Bruce Gilden’s “extreme” closeups are in the news. The photographer is famous for what he calls “characters,” but his new book of mugshots, entitled Face (Stockport: Dewi Lewis Publishing, 2015) is thought by many as no less than cruel. Every face in the book takes the whole page. Bruises, warts, stubble, scrapes, and pimples are in plain view. The catalogue of human ugliness is thus considered to be a step too far. I beg to differ, though. All the photographs from the book I have managed to find on the World Wide Web are very to my liking. They show the human species exactly as it is at this day and age. Nothing is added or subtracted from any of the faces on offer. Interestingly, Gilden has gained permission from each and every subject photographed. This is how they see themselves, as well. In short, his faces would be a welcome embellishment to a catalogue of human proclivities I would like to see published one fine day. In my mind, the catalogue would list every single activity, pursuit, hobby, interest, profession, pastime, occupation, trade, and diversion known to the human species. Literally. Like Gilden’s closeups, the catalogue would leave nothing out. Absolutely nothing. Laid bare, the species would finally have a chance to confront itself.