Dune: Exposures

by Josh Brolin, Grieg Fraser (photographer)

Explore the creation of Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptations of Dune through this evocative fusion of actor Josh Brolin’s sublime writing and cinematographer Greig Fraser’s intimate set photography.

During the shooting of Part One and Part Two, Greig Fraser went beyond standard unit photography and documented the filming process using still photography on a variety of cameras. This led the cinematographer on an unexpected creative journey that yielded an electrifying gallery of photographs. Meanwhile, Brolin, who plays Warmaster Gurney Halleck in the two films, shares his on-set experience through his vivid, poignant writing.

Brolin and Fraser developed a unique bond during production, solidifying a connection that led to this remarkable collaboration that seamlessly juxtaposes the actor’s enthralling writing with the cinematographer’s striking images.

An exceptional new way to experience life on the set of the Dune film adaptations, this thrilling ode to the art of filmmaking from two of the most revered artists in the industry is an unmissable publishing event.

STUNNING Curated from photos shot throughout the filming of Dune and Part Two by cinematographer Greig Fraser, this remarkable volume features his intimate images coupled with Josh Brolin’s poignant writing.

EXCLUSIVE Witness candid moments between director Denis Villeneuve and key cast members, including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Zendaya, and Javier Bardem.

UNPARALLELED COLLECTOR’S Singular and unprecedented, Exposures is a powerful tribute to the films that offers fans a rare and unique look into the experience of creating the movies.

COMPLETE YOUR DUNE FILM Exposures is the perfect companion volume to the acclaimed Insight Editions book The Art and Soul of Dune and its sequel The Art and Soul of Part Two

Genres: Poetry, Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Coffee Table Books, Film, Media Tie In

Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was rather charmed to learn that Josh Brolin spent his time on the set of Dune writing poetry, which are collected here in Dune: Exposures alongside the photography of cinematographer Grieg Fraser and makes for a really lovely coffee table book. As a fan of the books and films, this is quite the treat though the way I came to be in possession of this clothbound collectors volume is quite lovely to me as well. The whole project of this is a cool collaboration of art and artists with Brolin writing verse from the perspective of his character, Gurney Halleck, sometimes from his own perspective as Josh Brolin the actor, and occasionally somewhere inbetween. I’ve long loved Brolin and this further shows how cool he is as well as dedicated to his craft and acutely perceptive about it. These poems sparked some viral fan humour over his poems about Timothée Chalamet—particularly a line about his cheekbones—and while Brolin might not be Poet Laureate for this, these are still so delightful to read and have so much heart and wit behind them. It works wonderfully with the photos, and I do have to admit I’ve always found actors dressed in character but in the moments between shots where they are just themselves to be rather magical imagery. It’s like if you were to catch Mickey Mouse smoking a cigarette or something.

Brolin addresses just that in a discussion with Variety:

Brolin doesn’t have a favorite passage but says, “I love haikus.” He reads a passage from the book, “‘Lie down in the light, as fictional characters watch you from afar.’ I love that because it’s pointing out the fact that this is not real, but there’s nothing more real. The light is real, lying down is real, the sand is real, the experience is real, and yet, it’s this great contrasting thing.”

I really enjoyed the mini essays Brolin and Fraser wrote about each other, or his poem addressed to Denis Villeneuve in character as Gurney asking if he can finally sing his song on his stupid little lute (the lack of lute in the first film was a bummer for me), or even Brolin describing Chalamet in a poem as looking like a Giocometti sculpture saying ‘I really like you / in The Goonies, man. / That was dope.’ There’s also some cool reflections about being on set in nicely poetic expressions. If you are a fan, this is worthwhile.

