Aperture No. 92. Fall 1983. Slovakia, Ralston Crawford, et al.

Very good with small scuff on top of front cover.  Includes "Who Killed Camera Arts" by Danny Lyon; "Proud Pilgrims of Slovakia" with photographs by Markéta Luskačová; "Tears and Misunderstanding" by Ben Maddow; "Philipp Scholz Rittermann: Moonlighting" re industry at night; "The Women of Maciel (Brazil)" by Rio Branco; "Ralston Crawford's Gift of Selection" by John Heilpern. Summary:

Aperture No. 92 (Fall 1983) is a sharp, provocative issue that balances a critique of the photography industry with deeply empathetic documentary portfolios. It captures a moment of transition where the "golden age" of photographic magazines was under threat, while global documentary photography was becoming increasingly visceral and personal.

The Industry Critique: "Who Killed Camera Arts?"

The issue opens with a biting essay by Danny Lyon, the legendary New York School and Magnum photographer.

• The Argument: Lyon laments the closure of Camera Arts magazine, using it as a springboard to criticize the commercialization and "death of soul" in photographic publishing.

• The Tone: It is a passionate defense of the independent, uncompromising photographer against the pressures of corporate media and advertising interests.

Featured Portfolios and Essays

1. Markéta Luskačová: "Proud Pilgrims of Slovakia"

This portfolio is a cornerstone of the issue, featuring the work of Czech photographer Markéta Luskačová.

• Subject: Her images document the traditional religious pilgrimages in rural Slovakia.

• Aesthetic: The photographs are noted for their profound sense of dignity and timelessness, capturing a community clinging to spiritual traditions in the face of modern political pressures.

2. Philipp Scholz Rittermann: "Moonlighting"

Rittermann provides a technical and atmospheric contrast with his study of industrial sites at night.

• Focus: Massive industrial infrastructures—refineries, ports, and factories—illuminated by their own artificial lights.

• Style: Using long exposures, Rittermann transforms functional, often ugly industrial environments into glowing, sculptural landscapes, highlighting the eerie beauty of the "second sun" of industry.

3. Miguel Rio Branco: "The Women of Maciel"

A gritty and color-saturated look at the red-light district of Salvador, Brazil.

• Perspective: Rio Branco avoids a voyeuristic lens, instead using a painterly, expressionistic style to capture the harsh reality and resilient humanity of the women living in the Maciel neighborhood.

4. Ralston Crawford: "Gift of Selection"

The issue includes an appreciative look at Ralston Crawford, written by John Heilpern.

• Focus: Best known as a Precisionist painter, Crawford was also a prolific photographer. The essay explores his "gift of selection"—his ability to find abstract, geometric patterns in everyday subjects like grain elevators, ship rigging, and New Orleans jazz culture.

5. Ben Maddow: "Tears and Misunderstanding"

The noted writer and filmmaker Ben Maddow contributes a reflective essay on the inherent limitations of photography. He explores the gap between what a photograph shows and what the subject (and the viewer) feels, questioning whether a camera can truly capture the depth of human emotion or if it inevitably leads to a "misunderstanding."

Summary Takeaway

Aperture No. 92 serves as a defense of the documentary spirit. From the spiritual endurance in Slovakia to the industrial "moonlight" of the West and the social fringes of Brazil, the issue argues for photography as an act of profound witness. It stands as a defiant response to Danny Lyon’s opening question, proving that while magazines may die, the "camera arts" remain a vital, soul-searching medium.