Duane Michals, Foto Folllies

Jeorg Colberg over at Conscientious brought this forthcoming book to my attention - Duane Michals Foto Follies: How Photography Lost Its Virginity on the Way to the Bank (Steidl, 2007). It is billed as a succinct (96 pages), informed and humouous analysis of the pretentions of "art photography." Since I find most of what appears under that label overbearing, I look forward to getting a copy. Although I am unfamiliar with Michals' [*] work as a photographer, I plan to track some of it down if only because he seems to have a wicked satirical streak. Beyond that his practice of integrating text and ideas into his "photographic" work seems a welcome departure from the conventions of both "art" and "documentary" photography.