Ed Geis

America: What Do We Fear? Ed Geis

Photographer Ed Geis made three road trips across the U. S., accompanied by his camera and a metal folding chair. This book includes 50 of over 100 photos photos he took of Americans he met along the way who agreed to sit in the chair and have their picture taken. Geis asked the "sitters" two questions: 1) Could they express themselves using the chair, and 2) What was their biggest fear? Their responses were candid, surprising, and at times, provocative. America: What Do We Fear? is a revealing commentary on American society today. Whether in the midst of an urban metropolis or the middle of nowhere, divulging one's greatest fear to a total stranger is a scary proposition in itself. The sitters' frank responses, and perhaps their poses, are likely to resonate with many who read this book. With this compilation of words and images, Geis creates a unique window allowing an intimate view in the heart of contemporary America.