Exposure: The Unusual Life and Violent Death of Bob Carlos Clarke

by Simon Garfield

One of the most controversial photographers of his generation — photographer to the major rock stars and models — Bob Carlos Clarke was also a troubled genius who, in 2006, killed himself. Exposure is a compulsive account of sex, love, genius and corrosive despair.

Genres: Biography, Photography, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 2009

About the author

Simon Garfield is a British journalist and non-fiction author. He was educated at the independent University College School in Hampstead, London, and the London School of Economics, where he was the Executive Editor of The Beaver. He also regularly writes for The Observer newspaper.

Reviews

[Dafydd Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting - but not overly keen on the format - was a series of snippets from conversations about Bob Carlos Clarke. GOt used to it after a while but still not keen. Shame the guy sounds to have been a tad unpleasant too!

[Tolkien InMySleep · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life and loves of a true maverick, creator of iconic erotic images

[Bad Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of Clarke I'm tempted to give it 4 stars, but objectively it only deserves 3.

Very slow to get started on the real subject matter - Clarke's life - with a lot of waffle about how the author came to write the book. This could easily have been dealt with in a one or two page introduction or prologue.

When it does get to the point it is a fascinating, heart warming an ultimately heart breaking story of a man who never thought he was good enough or appreciated enough which is admittedly a great contradiction.

[Alan Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been long interestd in Bob Carlos from a photographers point of view, some of his images galvanised my desire to shoot and develop my own prints more than 25 years ago, when I saw this in the local pound shop, it was a must.
Certainly one of the most unusual books I've read, but there again, science is my usial fair.
If your interested in the man and his life, it is an enlightening tale.