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GUS BLAISDELL COLLECTED editor William Peterson and I had a blast (uncontrolled adrenaline for me) at the book release. It was a lovely and crowded event at THE BOOK STOP in Albuquerque where many great friends, colleagues, and students showed up to share in the excitement. As one book lover put it, “It was filled with old Albuquerque literati.” Meeting the new and interesting people who were eager to have this book in hand was a highlight. I met bookseller Vincent Borelli who sent me this:

a chance meeting in a bookstore

I met Gus Blaisdell about thirty years ago – a chance meeting in a bookstore. I was photographing on my first cross-country road trip and I landed in Albuquerque at The Living Batch. Gus showed me Park City by Lewis Baltz. What he didn’t mention is that he wrote the essay for the book – one of the most brilliant essays I’ve ever read about photography and art.

Park City (and a few other influential books) heralded a seismic shift in photography. This astonishing work, which came to be known as the New Topographics, allowed us to view the landscape with a new sense of passion, longing, and dread. The style continues to be widely emulated, letting some of us forget the vitality and authority of the original images.

Photos courtesy of Janice Schmitz, Christopher Koller and Adrienne Salinger

GBC BOOKS can be ordered from Jerry Lane at THE BOOK STOP                                       505-268-8898 or email  geraldlane2405@comcast.net