Book Description

Once upon a time, before the Soviet invasion and two decades of civil war, Afghanistan stood as a beautiful, if austere, country. Enchanted by the dramatic landscape, two photographers from the West devoted 14 years, from 1964 to 1978, to documenting its rugged charms. From ruined cities covered with desert sands to the Pamir mountains, where caravans of camels walk across frozen rivers in winter, to the Turkestan bazaars along the old Silk Road, Roland and Sabrina Michaud traveled and came to love this ravaged paradise and its proud peoples: Pashtuns, Tadjiks, Hazara farmers, Uzbek horsemen, Kirgiz shepherds, Nuristani mountain dwellers, and Derbiche vagrants.

With the Michauds' evocative photography and text by prizewinning poet and essayist André Velter, this striking testimony to the Afghanistan that once was will help readers understand and respect a country now so central to current events. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

homage to JK
JK is a street photographer who transcends the boundaries. Eye of the artist and soul of the novelist. This book represents the closest thing to recent work. Unfortunately he has withdrawn his photographs from circulation. He is concentrating on photographing and not doing any printing.
The large format is perfect for these panoramic images. A statue of Lenin on a barge is my favorite pic. Worth the price of the book. However, there are many others to fall in love with.

somewhat abstract yet powerful landsape photography
This book drives me up the wall, the pictures of wartorn lanscpaes, dispaced lonely images, almost completely void of people. The isolation one feels is intense, like walking into an old subway entrance when nobody is around. The photos document the natural erosion of landscapes and the 'personalities' that prevail as a result of neglect, beautifully framed by cold hard angles giving shape to the image at hand. And anogst all the torn metal and concrete then there is a picture of a lone tree in the middle of a baren snow-covered landscape, cold and alone and wonderful, just how you will feel when you read this. Not really a coffe table book, unless of course you never have have any guests.

-
absolutly stuning, wonderful study of texture. and i bought it for... right after looking at it. if i don't see it every now and then i miss it. i want to say something more, something globaly political, but the images are so romantic it seems josef koudelka doesn't realize where he is. (that's a complement)

Rich images
I consider Koudelka to be one of the finest photographers to come out of Prague. This book is handsome. The images are beautifully reproduced and the camera format seductive. If you appreciate textures and rich blacks, this edition will please you. The graphic art direction is smart and intelligent - a photo art book for the fine art collector.

Different . . . heart-stopping
I like Koudelka's work very much. I saw this new book listed here in Amazon, but who wants to buy a photography book without looking at it? Even if you trust the photographer, what if the reproduction's no good? So I found it in a bookstore and looked. It's more abstract than his earlier work. There are few people; there are roads, rubbly sidwalks, a broken concrete statue of Lenin on a barge. The cropping and grouping of the images are intense and strange. It is awesomely beautiful. The reproduction is fine by me. If you like Koudelka and you buy this book, I think you will be very glad you did. If you don't know Koudelka, you might want to find the book and look. ... Read more

Book Description

Updated throughout to reflect recent technological advances and changes, Photojournalism: Content & Technique, second edition, continues the commitment to contemporary coverage. Your students will learn about the principles, tools, and techniques needed to become effective photojournalists. Like the previous edition, parts and chapters progress logically from beginning to more advanced ideas, yet each chapter functions as an independent unit giving you greater flexibility in the classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

When shots ring out, photographers shoot back. Their images can startle, inform, and serve as witness. Mundane and profound, gruesome and compelling, crime photographs are, for better or worse, part of our world. Featuring many rarely and never-before-seen images, this heavily illustrated book sheds new light on the role of crime photography in our history and in our culture.

These are pictures we see once and never forget: an autopsy photograph of Lee Harvey Oswald; the bodies of Lizzie Borden's parents, photographed in the room where they were slain; mug shots of celebrities such as Larry King and Bill Gates; and O.J. Simpson pictured wearing shoes that match the footprints at the murder scene. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Crime is not a pretty picture....
True Crime has always interested me;particulayly what made these criminals tick.There,s lots of speculation about their thinking;but never many resolutions;particularly with the loners.This book was very disapointing.the text was very poor,disjointed and difficult in connecting with the photos.If this book shows anything,it is that the photography was much better in the past than recent times.Sure, there was some pretty gruesome stuff,but there is more to the art of crime photography than presented in this book.Before buying ,I would suggest giving it a pretty good look over.I was quite surprised by the high reviews this book received;however,considering the background of the authors;maybe it is a better book for the insiders of crime photography.But then,who do they do this work for,themselves or others? the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words doesn't hold here.Most shots are like snapshots taken by amateurs who just happen to be passing and took a shot.

Holy Sh*t!!
I was in Media Play with my ex-boyfriend and 2 of our friends one night and we were looking (well, okay...running) around in the books section getting sex books off of the shelves and yelling out positions. I was getting bored and started walking around looking for something to do, when I saw a book with 2 dead bodies on the cover with "SHOTS IN THE DARK" as the title caption. I skimmed through the book and was shocked as hell. Not only because the photos were very in-your-face, but because I would've never guessed that Gail Buckland could get so much information on the gorey pictures. When I saw the passages about John List, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, The Buther of Clarksburg, and John F. Kennedy's autopsy photos, I was covinced to buy this book. I showed my ex and our friends and after purchasing the book, we couldn't put it down. I gave the book 4 stars because you will more than likely get sick of the book. I recommend this one to the Freaks and the Juggalos. Later y'all!

