Thomas Allen's pulp illustration pop-ups

Thomas Allen is a photographer who transforms the fantastic illustrations from vintage pulp novels into evocative pop-up scenes. Every element remains attached to its book. Allen has a brand new collection of his work, titled Uncovered. It looks terrific! From the book description:

Thomas Allen selects the pulpiest of pulp paperbacks and then lovingly slices out a figure from the cover, gently folds it into position, and constructs a witty scene around it. In Thirst, a sultry dame reaches from her cover toward a guy with a bottle on a nearby volume; in Teeter a man careens toward the edge of a stack of paperbacks ready to topple.

Inspired by a love of pop-up books, Allen revels in taking on different roles in creating his scenarios: “In addition to being a photographer, I play talent scout, casting director, stage manager, lighting supervisor, and film editor.” He photographs these engaging tableaux in shallow focus, rendering his prints with the dreamy effect seen in the View-Master stereoscopic toy that also inspired him.

Well suited to the three-dimensional heft of a board book, the images in Uncovered are combined into an almost toylike object that will delight photography lovers, graphic designers, and bibliophiles with a sense of humor.

Link to buy Uncovered, Link to sample images from the book, Link to more of Allen's work at Joseph Bellow gallery, Link to still more of Allen's work at Foley Gallery