Those who like their photography straight up ย— that is to say, simple but strong ย— will find a master in Lee Friedlander. The Museum of Fine Art, Houstonย’s exhibit ย“Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: Books and Photographs by Lee Friedlanderย” celebrates the American artistย’s 40 years in photography and his work in designing and overseeing more than 45 publications. Like his contemporaries Richard Avedon and Diane Arbus, Friedlander has spent his still-vibrant career chronicling this countryย’s social landscape in the artful but honest medium of black-and-white. From stark lots in Knoxville and the clutter of Times Square to a Pittsburgh snowscape and Nebraskan farmland, his subjects made for a vast panorama, one both familiar and surprising.

Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Aug. 28. Continues through Jan. 13, 2007

This article appears in Aug 23-29, 2007.