AnexpandededitionofMeyerowitz’sacclaimedstudyofthemanyshadesandstylesofredhairPhotographerJoelMeyerowitz(born1938)beganphotographingredheadsin1978againstthecontrastingbluebackdropofCapeCod.TheportraitsfromthisperiodarecollectedinthisneweditionofMeyerowitz’s1991photobookRedheads,featuring16additionalimages.AfterrunninganadintheProvincetownAdvocate,Meyerowitzbegancollectingtheexperiencesofpeoplewhogrewupwithredhair,inadditiontophotographingthem.Makinguponlytwoorthreepercentoftheworld’spopulation,theirstoriesofschoolyardbullyingandself-acceptanceillustrateabroadernarrativeofgrowthandbeauty.Despiteculturalandracialdistinctionsbetweenredheads,thephenotypicassociationbetweenthesubjectsbringsasenseoffamilialitytothecollectionofportraits.Meyerowitzdescribeshowredhairanditsreactiontolightevokesasenseofthecolorfilmprocess.Heisknownforhistransitiontocolorfilmduringaperiodofresistancetocolorphotography.“Mywayofmakingportraitsisnotbygettingdownonmyhandsandknees,norclimbinghighonaladder,norgettingintobedwithacelebrity,“Meyerowitzwrites,“butsimplystandingeyetoeyewithanyonewhohasfoundtheirwaytome,youngorold.Ineedonlyoneortwosheetsoffilmandthepatiencetoseeitthrough.“Thishardcovereditionincludespreviouslyunseenportraits.
