Michael Thompson: Images

In his work for Harper's Bazaar, Vogue (British, French and German), GQ, W., and other glossies, photographer Thompson has shot some of the world's most beautiful people, in stark, highly stylized settings. This giant-sized book presents 82 of his photos (51 in color) in full-page format, with blank facing pages to minimize distraction. Seeing a shot like Julianne Moore as Vermeer's St. Praxedis is lovely enough, but how about Claudia Schiffer, in a flowing gown, presented standing against a pure black background, with a bizarre seated double-exposed Reflection? Most of the photos have titles like Twins, White Dress, Fire and Twisting Nude that belie the complexity of their lighting and pose. In the end, though, this book looks like what it is: a compendium of highly competent commercial work that is lovely and evocative, and that will be able to serve as the photographer's calling card for years.