Reviews (1)

Photography finds its own Rocky
We are living in an age of sequels. From Star Wars and Matrix of Hollywood to the Gulf Wars, it is repetitions with the same premises and towards, dull or worst, tragic effect. Wegman's early work with his dog Man Ray captured everyone's imagination with its wit and sometimes thought provoking concepts. Wegman like his dogs also became a star, subject of documentaries and an advertising model for Gap clothing. Alas, there was no one to tell this talented artist when to stop, and from doing the children's fables to an episode of Hardy Boys adventure, Wegman's canine companions have found more newer uses including featuring as various alphabets in books for nursery children as well as in between graduate courses offerings in a New School for Social Research catalog.

Like Sylvester Stallone's Rocky that raided the Oscars cupboard in the 1970s, only to milk the concept dry (Mr. Stallone is reportedly scripting another edition), Mr. Wegman has chosen to risk doing the same with his canine models. His latest offering is getting into another commercial territory besides that of prequels and sequels -- the "Making of ___" (for a hit movie) or the "outtakes" or "Alternative Takes" (for a well known but dead musician). Whether Wegman is the Hendrix of Photography or revisiting Man Ray's polaroids is like "the Making of Citizen Kane" is something debatable. What is however more certain is that despite the high levels of literacy that permeates photographic art and the fact that photography doesn't have to pander to the lowest common denominator like most other art forms, it cannot escape the trends in the market place. Trends driven, not by artists but accountants and following the cold logic of prequels, sequels, outtakes and alternative tracks. Whether Wegman will soon be getting his canine models to reinterpret the boy scouts manual or move from the Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew adventures, is there to see. But if this does happen, remember you read it here first. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

GREAT SPONTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHY!
It is often said that in order to take a phenominal photograph, one has to be in the right place at the right time. Some of these photos, were obviously taken at the spur of the moment by someone who was indeed at the right place at the right time. Any book put out by Life Magazine immediately captures my attention and this one was no exception. While there are many spontaneous shots here, there were also several that looked just too "posed and stiff for my liking." For example, there is one of a white poodle posing for the camera that looks cute in a book, but you better hope the guy never takes off out the back door and heads for the woods! His brushed out poodle cut rather resembles one of Dolly Parton's wigs. My preference is natural photographs that are taken when one least expects the click of the shutter and, thankfully, there are several of those here as well. This is not one of my favourite books on canine photography, but it is still one worth having.

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul
It you appreciate great photography and love dogs, this book is the perfect blending of both! Our pooch pals are captured in numerous poses and activities documenting the many ways they are an integral part of modern life. This is a book I reach for if I want a good laugh, or some tugs at my heartstrings. Dog lovers---enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

"My weimaraners are perfect fashion models. Their elegant slinky forms are covered in gray-and gray, everyone knows, goes with anything."

-William Wegman William Wegman's fanciful photographs and videos of his dogs-seen in galleries and books and on Sesame Street, t-shirts, screensavers, and more-have made him one of America's best-loved artists.Published to accompany a major traveling exhibition, this book presents Wegman's most intriguing and provocative portfolio to date: a series of eerily anthropomorphic (and very funny) high-fashion photographs. Modeling clothes by some of today's most exciting designers, including Jean-Paul Gaultier, Helmut Lang, Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake, Todd Oldham, and Anna Sui, canine supermodels Battina, Chundo, Chooky, and Chip display all the attitude and insouciance of their human counterparts-and gently play on our obsession with beauty, style, luxury, and celebrity.84 illustrations, 79 in full color, 1 foldout, 10 x 12"WILLIAM WEGMAN'S many books for children and adults, which together have sold more than 500,000 copies, include Abrams' perennial favorite Man's Best Friend and its companion calendar as well as the New York Times bestseller William Wegman Puppies, and, most recently, Fay, a biography of his star model. INGRID SISCHY is the editor of Interview magazine. Her essays have appeared in many books, including, most recently, Robert Mapplethorpe: Pictures and Ellen von Unwerth: Couples.EXHIBITION SCHEDULE Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabam Oct. 18, 1999-Jan. 8, 2000 The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas Apr. 29-June 18, 2000 Miami Art Museum, Florida July 21-Oct. 8, 2000 Contemporary Art Museum, University of South Florida, Tampa Jan. 12-Mar. 3, 2001 ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fun, Fashion, and Photography: Putting on the Dog!
You can love this book for any one of three reasons:

1. You enjoy dogs (especially weimaraners) and enjoy seeing them unusually well posed to look like attractive humans.

2. The connection between haute couture model and the fashion fascinates you, and you are open to seeing how line, tilt of head, and connected ratios form pleasing images.