WHEN SHOTS RING OUT-PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOOT BACK
SHOTS IN THE DARK is a book that takes you into the world of crime-and its not pleasent!

...P>The start is kind of boring-with the writer telling us all about crime-who cares about that-we wanna see some dead bodies!

Some of the pictures in this book are kind of gory and gross-especially JFK laying on a table with his brains showing.

YUCK!

The cover of this book-with two dirty-bloodied male corpses laying in an elevator makes you think-where did they get shot?

I kind of dont and do wanna know!

I would reccomend this book to anyone who is a crime nut-and is into photography-this is the book for you!

THERES TOO MANY BODIES-ITS NOT ENOUGH ROOM-EVERYBODY OUT OF THE WATER!

must have for true crime buffs
The content of this book is often quite shocking and surely not for the squeamish. I am aware that many people will dislike it. But in order to understand crime and its effects on society one has to face reality. The ugly face of reality and not only crime as a figure.

The book starts with an excellent introduction by Harold EVANS "Looking Crime Squarely in Its Disturbing Eye", followed by an essay by author Gail BUCKLAND about the development of forensic photography and the creator of the mugshot, the frenchman Alphonse BERTILLON in particular. I found this chapter especially compelling.
The rest of the book consists of crime pictures with short captions by the author, many of them are unfortunately rather brief. With only one or two exceptions all featured photos are black and white. Many of those shot in the period from 1930-1950 have a certain film noir look due to sharp contrast. Many pictures are not easy to look at particularly those shot at homicide scenes. And you'll see a lot of homicide scenes. There is a picture taken by a surveillance camera during the April 1999 Columbine school shooting, a police officer looking in despair at the body of a girl shot at the 1984 Mc Donald's massacre in San Ysidro, the corpse of slain actress Sharon TATE, crime scene photographs of stabbed Nicole SIMPSON, lots and lots of unknown victims of murder...As mentioned before, this is sometimes not easy to look at.
Another chapter is about punishment. An horrifying account of lynch justice is given; according to the author it was common practice in the last decades of the 19th century to send photographs of lynchings to friends and relatives. I didn't know that. You see photographs of the last public execution in the US, which took place in 1936, convicts in prisons, an arrested man tied to a restrainment chair etc. A very compelling chapter but I have to add that BUCKLAND shows way too much compassion for convicts in her captions commenting the pictures. Undoubtedly a convict can not be denied his human rights, but we have to bear in mind that many of them committed unspeakable acts of violence and too much compassion for such people is highly inappropriate.

I especially liked the chapter about presidential assassinations. There are portraits of president LINCOLN's assassin's co-conspirators and photos of their execution on the gallows. The most infamous political murder of the last century, the assassination of president KENNEDY in Dallas, is depicted in a very detailed manner with many rare and often cruel photos ( e.g. the slain president on the autopsy table and the corpse of Lee Harvey OSWALD after a postmortem was conducted) accompanied by insightful captions, which convey more information in some sentences than many non-fiction books in hundreds of pages.
A selection of celebrity mugshots (including Frank SINATRA, Jane FONDA and Bill GATES) adds a little curiosity and fun to an otherwise sombre and shocking book. Especially FONDA and GATES look incredibly ludicrous in their mugshots.
While I generally found SHOTS IN THE DARK a great book I didn't like two chapters very much, because they are so "overpublished". These were about gangland world and infamous cases. I mean how often did you see photographs of the O.J.SIMPSON trial? How often did you see Al CAPONE's not so friendly features?
But these are only minor complaints. This book is a must have for every true crime fan. It could also be of interest for people who like death shockumentaries.

Okay, so its gory ...
... but what a wonderful book! The photography in this book is so fantastic, that any person who admires excellent photographic skill will not be able to remain dispassionate. The topic (crime, criminals, accidents, homicides, etc.) is well represented, both in words (and the authors thankfully belong to the less is more school) and imagery. Buried here and there in the book you'll find an image and some commentary that makes a particularly relevant statement presented in a decidedly understated yet compelling fashion. For example, page 68, Elmer Fanter. The shot is of a young kid (16) who's standing in a cell, holding the bars and looking completely bewildered. He and his pals had murdered a man who had the temerity to come to the aid of a woman the lads were robbing. Of this shot, the author makes the statement (in part): "He and his friends saw no violent movies and were not subjected to inappropriate scenes on television, and those hands clenching the bars of the prison door never moved a mouse in a violent video game." ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Compassionate photos and text about women in prison
This an extraordinary book of photographs and text about women in prison. The title of the book is an apt and ambiguous description of the plight of the women prisoners she describes, for two of her major points are that they generally lead more barren lives than men within prison walls and also are often given heavier sentences than men for comparable crimes.

