atlantic City’s renaissance. Following in the footsteps of Philadelphia’s Midtown Village, which many once considered impossible, the question remains: How can we help Atlantic City–and others facing similar challenges–to thrive through unified efforts again?
Additional Questions to Consider: Post Your Comments Now!
How did you react to the photos and text in Atlantic City, which Circa Press in London published? Can you share other images and perceptions revealing a different viewpoint or capturing the people committed to rebuilding this town? Do you think that this city and others with economic problems can rebound, and why or why not?
What specific role can the arts play in these and other revitalization efforts? Post your comments, and invite others to join this brainstorming session, which this new photography book inspired!
As the author/photographer of Atlantic City, I’d like to thank Andrea for her comments about my book. She encouraged me to respond to the questions she poses in her review. So, here are my thoughts.
As you undoubtedly realize, I came at this project with an agenda — it was a response to the election of Donald Trump. That’s different from the way I’ve approached other places in other projects, although I maintained the same kind of evenhanded visual inquiry as in the past. To put it a little too simply, I approached Atlantic City as a metaphor for larger political and economic forces affecting the country as a whole. Atlantic City fell victim to people like Trump, Carl Icahn, and a whole host of politicians whose interests did not coincide with the needs of the people of the city.
I started by photographing Trump’s abandoned casinos — there were actually four casinos all together that were empty in 2016 — and then moved out from there taking in the city streets. Visually, the primary story is the discrepancy between the huge, closed off casinos and the more fine-grained historic city. In between, there are vast swaths of vacant property. There is also a tremendous gulf between the wealth of the casinos, veritable money machines, and the poverty of large parts of the city.
While walking around with my camera I did become aware of at least some of the efforts to revive the city on a grassroots level. That’s a subject someone else could photograph or write about. But my feeling remains that outside forces continue to exert a powerful and crushing weight upon the city. Somehow, however, Atlantic City still survives and retains a presence that is acquired only by dint of a rich cultural history. I wouldn’t even have bothered showing up to take pictures if that were not the case.
[…] During the last three decades, the casino industry has largely defined Atlantic City as a major employer and attraction. However, after five closings that created a ghost-town effect, the city was pockmarked with vacant and decaying buildings, which photographer Brian Rose captured in his book Atlantic City. […]