3. You love photography and want to better understand how much of the "art" is in the scene itself, versus how much comes from the photographer.

Naturally, if you like all three elements, you have a much more than five star book in your hands.

You have to see these photographs to believe how good they are, unless you already happen to know Mr. Wegman's work. Take a look at the cover to get a hint.

Basically, Mr. Wegman takes his weimaraners (Chundo, Batina, Crooky, and Chip) and treats them like human fashion models. He dresses them in stylish hats, wigs, dresses, suits, shoes, mannequin parts, and other accessories to create "human" poses. Think of this as being a little bit like what Cindy Sherman does in posing as a well-known actress in her own photographs of famous movie scenes.

The approach is mostly done in a slightly campish way, emphasizing bright and bold background colors which contrast and make a context for different bright accessory and fashion colors. The natural color of the weimaraneers is the "coolest" part of the visual image.

What was brilliant to me was "seeing" what draws my eye in a photographic composition. Normally, I think I'm looking at a model, but based on my reactions to these photographs I'm really drawn much more to a curve, a line, a tilt of the head, or an incline of the body in the model. Seeing the weimaraners anthromorphized in this way allowed me to understand the appeal of the photographs at a much more fundamental level. I thought that Mr. Wegman's works with hats and fur coats were especially successful from this perspective.

The brief essays in the book are also valuable for describing how similar it is to work with either human models or the weimaraners. That relieves a certain tension in your mind as you imagine this work being unpleasant to the dogs. But, reportedly they love it and get nice breaks during the day.

Here are my favorite images in the book:

Three hat photographs: Migratory, Calla Lily, and Ben Day -- all from 1999

Two fur coats: Polar Extreme and Blue Powder -- both from 1994

Evolution of a Bottle (Series of 5) from 1999

Bikini 1999

Glamour Puss 1999

Opening 1999

Melissa 1994

To extend your learning after you finish enjoying this book, I suggest that you try something similar with scarves, hats, and wigs with say chunks of wood, large crystals, or flowers. Whether you photograph the scenes or not, you will learn a lot in composing what is appealing to you.

See beauty and classic style all around you . . . always!

Wonderful photographic blend of comedy with fashion insights
William Wegman, famous for incorporating clothed dogs in his photos, here presents a fashion statement to accompany a major traveling exhibition: anthromorphic fashion photos modeling some of the best designers' creations - with canines. The result blends comedy with fashion insights.

Gotta love this guy's work!
This book presents Wegman's most intriguing and provocative portfolio to date -- a series of eerily antrhopomorphic (and very funny), high-fashion photographs.

Runway Models-- Look Out For Some Heavy Competition!
Precious, precious darlings! I originally bought this book for my nine year old Godchild who loves to "play" fashion model with her dog. The minute I opened this book the weimaraner models stole my heart and I knew I had to get a copy to keep on my cocktail table. Everyone, who, like me,loves haute couture and adores those fabulous creatures who are best friends to us all will not be able to put this book down. Everyone who sees this book at first smiles ear to ear--then simply goes wild with laughter. They all want their own copy. The models look so very elegant and poised in trend-setting fashions. This is classic fashion photography with warm precious amber eyed beauties looking back at you. It is dog photography at its best. ... Read more

Book Description

Journeying to Queens, one of New York City's outer boroughs, is a much easier and more pleasant experience than the average urbanite would imagine. With the temporary relocation of The Museum of Modern Art, New York, to its new quarters at the old Swingline staple factory, the trip becomes a necessity for any art lover. But how do you get there? Do you take the Concord? A ferry boat? Can you walk? How far is it? And how will you know when you're there? Fear these travels not--William Wegman and the ever ominous, sensitive, brooding Chip, the youngest of Wegman's brood of weimaraners, are here to map out the way to MoMA QNS. Join Chip as he shuttles from Manhattan into Long Island City on the 7 train, alight from the subway with him at Queens Boulevard and 33rd Street, and stroll together along Queens Boulevard, "the Champs Elysée of Long Island City." Voilà, there you are at MoMA QNS, a striking, long blue building, complete with 160,000 square feet of recently redesigned space for exhibition galleries, study centers, workshops, storage, offices, and a café/bookstore. Enjoy the trip! ... Read more

Amazon.com

To a dog owner, each canine's personality is as uniquely defined as a human's. William Wegman knows this as well as or better than anyone. An artist best known for his photos of Weimaraner dogs, Wegman's work in the early '80s centered on his dog Man Ray. As Fay begins, Man Ray has died, and Wegman is resistant to the idea of replacing the irreplaceable Man Ray, named the Village Voice's "Man of the Year" in 1982.