Though perhaps more meaningful to me is the way I got it. Its been years since I moved away from my hometown but still keep in touch with one of my good high school friends. He’s the sort you can go months without talking to and pick up right where you left off or as if we were just teenagers playing video games in the basement the day before. We always try to send each other super nerdy gifts, the sort you would never actually buy yourself but like…would actually enjoy having. They’ve gotten pretty over the top in friendly gift giving competition at times, but after planning for 2 years to meet on the opposite side of the state to see Dune Pt 2 on opening night together (we read the books and watched the miniseries together years ago so we felt we should see it how we did movies in high school--go opening night, stay up way to late to watch the first at home, wake up and see the new one again) it was hilarious to discover we both gifted each other this same book. And I thought I was going to have the upper hand on obscure nerdy gifts… We have good taste, what can I say.

So, Dune film fans, definitely flip through a copy of Dune: Exposures if you can. I’m that friend that has this, come find me, we’ll read some Gurney poetry.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

If my Co-worker wrote a poem about me I’d be weirded out but slightly honoured.

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is my milk and honey

[Matthew Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, this is honest to god, the most beautiful and talented cast of all time. Everyone just exudes care, dedication, and understanding of the source material, no one more than Josh Brolin

I wish that I could go back in time and know him before he was Thanos. He is such a talented poet, photographer and artist, so much more than a Disney studio ever deserved.

Theres a poem about half way through that deals with manhood, fatherhood, and adulthood, which was one of the most impactful poems I have ever read in my life. It's something I will be sharing with all my friends and loved ones for years to come.

I am beyond grateful that we get to live in a world where such a complex and emotional story such as Dune can get told on the grandest scale. And its even better there is such a great audience reception to it, and that such a caring and wonderful cast who fully understand not only the source material but the importance and relevance in modern life that it has.

In shorter words, Josh Brolin is a national treasure and we do not deserve him.

[Madeline Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

me to greig: infinite gratitude and wonder! you bestow your personal fascination by way of collected photographs! we should be so lucky to see the world through your eyes, your lens!

me to josh: did the journal factory explode

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through this book I learned that Frank Herbert was a professional photographer and an army photographer in WW2. Beautiful photos, very full-circle.

[Thibaud Prins · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough."

First of all, what an amazing birthday gift this is. If anything, it inspires me to get into the field again and make some photographs and create things like these.

Greg Fraser's work will always amaze me from the batman to dune to the creator.

Thankyou scheetje

[Aidan]

Josh Brolin a little obsessed with Timothée Chalamet, but also a little freaked out by Timothée Chalamet. The stars, they really are just like us

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was prepared for this to be a bit pretentious, but I instead found it really quite affecting.

Dune: Exposures is a beautifully presented collection of photographs taken on the set of the two most recent Dune films.
The photos, taken by Greig Fraser (the director of photography) are paired expertly with sparse and astute poetry written by Josh Brolin, who in the films portrays the philosophical warrior poet character Gurney Halleck.

The poetry is lovely, but if poetry isn't really your thing - also included are small, well written and intriguing semi-biographical pieces, written from both the perspective of Gurney (the character), Josh (the actor), as well as, briefly, Josh's young daughter, in a particularly moving piece that I took to be about parental responsibility, fatherly motivations and daddy-daughter bonding.

I adore the Dune books (those that I've read so far) and I think the Denis films are superb; this collection captures a slice of the magic that goes into (and comes out of) both.
Seeing this iconic environment, and these superb characters and their associated a-list actors in repose, through the eyes of a peer no less, is really quite a unique experience.

I am very glad that this book was made.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

mooie fotografie en mooie woorden van josh brolin

[Shelby-Jane Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could stare at the pages within this book all day. The marriage of poetry and photography that tells the raw, intimate story of being on set is captivating and profound. I knew these images would be etched into my mind from the moment I saw them. Fraser’s efforts to capture moments between filming so beautifully all the while lighting some of the most epic scenes in cinematic history are proof that “the mind goes on working no matter how we try to hold it back.”

[Nora Dominick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The photos in this book are stunning. Everyone was talking about the gorgeous poems he wrote about Timothée, but the one about Florence Pugh might be my favorite

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be clear.

