LE FLÂNEUR

In this book of photographs taken in various states and countries, a man embraces the “flâneur” spirit and presents the vivid subjects encountered on his aimless explorations.

In a brief but effective artist statement, Labry reveals how he got his start: as photography manager for the Texas House of Representatives, where part of his job was “to unobtrusively chronicle the members’ interactions in the House Chamber.” The instrument responsible, a Leica M series film camera, also took the pictures that make up this collection. Years ago, the author dubbed his trusted camera “Nola” in honor of his beloved hometown. While many places are represented in these photos—Berlin, Paris, Texas, Ireland—none is more lovingly and vibrantly captured than New Orleans. “Some of my earliest childhood memories are of natural light,” Labry writes, and his description of the city’s particular glow suggests that there’s no better birthplace for an aspiring photographer. In these 89 photos, he returns again and again to art as a subject. Photos capture murals, paintings, and graffiti, but images of statuary persist throughout the collection. “Statue of Andrew Jackson,” “Statue of Professor Longhair,” “Statue of Slave Girl,” “Statue of Ignatius J. Reilly” are just some Labry has included. Seeing as the artist has already produced a book of photos of Joan of Arc statuary, this is clearly an abiding interest for him. But the images of people are the true standouts. “Fast Food” and “Jackson Square” both capture folks slumped on benches; “French Quarter” shows a man playing a guitar on a stoop. “Mardi Gras” depicts an older man and a young boy intimately conferring in what looks like the bed of a truck. These beautiful images are evidence of Labry’s excellent eye for human figures and how they occupy space and frame. In this volume, the living are more exciting subjects than the inanimate. The author writes: “All photographs are as much or more about their creator than the thing photographed.” These works tell readers their creator is a keen and compassionate observer of a city’s human denizens.

An eclectic, exciting collection of photos infused with a wandering curiosity.