Jane Evelyn Atwood is a compassionate American who has spent most of her adult life in France, and has become one of the outstanding photojournalists in the world. While other talented photographers earn a lot of money taking pictures of fashion models and high society, Atwood's committed outlook has led her to depict the less-fortunate specimens of the human race. Her subjects have included blind children and Parisian prostitutes. Years ago, she was the first to photograph the terrifying physical decline of a man dying of AIDS, which broke new ground when her reportage was published in Paris Match.

In Too Much Time, the striking and poignant photos, in black and white, are reason enough to buy the book but that would be only half the story because Atwood is one of those rare photographers who can write as well as they take pictures. Indeed, when I became engrossed with the text, not only her own words but also transcriptions of what American women prisoners told her, I almost forgot that it was a picture book.

Jails on pictures
The authors visited about 40 prisons. The pictures she took are of very good quality and very expressive. She interviewed the women in jail. The stories of those prisoners are really moving. It's a moving, respectful book about the life of women in jail. ... Read more

Book Description

Introduction written by New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

During our nation's most trying times, it has been LIFE that has provided the images that help us understand, remember, and in the process, renew. Now the editors of LIFE have assembled a moving, brilliantly illustrated account of tragedy and triumph. This is about firemen going in amidst the rubble, but it is also about a Frenchman in Paris holding up a sign that says, "We are all Americans."This is about our leaders taking charge, but it is also about schoolchildren in Iowa hanging an American flag on a tree in their backyard. Beginning with the history of lower Manhattan, the book explains what happened on September 11, profiles many of the heroes, victims and rescuers (fireman, police, doctors, and rescue dogs among them), and paints an inspiring portrait if a nation and world coming together in sadness, pride and resolve.The book is more than photographs. Explanatory text runs throughout, and the book also includes a selection of original essays about America and September 11, written by such notables as Maya Angelou, Thomas Keneally (Schindler's List), David McCullough, Melissa Fay Greene (The Temple Bombing), Andrei Codrescu, Gordon Parks, Doug Stanton (In Harm's Way), Bob Greene (Duty), James Bradley (Flags of Our Fathers), and others.

Ten percent of the cover price of this book will be donated to the September 11th Fund of the New York Community Trust and the United Way of New York City.The purpose of the fund is to help address the immediate and longer-term needs of victims, their families, and communities affected by the events of September 11, 2001. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO A TRAGIC TIME
Life Magazine, for as long as it has been in existence, has been known for its vivid portrayal in words and photographs of life's events, both joyous and tragic. This book is no exception. How could anyone read about the devastating events of September 11, 2001 and not be moved. Throughout "One Nation" the reader will recapture the events as they unfolded, meet both survivors and courageous rescuers, and still be left with that plaguing question, "in this century, in a time of peace and prosperity, how could this horrific event possibly have happened?"

One need not be an American to appreciate this book, for the tragic events pictured here could happen anywhere. Where, is only a matter of geography. It is not appropriate to say it is an enjoyable book to read, for it is not. The events revealed here defy description and are so horrific they will stay with you forever. However, the book is a compelling one to read. For those who do not live near New York, it puts the reader in touch with the reality of the events. Life Magazine has produced a moving and impressive account, both in words and photographs, of what will become an unforgettable time in history. "One Nation" shows through the eyes of endless rescue workers, from all walks of life, that the world with all its tragedy, unpredictability and despair is also still a world filled with tremendous compassion and love for one's fellow man.

Amazing pictoral look at 9-11
I bought this as a gift to my sister, but before I wrapped it, I ended up looking through the photos that told the haunting story of 9-11. Now, granted, I have not seen the other books by other publishers, but I was amazed at the vividness captured on film. My wife is a photographer, and I know how hard she works to capture images that are "worth a 1,000 words." The photographers who sold their images to Life have done their job. If you want a keep-sake to remember one of the greatest tragedies in American history, I recommend this book. It helps give perspective as to the true tragedy of the events taking place that day.

An outstanding pictorial of the American Tragedy
While the images collected in this volume are familiar to anyone with a television, they are still as disturbing as when they first appeared seven months ago. Life magazine, long a chronicle of the major events in American history and pop culture, has done it again with striking photography and heart-wrenching profiles of the many heroes of that pivotal day.

Featuring an introduction by former New York mayor Giuliani and a poem by laureate Maya Angelou, this book is a must-have for present and future generations. Its poignant text and attention to detailing the events as they occurred make the book a handy, if emotionally charged reference work.

Not enough recommendations can be given to this sure-to-be award-winning publication.

A portrayal of any kind... is the truth of 9/11/01...
A message to each and every reviewer who takes time to add thoughts to a any media of memorial of 9/11, World Trade Center Towers tragedy... thank you from my heart.

My spouse and I resided on the Lower West Side, Battery Park City, Gateway Plaza, So. End Ave. As survivors of the 9/11 World Trade Center Towers tragedy... From our Gateway Plaza apartment, facing the street and 300 yards from the Towers, we helplessly witnessed all from our apartment windows. The closeness of the Towers viewed from our windows - gave an illusion that one could reach out and touch the Towers; their beauty with night lights reaching toward the sky promoted a contemplative emotion.

