Alex WebbLA CALLE

Discovering enigmatic scenes in the streets of Mexico, the San Francisco-born photographer Alex Webb takes an inimitable approach to street photography.

Raised in New England, Webb first documented American social landscapes across Boston and New York, but often found them soulless and detached. He then travelled to Haiti, the Caribbean, and eventually Mexico, becoming deeply fascinated by the great differences in culture between Mexico and his native US.

From his first visit in 1975, he was immediately captivated by the vibrant life in the streets of Mexico. While his early black and white photos often feature stark, striking graphics, his foray into color photography starting in 1978—inspired by the light and color of the Mexican streets—marks a turning point in his work.

Throughout his work from Mexico, his rich compositions create compelling visual complexity—‘La Calle’ features strong, saturated colors, which evoke haunting, enigmatic scenes of the everyday. “I work extremely intuitively. I wander, I respond,” he says. “Am I aware of certain elements rationally at times? Sure. But I think that often when I am more aware of them, it usually means that the picture falls flat.”

Illustrated hardcover, 27 x 22 cm, b&w and colors photographs. In very good condition other some wears to the edge of the cover.