Joyce Tenneson: Transformations

Joyce Tenneson's ethereal photographs of the human figure have been described as "mesmerizing, haunting, and truly beautiful." It is this distinctive vision and immediately recognizable style - a mysterious alchemy of sensuality and spirituality - that have brought her international acclaim, not only as a fine art photographer, but in the portrait, fashion, and beauty photography fields as well.
Using a graceful, formal structure and sculpturesque subjects against painted backdrops, Tenneson creates enigmatic and sensuous images with a mythic quality. Whether a classically draped nude or a mysterious portrait of a young child and an aged man, her photographs speak to the fragility of life, its poignant beauty - and its pain. The images are deeply affecting, evoking forgotten memories.
Transformations is the first book to feature Tenneson's color work. Published to coincide with a traveling exhibition originated by the International Center of Photography, New York, it presents the full range of Tenneson's personal color work since she began to work in color in the mid-1980s. Included are recent photographs called "light writings," in which Tenneson "draws with light." An illustrated interview with art critic David Tannous includes examples of her fashion and portrait work as well. The interview explores the autobiographical influences on Tenneson's work and underscores the intimate yet disquieting power of these startlingly beautiful photographs.