The Wizard of Awe

First edition of The Wizard of Awe by Kevin Cooley. First impression. Medium format hardback in new condition. 

About

Ken Miller is often referred to on the internet as ‘the smoke guru’. His expertise in manufacturing smoke generators for air shows and other industries has made him a respected pyrotechnicst. However, his journey has been marked by both brilliance and misfortune.

Traumatised by a tragic accident that killed his business partner and best friend, Howard Snelson, and left him with severe burns, he turned to painkillers to deal with his physical pain and the guilt that consumed him. Despite these tragedies, Ken’s passion for pyrotechnics never waned. His property in southern Minnesota became a testing ground for his eccentric experiments, with burn scars and explosion craters dotting the landscape. This volatile world became the subject of a project that captured the essence of his life and work. Guided by Ken’s knowledge, Kevin Cooley (US) created three photographic series – Controlled Burns, Gathering Clouds, and Exploded Views – and extensively documented his visits to the rural farm, offering a surreal glimpse into Ken’s pyrotechnic world.