Breaking Bounds: The Dance Photography of Lois Greenfield

by William A. Ewing, Lois Greenfield (Photographer)

In this collection of 87 duotone images that virtually leap off the page, Lois Greenfield's revolutionary photographs capture the explosive energy and beauty of dancers' bodies in motion. Made between 1982 and 1991, they are the result of a collaboration between Greenfield and a group of extraordinary dancers asked to "leave their choreography at the door." They take risks, pushing to the absolute limits the boundaries of both dance and photography with an energy so forceful it seems barely contained by the black lines of the camera frame. Edited, sequenced, and with an introductory essay by William Ewing, including an interview with Lois Greenfield, Breaking Bounds is dance photography on the edge. Sensual and mesmerizing, these images will entrance dancer and non-dancer alike -- as well as anyone who loves fine photography -- with their powerful, elegant depiction of the human body in midair.

Genres: Photography, Art

120 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1992

About the author

William A. Ewing is a Canadian art historian specializing in photography. He served as the director of the Musée de l'Élysée in Lausanne from 1996 to 2010 and has been a research professor in the art history department at the University of Geneva, where he has focused on the history of photography. He has curated numerous international exhibitions and authored several books on the photographic representation of the human body. He is also the founder of the Todi Circle, an annual think tank on photography held in Todi, Italy. His publications include The Body, Le Siècle du Corps, and Edward Steichen: Carnet Mondain.

Reviews

[Jamie Jonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The spectacular kinaesthetic photography of Lois Greenfield hinges on the visually impossible and turns superlative dancers into featherless birds and hairless monkeys. In a manner of speaking. Just about every page is an astonishment. Minor nudity and obviously not for children, but all is in good artistic taste.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

great coffee table book

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

If my coffee table was a place I dared to leave nice books, this is the first one I'd put out.

[Wetdryvac Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best staged shot dance photography of its era, decent commentary.

[Sandra Strazdaitė]

good