The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography TCF Ep. 632 - Michael Rababy
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Oct 30, 2024 Michael Rababy, a Lebanese-American documentary photographer and author, intricately explores U.S. gambling culture in his new book, Casinoland - Tired of Winning. He shares his childhood memories of casinos and how these experiences shaped his artistic vision. Rababy delves into the psychological manipulation behind casino design and candidly discusses his commitment to in-camera documentary work. Humor plays a pivotal role as he critiques the stark contrasts between casino advertising and reality, revealing a fascinating evolution in visitor behavior over three decades.
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Childhood Casino Memory Spark
- Michael Rababy remembers tagging along with his father to casinos as a child and immediately sensing it wasn't for him.
- He documents decades of visits where he photographed friends gambling while he wandered the floors with a camera.
Architecture Designed To Keep You Playing
- Casinos deliberately design every element to keep patrons playing, from carpets to seat shapes.
- Rababy learned this through research and staff confirmations about architecture engineered for 'maximum mindlessness.'
Make Deliberate Trips To Build Projects
- Focus projects by collecting broadly then deliberately concentrating when an idea crystallizes.
- Rababy advises putting distractions aside and making intentional trips to develop a cohesive book project.
