The Death of Photography: The Shooting Gallery

Regardless of genre and subject matter Peter Gravelle is one of the great storytellers of our time. The Death of Photography is a diary, a coming clean of sins, a baring of the soul as well as an extraordinarily intelligent assessment of the art and craft of photography, music, and fashion. The story is about his life told by an insider who participated in every sordid and lurid moment that he describes and retells.

Gravelle is an astute observer and player whose professional life began in punk rock London and eventually made full circle via stops in New York City, Milan, Paris, Tokyo, Athens, Thailand, and many more fashion capitals. He was above all a totally functioning drug addict who vividly discusses his travails with addiction as well as the insanity of the worlds he inhabited over a 40-year history.

The appeal of the book is multidimensional as there are many facets to its content. The first section since deals with so much unfamiliar material. Then the designated chapters about fashion and photography are withering commentaries about professions that are supposedly so glamorous. One of the greatest segments of the book comes at the very end when the title is explained to the reader by the author.

In general, the book is highly recommended to readers who are interested in photography, music, and fashion. It might be read as a cautionary tale; an intelligent, no holds barred exposé, or just an amazing tale of life, warts and all.