BOOK REVIEW : Photographer’s Pilgrimage: Concept That Goes Nowhere

Through the years, George Tice has earned a reputation as a master of photography. Tice aims for perfection while striving to capture the spirit of the place he is photographing.

In his book, “Hometowns: An American Pilgrimage” (Little, Brown & Co. Inc., $50.), Tice attempts to provide a glimpse of the hometowns of three famous Americans: James Dean, Ronald Reagan and Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain).

The first stop is Fairmount, Ind., the home of James Dean. Tice was 17 when he saw Dean’s film, “Rebel Without a Cause.”

The photographs in Fairmount and the other two towns are nice, but the photos have little more than a postcard- or snapshot-like appeal, and overall, they seem a little redundant.

In “Hometowns,” Tice includes selected writings from the three men, as well as newspaper clippings and fan letters. There is not a lot of explanation about the individual photographs, so if you are looking for insight, read the preface.

Rather than simply offering a photographic catalogue of celebrity memorabilia, Tice wants us to see where these men came from. He wants to show us the streets, schools, creeks, farms, churches and barbershops.

In Dixon, Ill., Tice doesn’t quite make us feel as if the spirit of Reagan is still there. One photograph of Dixon’s Victory Arch shows a small sign that reads: “Hometown of Ronald Reagan”; another captures a billboard that proclaims: “Welcome to Dixon Home of Hey Brothers Ice Cream and President Ronald ‘Dutch’ Reagan.”

Tice’s photograph misses the mark by showing a picture of a dark, desolate street accompanied by text noting that people were dancing in the street when Reagan was elected president. Missing is any sign of that euphoric spirit.

In Dixon, Tice only captured streets, rivers, barns and other stereotypical views that can be found in all small towns. There is nothing that sets this town apart from any other.

In Hannibal, Mo., it’s the same thing. Tice is successful at grasping Mark Twain’s main street, river, homes and various advertisements, but the photos give a different message. In this town, Tice shows us Hannibal merchants who are out for a quick buck by exploiting Twain’s name.

Before you spend $50 on this book, consider checking it out at the library. Better yet, leave it on the shelf.