The winning book of the international FotoBookFestival Kassel 2010

“AMERICAN finalizes Werner Amann’s long-term photographic project, which began in 1996 and ended in 2009. The photographs were taken in the US cities of Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Gainesville, Miami and Kansas City, as well as in the border city of Tijuana, Mexico and the desert areas of the American West."

From the jury's statement: The photographer succeeds in capturing a piece of the American soul in light yet dense, expressive images, composed into a flowing essay of documentation and poetry. Amann's form is also convincing. The ability to adequately use the book as a medium with its special material and stylistic qualities was particularly fulfilled here. From a total of 431 submitted photo books, the international jury selected the winning book from 56 shortlisted titles: The jury consisted of: Martin Parr, Priska Pasquer, Markus Schaden, Celina Lunsford, Frank Seltmann, Oliver Seltmann, Lesley A. Martin, Andreas Müller-Pohle and Alec Soth .