Description: California Dreamers is an intimate fly-on-the-wall photographic study of over 70 Californians, along with their personal testimonies and tales, revealing life behind closed doors in this iconic US state.
California, the Golden State, is steeped in cliché like almost nowhere else: palm trees, beach-blonde surfers, aspiring actors and tail-finned cars, all bathed in endless sunshine.Sally Davies, acclaimed New York street photographer and author of New Yorkers, heads west to capture the images and listen to the voices of everyday Californians in their own homes, hoping to delve beneath the ubiquitous stereotypes. She finds light and space, swimming pools and enticing views of the stunning natural surroundings encroaching through the walls. Posing for her in bedrooms, garages and patios, Davies discovers vibrant multicultural communities, eccentric stories of hopes and dreams, tales of gridlocked traffic, urban sprawl, air pollution and all aspects of the entertainment industry.Among the voices are well-known figures, Linda Ramone and actor Eric McCormack, accompanied by a cast of models, producers, a high-court judge, artists, stylists, writers, musicians, lawyers, magicians and many more.Brief description:
Review Quotes:
"California Dreamers is not merely a collection of photographs; it is a profound exploration of the human spirit within the Californian landscape. Davies skillfully illuminates the stories of models, producers, high-court judges, artists, stylists, writers, musicians, lawyers, magicians, and more, giving readers a rare glimpse into the rich tapestry of Californian life."--One 11 Living
"The myth of California is an enduring one: a place of new beginnings touched by sun, sea and surf with ever-present Beach Boys harmonies drifting on the breeze. Photographer Sally Davies' past work has involved snapping New Yorkers, but her new work, 'California Dreamers', captures Californians of all stripes at home, at work and play: models, artists, lawyers, musicians, producers, magicians and more, such as Joan and Gary Gand at their Palm Springs home in 2021. Davies gets underneath West Coast stereotypes and finds out why, a century on from the Gold Rush, people are still drawn to California to start again and strike it lucky."--The I Paper
Praise for New Yorkers:
"Sally Davies's portraits of larger than life characters in their equally colourful homes offer a glimpse into the grit, elegance, poverty and humanity of an ever-changing city."--The Guardian
"Diversity, eccentricity and humanity are all found in abundance... Regardless of whether or not you've been to New York yourself, there's something to enjoy here. It's a city which seems to have embedded itself in our global cultural consciousness, so there's every chance you may feel you recognise some of the characters here anyway. New Yorkers also seem to have a distinctly different identity to other Americans, so it makes for quite a fascinating study"--Amateur Photographer
"No matter your age or era, if you've ever lived in "the City" or wished that you did, this timely book of environmental portraiture will likely fill you with nostalgia, and perhaps a touch of envy. New Yorkers is a voyeur's dream and an anthropological masterclass all rolled in to one compelling photobook... Considering that the photographs were made in the months just prior to the pandemic shutdown that was 2020, Davies may have inadvertently earned an award for "most prescient photographer."--PhotoBook Journal
"New Yorkers is a visual read, to be sure, but it also contains a good deal of text on the subjects and their lives. In this way, the book is an ideal gift for the photography lover or the avid reader of the biographies in your life. Buy a copy, you can thank me later."--F-Stop Magazine