5⭐️ for the photos

2.5⭐️ for the cringey, borderline creepy poetry Brolin writes.
I can tell he put his soul into it but there were a couple lines that I was a little uncomfortable with.

Example, the poem about Florence is damaging because it lends to the societal pressure that women face. Brolin compares her to Marilyn Monroe, which is flattering but problematic as if Florence needs to be the next generation’s it girl. The entertainment industry is always trying to find the next thing and consistently comparing women to other women instead of just appreciating their work as their own.

[KenodaConor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been wanting to pick this up for over a year. It felt like the right time. It was the right time.

Beautiful.

[Niov1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

All those photos.... The poetry... Dune is art.

[blake ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

josh brolin is such a charming poet and photographer, and greig fraser is just astounding as a cinematographer. this book was super bittersweet in terms of the dune franchise and my insatiable need to become an actress. the pictures and poems brolin wrote towards his costars were truly incredible and i would be entirely in awe with him if worked with him on set. like, hello???

[ToasterBoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun behind the scenes book, a bit pretentious in parts but Brolin's sincerity and affection for filmmaking is intoxicating.

[Camila Mamede · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There's something about perpetually staying on top of understanding how light behaves with film and how that can morph a face into a behavior; how the photographer's job is not only to capture a moment but to fill the moment with his perspective, his chosen composition and, ultimately, his taste of that momentary world of light. As it becomes more personal, light begins to have a personality that you project onto the image you're creating. Light starts to speak with you, and asks you how you would like for it to sit upon your subject.
[…]
These images sing that relationship with art. They prioritize art and in doing so reveal its subjects artistically: with light, with dark, with emotion, with behavior, with a word or a sentence that the viewer might attach to it that resonates most with them. Denis Villeneuve pushed for this because he knew that to allow art to win out in the end is to win.
That's when the mystery becomes an obsession and the obsession becomes paintable.”

[Michael M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully produced book. Great behind the scenes stills from Fraser and really nice poems from Brolin. It's a beautiful coffee table/ art book, but I still read it straight through. Really nice.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry in images and words, a glimpse I to the adventures Dune filming was. A book made for dreaming.

[Alessandro Canonico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grazie ai miei amichi preferiti :3

[Marcelina Osada-Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece. Especially the photography. Greig Fraser is simply something else

[Cypher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book! It’s mostly pictures! Awesome pictures by my favourite cinematographer! But it’s really cool to see how he takes his casual behind-the-scenes photos with such artistry and care. There are so many shots in here that I would love to plaster all over my walls.

Josh Brolin’s poetry is beautiful too. The kind that makes you want to write. I feel like there are only so many ways you can get to know actors/actresses outside of their performances, but I feel a little bit closer to Josh Brolin after reading his poetry and it helped me to see him less as a performer/entertainer and more as a human being.

As much as I’m trying to become a book person I will always be a movie person first. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune series is one of those pieces of art that just has a grasp on my being. It activates every part of my curiosity but not in a way where I’m trying to understand it, in a way where I simply need more. So much work goes into creating art (specifically movies in this case) and there are so many stories that happen simultaneously in order for whatever is on screen to feel complete.

I appreciate how this book allowed me to see into the lives of Greig Fraser and Josh Brolin on the set of Dune and Dune Part Two. Thank you to Joon for lending me their copy, can’t wait to get my own.

[J.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wanted to crap all over this book just for the extremely petty reason of the publisher screwing me out of my 1st edition/1st printing by failing to send it to me when it was originally released. Even though I ordered the book directly from the publisher well in advance!! Thanks Simon and Schuster.

Is it also partially my fault for not getting in touch with the publisher sooner asking WTF?? Where's my Arrakis? My Dune?? Sure. Still... Being a book collector I know, if it's not a 1st, it's a $0.00.

