Hotel Lachapelle Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Hotel Lachapelle
Book Review: Lachapelle - the photographer of the 90's
Summary: 5 Stars
David Lachapelle's work is what the 90's are all about - brash, commercial, and dripping with irony and pop cultural references. It certainly wouldn't be to the taste of those who only adore Ansel Adams, but will appeal to those who are looking for a strange mixture of Diane Arbus and MTV.Book Review: Not What I Expected, but Definitely Worth the Money
Summary: 5 Stars
For all those readers and photography fans that liked LaChapelle's first catalogue "David LaChapelle" by Davide Faccioli they will love this volume. For one reason it contains almost all the photographs that were included in that small format catalogue. That was the only flaw with the earlier collection of LaChapelle's distinctive work. This volume reproduces those images plus many more in a much larger format so that they can be more easily seen, studied and enjoyed.
The Concept Creator and Photographer provide the readers with a nice overview of his approach to life and his work. There is little or no text in most of his books. "I decided to call this book `Hotel LaChapelle' because almost all the photos in it were conceived of and made while in hotel rooms...And when people come for a photo session with me, they are giving themselves over, sort of checking in."
This surprised me a bit because from the cover on the boxed book I expected to see a variation of artist Edward Hopper's voyeuristic subway rider views into passing hotel and apartment windows. That expectation was totally wrong. Although feeling slightly mislead by the box cover picture, I wasn't disappointed in this book. It was also helpful to learn from the photographer about the large crew of regulars he uses for his complicated shoots. LaChapelle isn't a street shooter. He sets up entire fantasy worlds worthy of Hollywood Movie Set Designers.
It was also fascinating to learn how much the photographer dislikes most of the celebrity publicists that often veto his creative ideas. "The smartest celebrities are the ones who hire...publicists who happen to understand a creative moment...because they realize the importance of a still image as a visual record of their time and place as a celebrity in the culture, and as a tangible thing you can hold in your hand."
"A lot of the pictures in this book exist only because there was no interference...Which is a big reason to do a collection in a book...A book is a permanent record."
As usual, LaChapelle has produced some more wonderful visual puns, satires, surreal environments and political parody. And once again, most of the subjects in his portraits and scenes are like colorful cartoon characters or kinky, shiny plastic-looking models from a weird, far-side wax museum. Even the most beautiful women in the world who are some of his subjects seem to have been photographed in such a way as they aren't the slightest bit sexy or desirable even when scantily dressed in lingerie or completely nude.
Despite that curious fact, this is still an excellent photography book. It's much better than it's immediate predecessor "LaChapelle Land."
After checking out LaChapelle's website I've decided he may be in the middle of "pulling a Stanley Kubrick." I can easily see him using his current visualizing and set designing skills to make motion pictures. Stanley Kubrick was also a successful teenage still photographer who worked for LOOK Magazine before he became a motion picture legend. I can easily see LaChapelle eventually making films of the caliber of Kubrick's "Clockwork Orange", "Dr. Strangelove", "2001: A Space Odyssey" or "The Shining." He is well known to many film celebrities and their agents and staffs. He already has access to many of the actors in the cinema world and that would be extremely helpful to a would-be film director.
Book Review: Perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
It's a big book with wonderful pictures.
Very nice print.
And I have no words to describe Chapelle's photos.
Book Review: Perfect!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is amazing! Just as good as Lachapelle Land. I recomend it to anyone who enjoys photography, daytripping and social criticism in VERY creative ways. He totally transports you into his world. THIS BOOK IS A MUST!Book Review: Pretentious, Show-offish Folderol
Summary: 2 Stars
Now that fine arts photography seems to be permanently entrenched in a rut, it seems as though the only way for photographers to get noticed is to become celebrity photographers. It is quite an easy formula: To become a celebrity photographer, one must immerse themselves in the mindless world of celebrities, and, thus through hyperbole and self-insertion into this world of celebrity, one becomes a celebrity him- or her- self. David LaChapelle is no exception to this sappy, self-serving, trend which began the moment Annie Leibovitz ran out of ideas.
It is no coincidence that LaChapelle is so often compared to Herb Ritts. Both of them produce technically strong work that, alas, has no soul. Both their work screams the triumph of style (and such schlocky, narcissistic and ultimately vapid style at that) over substance.
Ultimately, LaChapelle is an empty suit, now that the game in fine arts photography is not about achieving a unique vision -- wrought by years of mastering the craft of photography -- but in being seen as clever and trendy. The whole post-modern fraud -- in which LaChapelle is a routineer fellow traveller, posing as some sort of master of photography -- is predicated on the aesthetic equivalent of a hispter's sneer.
Strangely, though, LaChapelle's work is neither clever, nor hip. If you want clever, check out Weegee. For real hip photos daddy-o, peruse Phil Stern's pix of the Rat Pack. If you need to ride Madonna's coattails to notoriety, then hip is way over your head.
In Hotel LaChapelle, we are left bereft of inspiration and style. Certainly, the overly self-aware artiste gives a passable imitation of same, rather much as saccharine compares to honey. Strip this book of the glitz and the glam and we are left with a young photographer who has quite a store of technical know-how without the foggiest idea as to how he can put it to honest use.
To those comparing the ostentatious affectations of this posuer who fancies himself a photographer to Man Ray or Andy Warhol, pulllllleeeaase! Albeit, Warhol was oftentimes just as pretentious; however, Warhol did have some pretty striking ideas, and some of his graphic (re)creations were brimming over with the stark sensibilities of Roy Lichtenstein or Paul Rand. As for Man Ray, LaChapelle is way out of his league. Man Ray belongs up there with Magritte, Dali and Luis Bunuel; LaChapelle fits in a little better with other trendoids such as the photography staff of Us Magazine.
I find LaChapelle's work more akin to another hanger-oner of the celebrity scene, Yoko Ono. That's my story and I am sticking to it.