For the European Month of Photography, C/O Berlin is presenting an important retrospective of the work of the American photographer Joel Sternfeld.

Born in New York in 1944, Joel Sternfeld has worked in large-format color since the 1970s, making him one of the pioneers of color photography, along with William Eggleston and Stephen Shore. The exhibition brings together several important series made in the United States: American Prospects, Sweet Earth, Stranger Passing and On this Site. From the size of the print to its framing, the presentation of each photograph is well thought out.

Most of Sternfeld’s photographs have a familiar look: beautiful light, soft colors, and a “neutral” framing. Our gaze is guided by the photographed, from an initial feeling of seduction to a certain surprise; these complex images never show what we expect to see.

This is documentary work carried out over a long time, perceptible by the length of the exposure and other recurrent themes. There is nothing sensational about them. The subjects are treated with intelligence and irony. We are surprised to find ourselves laughing at some of the images. But the laughter is nervous, since many of Sternfeld’s photographs depict accidents, poverty, natural disasters, and the sad consequences of a consumer society.

Read the full text of this article by Eva Gravayat in the French version of Le Journal.

Joel Sternfeld - Retrospective
From November 10th, 2012 to January 13th, 2013

C/O Berlin
Postfuhramt
 Oranienburger Straße 35/36

10117 Berlin
Germany