That being said this book is absolutely beautiful and I cannot give it a bad review just because some publishers ruined one little thing about it for me. The photography is beautiful obviously, but what really stood out was Josh Brolin's essays/poetry/film journal/fever dream contribution to the book. Josh is an incredibly talented writer, and I'm an now very excited to read his biography.

When it comes out in paperback 😉

[Richard M · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times Brolin strains to find the pretty and oblique way to describe the commonplace, and this is where his poetry can feel purple and naive. Sometimes he employs line breaks heavy-handedly, as if he has just discovered the potential energy of an isolated word. Alongside the portrait photography, he writes small missives dedicated to his costars, often centering on one standout quality: their youth, their energy, their eternity. While these dedications are straightforward and aggrandizing, they are also sweetly earnest, like the rest of the writing - which is best when it’s not trying to reach for poetic novelty, and instead depicts the relentlessness of each day on set, which is both enervating and energizing.

Brolin’s poetry is an honest product of his reckoning with his work of acting: his relationships on set and with the local environment, his family, his legacy, his awareness that his is an industry of dreams and play-acting. While some of his words may make you roll your eyes a little bit, some linger. In spite of or perhaps due to the naïveté, Brolin creates a moving portrait of a man’s time making movies.

Read in the wee hours of midnight.

[Finn Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully rough photography book. Well, the Dune film is incredibly clear, and beautiful, this book takes that films, same beauty and ads a real world mud to it. The book is also complimented with some pretty interesting poetry, poetry, describing people, and days, rather than themes like the movie Wood. I love doing so much, yeah this has such a different fuel from the actual movies , it feels much more earthly because of how grounded, and natural the films production was captured. I love the different mediums of photography shifts between, I heard they got some very cheap cameras off of flea markets up in Jordan to take some of these pictures, and although they are not the clearest photos, their artistically, beautiful because they show the sandiness, and the texture and the fuel that it was to film in such a harsh location

[Nico Brando · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hold your knife in the air for all to victory. It is you we have relied on. It is you, young pup, who has scaled the sandy walls to the painful glory of self-assessment.
Denial does not become you. Into the fire you leap and in that fire that burns away the forced paradigm that so many of us cling to: the imprisoned life of an adolescent feigning as adult without the painful transition of what it is to develop character. But you are free, free to feel and free to care for a bubble bigger than the one made around the idea of your own safety. You are free to smile and embrace a wider landscape whose music sings a more violet tune. It's in your eyes that sweet colors surpass me, and into that sky you go - me looking upwardly; me gazing toward something we can all look forward to.”

[Rick Berg · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's very nicely presented, but I was not impressed by neither photography nor poetry. There are some alright shots in there, but most of it is very snapshotty. The close-up portraits are the best, but there's just not enough of those. Brolin's poetry is either boring or embarrassing, especially the part where he admits to getting hammered and ending up in a stranger's bed.
I think a few more pages of photographs, slightly fewer pages of Brolin's thoughts, then maybe it could be something worthwhile.
This is the second Dune movie artbook I've been tricked into buying. Egg on my face, I guess. But we have an old saying in Tennessee, I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee, that says, "Fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me... you can't get fooled again."

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Therein lies a dream which stretches as far as God; clenched hands find eyes closed.

Amazing obviously. Truly wonderful pictures from Grieg Fraser and ok Josh, I see you with your poetry! Some of it is funny (see the one about about Dave Bautista), some of it is really lovely (see the one about Florence Pugh or Timothée Chalamet), some of it made me cry (writing from your daughter's perspective!!). I love the way this book is constructed: the page layout, the paper texture, everything chosen with a purpose. I love Dune, I love these films, this book is wonderful.

[Isaac Plahitko · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photography in this was beautiful, but in my humble opinion didn’t pair well with Brolin’s poetry.

The poetry too, was underwhelming, but cool to get an insight for life on set of the filming of the first Dune.

A few lines and moments felt dramatized in not great ways, but this was still fun to go through and digest. A beautiful book for display, and will definitely flip through periodically to consume imagery.