We viewed the planes entering the Towers, the overwhelming inferno, individuals jumping, the collapse of the Towers, the darkness as debris hit our windows with a fury. What occurred over a period of hours, seemed like a much shorter time span. The darkness was darker than an eclipse, darker than the darkest night; and then a momentary hush after the air cleared. Viewing the roof garden one floor below, with the human reaction of looking out to see if someone might be on that roof garden and in need of help. Debris strewn everywhere, recording tape and paper hung from the trees of the garden and oh, so much ash. The momentary hush, whether real or imagined, then the viewing of debris for a second, fantasized that a parade had just passed by on our short street. I now really understand the expression a "feeling of helplessness", I couldn't fix what had just happened.

We vacated our apartment finally at 5:15 p.m. that day, waiting for someone to knock on our door, with only a battery radio to keep us abreast of happenings. "In a New York minute", we evacuated via the stairwell touched with ash, the result of a first floor door left open. With a few belongings, gathered with a tad of thought of what was being left behind, we stepped out of the door onto the pavement, seeing and standing in ever so much ash & debris, I wanted to turn around and go back to our home. It was one moment of reality in time, I carry to this day.

We planned to walk up the East Side, glimpsed the tired fire, police, volunteers, and med techs in our immediate driveway and street, so instead opted to pass through the building in back of the apartment complex. We gained access to the Esplanade walking the short distance to reach the Hudson River North Cove dock. We were escorted to the New Jersey shore via New York Police boat. From the boat deck, we viewed even more damage to the Manhattan skyline, especially noting the zigzag shape of the side of the American Express building, housed in one of the World Financial Center buildings along with the glorious Winter Garden, as well as the fall of World Trade Center Building 7. We were taken to the Jersey City Hospital, attended to by compassionate staff. Then traveled by National Guard truck to Hoboken, NJ where we were housed by a wonderful family who with great trust welcomed strangers to their home.

On Friday 9/14, our eldest son & daughter-in-law drove from New Hampshire via New Jersey routes to Hoboken for transport us to New Hampshire for temporary residence with our daughter, who along with her friend and our youngest son, greeted us with open arms & the overwhelming feeling of not wanting to let go with each hug that followed. Our daughter and son had spent that Friday in New Hampshire collecting items of clothing and necessities which the Concord community generously opened their hearts and donated by churches, stores, individuals, employers, American Red Cross, et al.

One of our grandchildren -- he was 8 at that time - arrived home from a few days with his Dad. He hugged us so tight, understanding the depth of 9/11 events for someone so young and yet so wise. He told Grandpa & Babcia that he had something for them... his Mom was not even aware of his gift. He had spoken to his classmates about his grandparents' closeness in location of the World Trade Center Towers. Presented to us was a large envelope full of hand-made cards from each of his classmates. And if that isn't love and caring, I don't know what is - from the hearts and minds of children!

Residing now in New Hampshire, not because of 9/11 drove us away, but circumstances just went that way as we continue to put our lives into perspective.

We Miss - New York City deeply; events found nowhere else in the USA, the introduction to & interaction with so many wonderful cultures. There isn't a day or night over these years that we do not think of 9/11... the Lady of Liberty & Ellis Island both on the merge of the East and Hudson Rivers. And that Lady of Liberty wept, I just know it, & still stands with pride that the USA is a democracy that will prevail.

We Remember - the victims, the survivors, their friends and families, the workers from the public and private sector, the volunteers, our neighbors in Gateway Plaza and staff in the small group of stores on South End Avenue, Battery Park City.

We Remember - the places we visited, the book signings attended, the celebrities we met, the concerts and theater plays, the movies, the arts, the parks, the strangers we talked with, on streets, on subway and those while standing in line for an event...

We Remember - Always In Our Hearts, Forever In Our Souls, Heroes, Victims, Survivors One and All... We Were There.

Painfully, the lump in my throat and the twist in my stomach, the tears in my eyes and the pain in my heart, to the depth of my soul, forever reside.

Remember 9/11
LIFE has done a first class job of putting together a book covering this horrific act by such a cowardly enemy.Rather than to make the Americans cower as these fanatics probably thought and probably thought and hoped for;it showed what a good and strong nation it is.History will remember both 9/11 and Pearl Harbor for the terrible and misguided acts of hatred they were.
This act conjours up different thoughts for everyone who witnessed it ,in whatever fashion,but no more so than those who had friends and particularly those who lost loved ones.
To those who may turn a little soft on the War on Terror a review of this book should remind one of what we are dealing with.
A great book TIME and thanks. ... Read more

Book Description

Over a glittering 50-year career, award-winning photojournalist Harry Benson has covered the central events and personalities of our time. With a range that is unequaled-from the Beatles to Bosnia, from world leaders to thousands of the most glamorous celebrities-Benson's unforgettable images have found their way onto the pages (and often the covers) of such major magazines as Life, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, and People.