When a fan of the artist meets him a few years later and invites him to choose a puppy from a litter of prize Weimaraners, Wegman is introduced to 6-month-old Fay, who immediately bewitches him with "the eyes of a jungle cat." Thus begins the story of Wegman's connection with the charming, shy, elegant Fay. Initially reluctant to feature her in his work, Wegman is content just to have a pet. But as he watches Fay's character develop into something quite different from Man Ray's, he finally decides to capture her personality in a photo shoot... then another... and another... until the two have developed a unique relationship on camera as well as off.

The book contains many striking photographs of Fay in anthropomorphic poses, as well as in several dresses and wigs--the result is sometimes humorous, sometimes seductive, but always hauntingly human and animal at the same time. Later photos feature Fay's pups Batty, Crooky, and Chundo as well. Pictures from a London Times photo spread feature the velvety dogs draped in diamond jewelry; photos from a Cinderella video incorporate the family into the cast, including Fay as the wicked stepmother and the fairy godmother; and stills from a Hardy Boys-type movie star (who else?) the Weimaraners.

Wegman and Fay's relationship is obviously an involved one--not just between a man and his dog, but an artist and his subject. And it is one that is lovingly captured in Fay's photos and story: here is a dog with a depth of personality equal to a human's, and a dignity and vulnerability expertly caught on film by one of our most original artists.--Kris Law ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A MOVING TRIBUTE TO THE BOND BETWEEN MAN AND DOG
Seldom has the maxim "A dog is man's best friend" been truer than in the case of photographer William Wegman and his beloved Weimaraners.Wegman has built a lucrative career and enchanted thousands with photographs of his captivating canines - often dressed as humans, sometimes in drag, frequently comical, always amazing.

A Massachusetts native, art school graduate, and teacher, Wegman got his first Weimaraner in 1970.He named him Man Ray, and an oeuvre was born as Man Ray became the centerpiece ofthe artist's photographs and videotapes.In 1986 a new dog found the artist; he dubbed her Fay.

Still stricken by the death of Man Ray, Wegman was at first reluctant to photograph Fay.But, as he watched her develop he realized that her personality was almost the polar opposite of Man Ray, and this sometimes coy, often diffident, always charmingly eager to pose Weimaraner became the focus of his work.Fay chronicles the working relationship and love story between a man and his dog.

There was a time when Wegman suffered the slings of animal rights protestors who accused him of misusing his pets.Looking at his photos one can only marvel at the rapport, the affection, the symbiosis, if you will,between man and dog.If ever there was a four-legged champion, it is Wegman.He writes of photographing Fay, "I zoomed in on her amidst another rush of swirling gray.She had the eyes of a jungle cat, round, opalescent, yellow, unfathomable, a young lioness by Rousseau."

Fay is an irresistible package - the story of Wegman's life and work,unforgettable photos of Fay, and a moving tribute to the bond between man and dog.

For anyone that loves their dog
The pictures are fantastic, but it is the story of Fay and her children that are really memorable. A touching account that will make you laugh and cry.

Good book
I love Wegman's childrens books and videos more, because they are SO GODDAMN FUNNY! But I was happy to see this book as well. Someone should make a movie of this. His narration in his movie THE HARDLY BOYS is reallyhysterical. the coolest part of Wegman is his humor.

BEAUTIFUL and TOUCHING
Being a weim owner I was given this book for christmas. I was aware of Mr Wegman's work both photo and video, as well as his contributions to Sesame Street(not a kid goes by after seeing my dog without saying, "lookmommie,a dress-up dog". This book not only illustrate Wegman'sartistry with a camera, but the close bonds only a dog owner would know. Ifyou own a dog, not just a weim, this is a must read. If your a tender soul,there are passages that will mist your eyes.

A beautiful tribute to Fay by a very gentle photographer
William Wegman's latest book is among his most beautiful.Every page illustrates what a magnificent breed of dog this is and, more importantly, just how loved this dog was by his human companion.There are some earlypictures of Fay, some of Fay in pastoral settings, and some with her pups. In all of them, she remains uniquely...Fay.Some of the pictures are quitetender and poignant; and some will evoke laughter.Mr. Wegman makes us seeourselves through a different "lens" and also helps us to takeourselves less seriously.As a fortunate owner of a Weimaraner, I am verygrateful to the artist William Wegman who magically manages to make ussmile and at the same time allows us to see the inherent beauty andintelligence of these dogs.Sometimes they are even smarter than theirowners!I will treasure this book as I do my own complex and beautifuldog. Thank you Mr. Wegman. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Form and Function
Year after year, Bill Wegman continues to enchant us with the beauty and often hilarity of his Weimaraner subjects. Not just dogs playing dress-up, like most great art, Wegman offers a variety of images and meanings. He keeps us and his dogs on our toes by jumping from deliberate cuteness and impeccible fashion photography to dramatic sillouettes that turn dogs into surreal landscapes and abstract designs. Wegman sparks our imaginations, challenges us to laugh at both ourselves and our society, and brings us stunning visual photography. A calendar that says "I'm cool," with art that says "Cindy Crawford, you're not." I'll take "Man's Best Friend 2004" over poodles and lighthouses or shrunken Old Masters any day!

