Big Up

by Ben Watts

Book Overview

Hip-hop playaz. Street punks. Supermodels. Plenty of tattoos and lots of bling bling. Big Up is a photographic scrapbook of Americas raucous youth culture, created by one of the brightest young... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568984529
• ISBN13: 9781568984520
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.0" x 8.3"
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

rare gem

Everything about this book oozes quality.the photography,the printing,binding , and art direction make this book so interesting to look through.i got the book yesterday and have been through it about 3-4 times and am so impressed by it .ben watts is definetly one of this generationshottest photographers.this book is a rare gem.it will never bore you.

Bo bo bo....

As the most vibrant photographic documentation of youth culture I have seen to date Ben Watts shows us a side of life that can have been easily forgotten in more recent times - freedom and dignity! The people who for whatever reason have come to be the subjects of this photographer are portrayed with a common sense of pride and are not the least bit self-concious, be they wealthy celbrities or youth from the 'hood. These photographs pretty much wreek of enthusiasm.The random, 'scrappy' design of this book is evidence of the real joy of putting a photographic diary together rather than the fuss and pomp of what some of his professional life must offer, however does not necessarily leave that behind. The way it's been put together is almost autobiographical, the baggage tags, grease pencil and camera tape etc all serve to inform us that he is also a hard working, hard travelling professional photographer and the imagery shot over what would seem to be well over a decade reminds us that the personal and life long journey from youth to adulthood does not have to be solely devoted to being 'the career guy' as there is a life out there and you can be a part of it.If this is his first book - I say, "bring on the second!!"

high voltage

What does it mean to be young ? What does it mean to have fun? This book really breathes with all the excitement and energy of our times. Big Up was recently given to me by a freind a week ago and I have not been able to stop looking at it. Each time I open it's high voltage collage pages, I see something new. It's fresh and real, candid and raw. Big Up is right up my alley. I see myself in these images, hear the music, feel the joy. It is a delightful tribute to youth culture now and always.

Up Up and away...

I bought this book about 10 days ago and have probably flicked through it every night since I bought it.What an amazing piece of art. Each time you look at it you will see something you haven't noticed before. Ben Watts has captured the urban youth being exactly that - Young, colorful and full of life. What a privelige it is that a truly superb photographer has shared his personal diary/scrap book with the rest of us. I totally recommend this book.. PERFECT for a xmas present.

Big Up to Big Up

A truely orginial "scrap-book" style photographic book....The energy driven pictures document the last decade of urban/youth culture....You will love this book if you're a fan of reportage photography.