Benson has a lifetime of photographs to show and stories to tell in this fabulous retrospective of his work. As John Loengard, former picture editor of Life and People, says: "He knows where it is important to go and what it is important to see. What he sees informs us all."
225 photographs, 125 in duotone and 100 in full color, 224 pages, 10 x 13" ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Harry Benson is the World's Best Photographer!
Fifty years of the world's best photographs are in this book.
From the Beatles to the Bush family, this book has it all. It will be the best gift under the tree of any Beatles fan, and it also has great pictures of your favorite celebs and politicians. Harry Benson was voted one of the top photographers in the world in a recent photo magazine, and it is easy to see why. I don't know if Benson should be called a photojournalist, an artist, or a celeb. himself--he is all of that and more.This is a must for anyone who loves the Beatles, and it is a must on your Christmas list. Check it out! Harry Benson is the best. ... Read more

Book Description

Organized chronologically, this celebration of Graham Watson's images captures Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Stephen Roche, Sean Kelley, Greg Lemond, and Lance Armstrong at the peak of their powers. In the accompanying text, Watson describes how he achieved special shots, and the obstacles he had to overcome to capture fast- moving groups. Features 100 color and 50 black-and-white photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

When did the French stop riding bikes.
I don't want to belittle Grahams work, or imply that I don't like seeing the shots of the American riders, but leaving out the other great riders of the last 20 years is a little sad. I understand this was an editing decision and not really Grahams.

I'm amazed at how he can take photos that convey the athletic endeavor in addition to the excitement, determination, and grandeur of these events. If your year starts with the Race of the Flowers and ends with the Race of the Falling Leaves, these are the vignettes of imagination.

selected photos
Certainly Graham Watson is a great cycling photographer and deserves every accolade. But I purchased this book "on approval" and found when I really looked through it, many of the pictures had obscure subjects and less interesting stories. There is an honesty in that this is a review of Graham Watson's career--it does not claim to be a photo history of professional cycling. So it includes many photos less interesting to a cycling fan, but with more meaning for Graham Watson's career. Especially true in the section of black and whites taken as an amateur. Without question, the photographic and print quality are stunning, but I often found myself scratching my head wondering if a given shot could possibly be the best shot he took at that race on that day of that rider. Many of the pictures in this book really look like leftovers from an assignment. I've read European cycling magazines for years, and I feel you could get a much better selection of shots by subscribing to one of them for a year and/or picking up one of their annuals. Ironically, you hear almost exclusively in the US about Graham Watson--this book made me realize how many other great cycling photographers there must be.

The Agony and the Ecstacy and the Beauty of It All
Graham Watson is the pre-eminent photographer of professional cycling, at least in English-language publications. A few minutes of leafing through this gorgeous book is all that is necessary to explain why this is so. For two decades, he has been there, capturing all the great riders in their glorious moments of triumph as well as the bleakness that comes with physical collapse and defeat. Bicycle road racing is like no other sport in the physical demands that it makes on its participants. It requires amazing conditioning and, even more importantly, a resolve beyond anything a normal person can imagine. One need only think of Greg Lemond, coming back to win the Tour de France after almost dying from gunshot wounds; Laurent Jalabert, his face smashed in after a high-speed collision with a policeman, returning to become the number one rider in the peloton; Lance Armstrong, overcoming cancer and winning the Tour de France twice; Andy Hampsten, riding through the freezing mountains to claim the pink jersey of the Giro; the men of Paris-Roubaix, flailing through the mud and banging over the cobbles. Graham Watson was there to record all of this in his superb style, where no detail is unnoticed. And he shows us the grand arenas where these heroes ride: the villages of rural France, the jagged Alps, the green Pyrenees. Sure, everyone will tell you that this is just another professional sport, with big contracts and illegal drugs and oversized egos, but when you look at these magnificent pictures, you will see brave men riding against grand landscapes, against relentless opponents and even against themselves. Graham Watson's books (Kings of the Road, The Great Tours and so forth) seem to sell for a short time and then disappear from the market. This book contains some photos published in the other ones, but is the best collection I have seen covering so many racing highlights that I can recommend it without reservation for lovers of bike racing, good photography and Europe. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the most important documentary photographers of our time, Dorothea Lange's revolutionary work chronicled America's struggle with poverty during the Great Depression. Her widely reproduced, classic portrait from the 1940s,"Migrant Mother," is just one of the many unforgettable images found in her stunning oeuvre of documentary works. While there have been other books on Lange's photographs, none exist with the scope and breadth of this monograph, which comes from her archives at the Oakland Museum in California and includes numerous unpublished photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

First published in 1939, An American Exodus is one of the masterpieces of the documentary genre. Produced by incomparable documentary photographer Dorothea Lange with text by her husband, Paul Taylor, An American Exodus was taken in the early 1930s while the couple were working for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) The book documents the rural poverty of the depression-era exodus that brought over 300,000 migrants to California in search of farm work, a westward mass migration driven by economic deprivation as opposed to the Manifest Destiny of 19th century pioneers. This facsimile edition of the original volume reintroduces this sought-after work of art-a pioneering book that was among the first to combine photographs with oral testimony-to a contemporary audience, providing an insight into the struggles of the Depression as well as offering a profound and timeless look at the human condition. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

On the road, Thirties style.
A well printed paperback facsimile of the original 1939 hardback edition of this famous book. The 112 photos, one to a page with a short headline and quote, capture the desperate times thousands of farmers and their families endured in the South and Midwest and their migration to an uncertain future in California. Nearly all of the photos were taken by Dorothea Lange and this includes forty-six that she took for the Farm Security Administration between 1935 and 1938.

