Buy this: Springtown

I just received my copy of Rachael Dunville’s Springtown from photo-eye and, after only an hour or so with it, I’m in awe. I have looked at portraits, liked them, respected them, admired them, and that’s kind of where it’s ended for me. And then I looked at Rachael’s book, and the portrait became something else entirely.

I don’t know how to describe it, but here’s the closest analogy I can come up with: With some actors, I’m aware of a great performance, aware of their talent and skill and the unique set of traits and insights they’re bringing to a part, but no matter what they do, I’m still aware of that person, the actor, giving a performance. And then with other actors, I forget about them, and I’m pulled in by the character, and it isn’t until the credits roll that I think of the actor again.

So often, when I look at portraits, I feel like I’m looking at the subject look at the photographer, and I’m sort of spying on this interaction. But with Rachael Dunville’s photos, I feel like the subjects are looking at me. Rachael is gone, which means she’s really there, even more than she would be if I were aware of her.

Bottom line: I love this book, and I adore Rachael’s work, and I cannot think of a single thing you could do with $20 that would be better than buying a copy of Springtown.

Copyright © Rachael Dunville