Wegman is a genius!
I guess it takes a Weimaraner owner to appreciate the true genius of Wegman's photography. Weims are the most enigmatic, animated, tireless and human-like dogs I have ever known. Baylee, our 1 year old Weim, has no idea that she's not human!! you'll learn that he has been a Weim lover going on 30 years now and it definitely shows in his photography.

Wegman is a blockhead!
Yet another million-selling calandar of dressed-up doggies. Calling Wegman a photographer is like calling Jeff Gillooly a skating coach!

lovely
I love Weimaraners, so I loved this calendar, full of beautiful pictures of a couple of dogs. The only thing I disliked was that some of the pictures are of dogs dressed as people, and I like dogs as dogs. But it is a great tribute to weimaraners. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Dogs, Drawings and so much more
After using this book for slide researching in an art gallery, I bought it online and am very happy with it. It has excellent quality photographs of Wegman's dogs and his fashion pictures that revolve around Fay Ray and Man Ray and has a well-written prologue and interview with Wegman. However, I think the book is far more interesting because of Wegaman's other art interests including hilarious film stills, photographs of objects, comic line drawings, and full-page images of his collage-like oil paintings. They help to complete a picture of not just a funny artist, but of an artist who can use multiple media to represent his ideas in a fresh, funny, and uniquely beautiful way.I'd recommend this book to anyone who knows of William Wegman and wants to know more about this very talented man.

william wegman is talent!
I do not own this book, but soon shall. I recently saw some of Wegman's work at the Birmingham Museum of Art and it was pure talent. I think that this exhibit drew more attention than the mummy and egyptian exhibit. Hiswork is wonderful and I loved it. I give 5 stars to Wegman. Any true loverof Photography and/or Animals should see his work. It's great. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Print, published by RC Publications, Inc. on November 1, 1996. The length of the article is 3011 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Photographer and director William Wegman shoots witty and sharp poses of his fine stock of Weimaraners to reveal human vanities and vulnerabilities. Wegman's interest in shooting Weimaraners started in the 1970s, when he began taking photographs of Man Ray, his first Weimaraner. His latest set of dogs are already famous, all having appeared on Sesame Street. Wegman's videos of his pets have earned him acclaim and respect.

Citation Details
Title: Fay, Crooky, Batty & Chundo. (photographer and director William Wegman's Weimaraners)
Author: Joelle Bentley Burrows
Publication: Print (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 1996
Publisher: RC Publications, Inc.
Volume: v50Issue: n6Page: p84(7)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wegman's Early Photos
This book gives a great representation of Wegmans early works. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Sarasota Herald Tribune, published by Sarasota Herald-Tribune on July 2, 2004. The length of the article is 602 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Wegman photography exhibit goes to the dogs.(TICKET)
Publication: Sarasota Herald Tribune (Newspaper)
Date: July 2, 2004
Publisher: Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Page: 29

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

A new format for William Wegman's ever-popular puppies photographs, this 2004 desk calendar is as warm and fuzzy as Abrams' best-selling calendar of the same title. ... Read more

Book Description

Available only from Abrams, this calendar features many photographsnot previously published, all inventive and irresistibly cute. ... Read more

Book Description

Abrams is the exclusive publisher of William Wegman's calendars andthis is a perennial favorite, featuring his lovable weimaraners in 26 color photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

If you love Fay, you'll love this fun calendar!
I originally fell in love with William Wegman's work when watching Fay play dress up on Sesame Street.

I have this calendar and love turning to the new month to see each new picture.

tasteless
as a dog lover i was looking forward to the delivery of this calendar, but was disappointed when it came. take a closer look at the back cover of the thing, which shows a small pic of each month's photo... leaves delicately placed on the dog's head, a bbq covered in tin foil to represent a lunar space module, two (wahey!) versions of managing to ARTISTICALLY pile things on top of the beautiful Weimeraner (sp?)... it gets better- there are wigs, interestingly placed flowers... honestly. You want to rescue the poor mutt and tell it not to take any notice of this, frankly, floundering photographer.

there are TWO, maybe three natural photos in the whole thing. you would do better to get out your polaroid camera and some blue tack.. ... Read more