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. of humor.