In the back of the book there are two essays, one by Sam Stourdze, is an excellent explanation of how Lange and Taylor compiled the book. The sales fell well short of their expectations and Stourdze comments "the rigor of its approach, the verism of its oral testimony and the radicality of its photographs were hardly designed to have mass appeal" Quite right I think, having looked through the book many times I don't think the powerful photos are backed up by adequate captions. All the photos are anonymous, even the ones with people, and surely any reader would want to know who are these folk, what is their story? This information was available because Lange took detailed notes on all her photographic assignments. It's as if the author's thought the only way they could put their point across was in an abstract way and ignore the very human turmoil the photos clearly show. In 1937 photographer Margaret Bourke-White and writer Erskine Caldwell compiled a similar photo book about the living conditions of the desperately poor rural underclass, called 'You Have Seen Their Faces' (reissued as a paperback in 1995) but here the photos and captions blend together better.

'An American Exodus' is a book of remarkable photos and well worth having if you are interested in America during the Depression years. BTW, the book reproduces the back dust jacket of the original and the New York publisher, Reynal & Hitchcock, list other "Vital books of our Time" and for three bucks you could buy 'Mein Kampf' by Adolf Hitler, "The blueprint of the Nazi program by the man who is shaking the world. No American should miss it".

Heart-wrenching vignettes of depression-era refugees
These heart-breaking black & whites were shot while Lange and her husband Paul Taylor were under contract with the Federal WPA and chronicle the exodus of dustbowl refugees of the Great Depression and the anguish of their daily struggles for survival in the 'promised land' of California. Some of these photographs are difficult to view, giving an infinite depth-of-field perspective of the arid, ruined farms and starving families of the midwest hitch-hiking or walking (sometimes barefoot) to find a better life. For it's superb detail, brutal realism, and captured raw emotion, this collection is regarded as one of the most important photographic documentaries published during the 20th century. It is criminal this masterful work has not been reissued in affordable hardback binding. Scholar, amateur photographer, and layman will surely peruse these monumental pages with pleasure for years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

Mining the extensive Life archives and the finest photo collections here and abroad, this is a picture history of unparalled depth and power. Included are remarkable unpublished images, like color photographs of Hitler taken by his personal photographer, alongside the classic Life coverage that brought the war home. From the escalating tensions of the pre-war world to the German blitzkrieg, the shock of Pearl Harbor, the fighting on land, sea, and air, D-Day, the home fronts, the atom bombs, and the war's historic aftermath, legendary journalist Richard B. Stolley takes a fresh look at the most important global event of the 20th century. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A BREATHTAKING TRIBUTE TO A HORRIFIC TIME
Images of World War II are portrayed here with all the intense emotion that the memories evoke. The book was of particular interest to me since both my parents, now deceased, served in the armed forces overseas in various countries during this period of time. In addition, any publication by Life Magazine is worth its weight in gold and of extreme quality, clarity and vivid photography. This book is no exception. I recall quite clearly my mother's descriptions of the German "blitzkrieg" and the book does an excellent job of portraying that. As one turns the pages, stories unfold of a time which many of us do not fully understand or remember because we were so young at the time; however, the dramatic stories passed on to us from a previous generation come to life through the vivid pages of this book. This work is a beautiful tribute to those remaining individuals who fought for our freedom and those who gave their lives. It is a highly recommended book and most deserving of far more than five stars.

Pictures that Speak Volumes
In Lenigrad under siege, a couple pulls a sled bearing a tiny coffin. In Coventry, a priest leads his congregation in prayer, surrounded by the ruins of their cathedral. In the field, a bleeding German soldier is comforted by his comrades, his right arm lying in the foreground. In Kent, schoolchildren watch a dogfight with expressions ranging from horror to delight. In Rotterdam, the city is leveled as far as the eye can see, except for a lone church. In an internment camp in Wyoming, two Japanese-American soldiers, visiting their families, stand honor guard beside the casket of a Japanese-American World War I veteran. Every picture in this remarkable book reminds us that the story of World War II is much more than a collection of battles and troop movements; each reminds us that the war produced a multitude of heartbreaking stories played out all over the world.

The book surveys the entire war, year by year. Each year is introduced with an essay by a well-known person (e.g., writer John Keegan introduces 1944) and includes photo-biographies of distinguished and infamous people, such as FDR and Churchill, Hitler and Mussolini. Each year also includes a section called "Then/Now," which seeks to relate some aspect of the war (e.g., war criminals) to subsequent history up to present day. A minor criticism of the book is that these attempts to make the war "relevant" seems a bit of an intrusion in the telling of the larger story.

This collection of outstanding photographs is as moving as it is comprehensive. If you have a deep interest in World War II; if you are looking for an easy-to-digest survey of the entire war; if you enjoy photography as an art form; or if you are moved by depictions of the human condition, to you I recommend this book.

Good for any WW2 enthusiast
This book is a great collectors item for all WW2 enthusiasts and also for anyone else. It contains pictures from war torn places all over the world during that era. From spain to the beaches of Normandy and from China to North Africa, I found pictures of almost everything here.

