Skrebneski Documented: 1948–2018

“Skrebneski is a créateur whose artistry extends beyond the lens. He is a master architect of each image as well as a photographer of many moods, people, places . . . He celebrates the human form . . .”

Skrebneski Documented is entirely edited and curated by the artist, which creates an anomaly within the genre since the images are not in chronological order. The astute reader will also take note of how the images are juxtaposed to one another on every page. His use of positive and negative space as well as his subject placements is mind boggling.

There is no denying that Skrebneski is a créateur whose artistry extends beyond the lens. He is a master architect of each image as well as a photographer of many moods, people, places, and not just fashion. He celebrates the human form whether clothed or not as he somehow captures the essence of his subjects or subject matter. Some images are laser sharp focused while others are intentionally blurred, and this all speaks to artistry of his oeuvre but also to his total command of the camera and the fluent provocative language of the printed image.

Readers of a certain age will be expecting to see much more of his commercial or well-known works as was seen in the great fashion magazines of an era when printed media ruled fashion, but that is not what is contained within Skrebneski Documented. Each image is a personal selection of his choosing that reflects the many facets of his mastery spanning seven decades.

What might be considered somewhat sad is that there will be a generation or generations of future readers to whom the name Skrebneski is not familiar. Unmistakably, it is they who should own and examine a book like this, especially in the age of Photoshop, Instagram, and “snapshot” photography.  

To assess Skrebneski Documented: 1948–2018 on only one plane is impossible, so the prospective reader must be a devoted fashionphile or an aficionado of the art of photography. Skrebneski cannot be pigeonholed or strictly classified other than as a brilliant lensman.

This is a perfect gift for those who consider themselves among the cognoscenti of several genres including fashion and photography. It is a treasure to add to one’s library and is most definitely a book that will be revisited by many for ages to come.