Alec Soth "Broken Manual"

When I picked up the book "Paris/Minnesota" a couple of years ago at MAST, I knew instantly that I liked Alec Soth's photography. The book was shockingly beautiful in the way that he captured contemporary fashion like I'd never imagined before, without a cynical or sarcastic note. So, when I heard that he was having an exhibition at the Sean Kelly Gallery, I really had to go! "Broken Manuals" is a compiled group of portraits, landscapes and objects that reflect American men who have gone to live a segregated life in the downtrodden countryside. Although nothing is too dramatic on the surface in his photos, the images were quite emotional. Soth's lens keeps a certain distance from the subjects as a bystander, yet shows the bareness and rawness of them in a straightforward manner. The exhibition is going on until March 11th, and I strongly recommend a visit if you are in the city! If you cannot make it to the Gallery, you can see some of the images on his website. 

 

   

  

This video was shot during the shooting of his portrait project, and it really explains the connection between Soth and the subjects...