In his second monograph (after Figure and Ground), Renaldi documents the lives of young men in the old textile town of Fall River, MA, not far from the Atlantic Ocean, over the course of nine years. In spring 2000, Renaldi made the first of many trips to Fall River and began a series of portraits of young men coming of age, symbolically within the shadows of a lost industrial landscape. As character studies and environmental portraits, the 89 fine black-and-white photographs offer a slice of life of a fading New England factory town. There is a touch of irony in the collection, which captures the hopefulness of youth within the context of decline. Award-winning novelist Michael Cunningham contributes a thoughtful introduction. VERDICT This impressive collection will appeal not only to fine-art photographers but to all serious photographers, from amateurs to photojournalists. It will also attract anyone interested in American popular culture and social history. Highly recommended.
Raymond Bial, First Light Photography, Urbana, IL

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