Contains some stunning photographs...
This coffee table sized book contains some stunning and horrific photographs of World War II. Many of the photographs are in color, and many of the pictures are previously unpublished in other works. Accompanying the photos are text captions explaining the event depicted.

I gave this book four stars instead of five simply because I believe two of the most significant events of the war are barely mentioned: the Holocaust, and the dropping of the Atomic bombs. In a book of this size and scope, I felt that more space should have been given to these seminal events. Regardless, this book is captivating and would make a great gift for any history buff.

Captivating yet Frightening
Beware, this picture book of World war 2 is unsanitized. If you can stand to look at frightening pictures, this book may be for you. It reproduces pictures such as a full color photo of a German soldier being comforted by his comrades after his arm was shot off, showing his arm laying on the ground next to him and showing the dazed expression on his face. If you are not too squeamish to look at that, then you may have the stomach for this book. Many pictures of Nazi atrocities are included as well as pictures of amputee refugee children. There are many other types of photos too, such as typical battle scene shots and pictures of the homefront. However, for the most part, this book is unvarnished.

We have seen many war pictures showing battle scenes. We have also seen pictures of the wounded in a somewhat unrevealing manner. This book does not hold back. If you want to see the horrors of war, buy this book but be prepared to be troubled after looking through it and if you have nightmares afterwards, don't say you were not forwarned. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1968, just before Easy Rider roared its way into American consciousness, Danny Lyon published The Bikeriders. A seminal work of modern photojournalism, this landmark collection of photographs and interviews documents the abandon and risk implied in the name of the gang Lyon belonged to: the Chicago Outlaw Motorcycle Club. With images and interviews that are as raw, alive, and dramatic today as they were three decades ago, this new edition includes startling new images: 15 additional black-and-white photographs and 14 color prints--long thought missing--of works originally published in black-and-white. With a new introduction by the author, The Bikeriders rides again, capturing like never before the dawn of the counterculture era. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Bikeriders
More a photography book than anything but also has interviews with the people who grace these pages. Chronicles the early years of the Outlaws MC, the pics in this book are amazing. The bridge being ridden across in the photo "Crossing the Ohio River" which is considered by many to be the greatest motorcycle photograph ever is about a five minute ride from where I live. Every time I ride across that bridge I think about that pic. The Bikeriders is one of the few, if not the only, non-sensationalized books having to do with outlaw motorcycle clubs.

An excellent history of the early Mid-West outlaw bikers.
This is a cool book. Great pictures and good copy although I would have liked more details. In that it was primarily written about the Mid-West, it focuses on the OUTLAWS MC and the roots of the club. It's always good to find information about other 1% clubs (since the HELLS ANGELS MC has always been the major focus of most "outlaw biker books"), however more details on other clubs would have been a plus. It does remind one that there was a time when the OUTLAWS and ANGELS could ride and party together and didn't feel a need to shoot each other on sight. It's also helps us remember that the early outlaws bikers didn't all ride Harleys. While I believe the book's a little pricey, if you're into Outlaw Bikers, this should be in your collection.

An absolutely essential document
If you're interested in bikes, the biker lifestyle, or how the 'outlaw' subculture developed, you must invest in this book. Danny Lyon rode with the Chicago Outlaws in the early sixties and his photographs form a unique visual documentary about the life of the early bike rebels. The photographs are superb; the accompanying texts revealing and fascinating. If nothing else, this book illustrates the origins of the Harley-Davidson 'chopper' and the prevalence of British bikes in motorsport 40 years ago. Simply one of - if not the - finest books on motorcycle culture ever published.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF IT KIND, EVER!
This is one of the best books ever done on the sixties biker culture. It is filled with testimonials and pictures, the kinds that you don't see anywhere else. It's fantastic that this book has been re-released because originals are next to impossible to come across!

A classic.
What a great book! Danny Lyon is a national treasure... this book redefined documentary photography, practially inventing the participant/observer stance. ... Read more

Book Description

Here the photographers of Magnum, 50 years after the legendary group began its documentary mission, address the world following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989; a period which has seen the triumph of US capitalism at one extreme and the resurgence of ancient blood feuds at the other. The book is built around photo-essays selected and introduced by the photographers, many shot especially for the book. From Henri Cartier-Bresson to Magnum's newest recruits, each photographer navigates the issues of history in their own way - some tackling the dramatic changes in the world head-on in the traditional manner of the "concerned photographer", others choosing subjects and aesthetic viewpoints which are entirely personal. The result is an album of contemporary photography about the world today. "Magnum" is introduced by historian, broadcaster and cultural commentator Michael Ignatieff, linking the substance and pace of change in the post-Cold-war world with the historic role of the Magnum witness and image-maker. This is a book about history and humanity, journalism and art, and revealing the photographers of Magnum entering a new era. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Just BUY IT
It took me a year to get all the way through it. Each image is independently powerful, enough so that I had to spend a great deal of time studying each diptic (a year in total). If you can judge this book by it's cover, then judge it by one word on it's cover - MAGNUM. You won't be disappointed.

