Friday, November 15, 2019

Steve Carver's book. WESTERN PORTRAITS: THE UNSUNG HEROES & VILLAINS OF THE SILVER SCREEN


Wow, wow and more wow.”  Words can hardly describe my reaction to the long awaited and highly anticipated epic tome from the iconic director and renowned photographer Steve Carver…….WESTERN PORTRAITS: The Unsung Heroes & Villains of the Silver Screen and  believe you, me , it did not let me down….and…it exceeded all of my expectations.  This volume delivers more than magnificent photographs  and impressive images of Western greats, most of whom we already know.   It also provides interesting and informative anecdotes and bio material on all subjects…a lot of which we did not know…thanks to noted writer and film historian C. Courtney Joyner.  In addition, the book provides a listing of all Western or Western themed projects each individual appeared in or was involved with and best of all….their image….a moment in time brilliantly captured by Carver’s cameras.  And as a bonus, the book contains an illuminating and enlightening brief essay, by Joyner, “Carved on Film Western Movies and The Faces That Made Them.”  Title is self-explanatory. But most of all it’s the conceptualization ·that Carver captured that sets this book apart from all other photography books on Westerns and those beloved people associated with them.  This book is a must for, not only, all Western lovers, but also for photography buffs, movie buffs or history buffs.  The great legend Roger Corman wrote the Forward.  There is no index, but subjects are in alphabetical order.