“Rack & Ruin”
By Donald Frith
Self-published Photo Book
(Buy a copy here)
The pool table is an essential piece of Detroit’s dive bar culture.
In his 100-page photobook “Rack & Ruin,” photographer Donald Frith set out to document the scene with his camera and self-release what he captured through his lens. It’s an ode to the bars these tables live in and the players who love playing there, and a love letter to the aesthetic of the Midwest bar scene.
It should be noted that Frith’s design of the book itself is as stunning as the photos inside. It feels professional from cover to last page – a far cry from my usual expectations with anything “self-published.”
It’s a mix of black and white photography with a splash of color photos bringing to light “the people, places and energy of a culture kept alive in dive bars and neighborhood spots across the city,” writes Frith. He spent three years taking photos to fill out the project.
Without a doubt, there’s an “energy” of camaraderie captured – someone shooting, other players debating or laughing in a blurred out background.
But Frith’s strongest work here is focused on quite the opposite. “Rack & Ruin” is at its best when showcasing the isolation of players under the spotlights hovering above the felt, like boxers in a ring.
That feeling of isolation extends outside, too, with Frith including exteriors of the bars themselves. It’s here where the book feels de facto blue collar, aging industrial Midwest.
The bottles behind the bar act as a perfect backdrop. The dive decors are made for this type of photography, like a production designer was working on these quietly on a sound stand somewhere. Instead, it’s just the naturally best environment to spend a few bucks and hours on beers and pool with a friend.
Those moments of friendship shared over a game at a bar are present in “Rack & Ruin,” but Frith’s work is speaking the loudest when capturing the quiet, contemplative moments of his subjects.
