Summer Nights, Walking: Along the Colorado Front Range 1976-1982 [ハードカバー]

I agree and disagree with the first review of this book. I agree the photographs are great (of course Robert Adams doesn't know how to make a bad photograph) but I disagree about the comments concerning poor printing. Quite on the contrary I feel the printing is far superior to "Summer Nights". The photographs in this new edition have blacks with tremendous depth and the highlights seem to radiate. Simply the difference between the two books maybe that the images in "Summer Nights, Walking" are quieter. I like this book so much I plan to buy a bunch of copies to give over the Holidays.

I am a Robert Adams fan (I've reviewed quite a few of his other books), but this particular book is a bit of a disappointment, not because of the photographs, but because of the printing. The original book, published in 1985 (and remaindered until recently) was printed on glossy paper, and the images seem to shine with the glow of lights in the night. The new printing (done by Meridian Printing, so you know they paid a pretty penny for this version) is on matte paper, and at least on first viewing, the prints seem muddy. Picking it up again to write this review, and viewed in dimmer light rather than diffuse sunlight, some of the images do seem to possess a bit of a glow... But on the whole, I think I prefer the earlier printing...

Unlike the recently republished "Denver", which remained largely intact with the addition of a few new images (and better printing), this effort is a much more dramatic re-editing of an idea, and the new paper surface seems to push the whole project into murkier territory. Sitting down with both versions of the book--it appears that only about half the images are included in both projects (and some of the common images are baffling in both places...)

This project reminds me a bit of something I once read about Walt Whitman, who published only one book in his life--"Leaves of Grass"--but he repeatedly revised the book, sometimes changing the words in some of his poems, often adding and removing entire poems. Later critics would often note that his changes would often result in leaving out some very strong early poems--but something needs to be done to make way for new work.

It often takes me about five years to figure out what Bob is up to (sometimes longer)--so I'm sure that my judgment is premature--but here's my suggestion--if you have a choice, buy the 1985 printing (for sure)--it's been one of those hidden gems--and maybe the new version will age nicely on the shelf... In the long run, I've never been disappointed by Bob, and I think there is a lot of hope for this newest addition.