A great album, can be a great Christmas present
This collection of Magnum photographs is amazing. The pictures are broken into differnet thematic or geographic categories--war, environment, famine, etc. While there is very little text and almost no captions at all, the pictures are enough to speak to the subject. It contains both recent photographs and old ones, becoming something like an encyclopediea of photography.

It is a beautiful edition, worth having and will make an excellent, classy present not only for a photography enthusiast, but for everybody.

Beautiful Book!
Yet another collection of beautiful photographs from the legends of Magnum. Beautifully bound and annotated with text. Includes old and new pics. A must have on every decent bookshelf.

Degrees of excellence.
There are plenty of photograph anthologies available, but few of this caliber. Not only is the subject range impressive, the quality of the work is astounding. The section dealing with war provides a harrowing and insightful view into events of recent years, creating a sobering perspective of the late 20th century. An amazing book! ... Read more

Book Description

As the first periodical to present news stories through photographs, Life appealed to middle-class Americans as they faced the conflicts and the rapid changes of Cold War society. Life's photo-essays rendered such pressing concerns as world and domestic politics, labor disputes, civil rights protests, and social and economic mobility as human interest stories. By focusing on families, these stories portrayed major social issues in terms of personal achievement and adherence to particular values.

Shaping a reassuring portrait of America, Life depicted the ideal family as white, suburban, and middle-class. For one representative feature story, the cover photograph shows an unfinished house in which a kneeling woman embraces two blond girls, and a man in a business suit protectively holds a toddler. The caption reads, "Family Buys 'Best $15,000 House.'" The cost of the house suggests this is a middle-class family with a bright future. The celebratory picture of this family with a bright future reveals no hint of the political and economic instability of the era.

Wendy Kozol's readings of such photographs and their accompanying texts show how Life normalized the affluent nuclear family and supported middle-class consumption by defining the family as much by their possessions as by their conformity to traditional gender roles. Photo-essays about other social groups also focused on nuclear families and the quest for the "American Dream"; minimizing the differences between social groups and experiences in this way enabled the magazine to present middle-class culture as a nationally shared ideal.

Using feminist and cultural studies perspectives, Kozol considers how layout, composition, lighting, framing, and subject matter influenced Life's representation of domestic ideology. Life's America examines the production of visual images that for generations captured the essence of American culture and shaped photojournalism. ... Read more

Book Description

From Pierre-Henri Verlhac and Yann-Brice Dherbier, the editors of the best-selling John F. Kennedy: A Life in Pictures, comes its companion, Jackie: A Life in Pictures-a visual voyage through the life of Jackie, also known as Jackie Bouvier, Jackie Kennedy, Jackie Onassis. This iconic volume features the most exquisite photographs, many of which are previously unpublished, ever taken of America's legendary First Lady, as well as a biography, personal notes, and handwritten correspondence. A sumptuous, oversized edition, this 272-page book includes over 400 glamorous, dramatic, and intimate images taken throughout her life.Bringing us into her exclusive and privileged world, Jackie: A Life in Pictures takes us from the early days of her upper class upbringing in the 30s and 40s to her courtship and marriage to J.F.K. in 1953 and her life as a politician's wife. From the Camelot years, when Jackie charmed the world with her classic style and effortless panache, we witness the public and private moments of the famed First Family. After J.F.K.'s tragic death, we follow Jackie as she finds consolation in the arms of Aristotle Onassis, and travel with her among the jet set. And lastly, we spend time with Jackie in her final years in New York City, as a book editor, proud mother, and honorary stateswoman. The book features Jackie's handwritten documents, provided by her daughter, Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, and photographs by Magnum photographers Cornell Capa, Raymond Depardon, Eve Arnold, Erich Hartmann, and Philip Jones Griffith; famed paparazzo and Jackie follower Ron Galella; J.F.K. White House photographers Abbie Rowe, Robert Knudsen, and Cecil Stoughton; and Mark Shaw, Stan Kislowski, and Toni Frissell; as well as Miss Porter's School class portraits. The ultimate volume for Jackie's admirers, Jackie: A Life in Pictures offers a rare opportunity to observe the complex and fascinating woman as her life unfolded before the world's eyes. ... Read more

Book Description

Night Chicas is a complex, anthropological tour through a damaged landscape of various Guatemalan prostitutes. Tackling the difficult subject of prostitution with scrutiny and sensitivity, Hans Neleman traveled to Guatemalan brothels to photograph the women and girls who make their livings there. The result is over 200 color photographs, giving us a compassionate portrayal in which Neleman deftly fills the gap between documentary and rigorously staged portraiture, and ultimately restores the human value of these marginalized women. Essays by Ana Castillo, George Pitts, A.D. Coleman and Laura Asturias are featured. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Brutal beauty with an edge of pain
Hans Neleman's Book " Night Chicas" is brutal. Neleman shows us the hard core reality female sex workers in Guatemala have been forced or simply spiraled into. The strength of this photographic body of work is that it appears non judgemental; it is neither condescending nor pitying, in fact there is an incredible dignity in how the women are portrayed. The work just feels honest. There is a huge crescendo of emotion in the portraits, some prostitutes stare into the lens with a spirit that cannot be broken, while others reveal their hurt with urgency. Hans Neleman shows us their stories through intimate revelations; bodies, eyes, scars, environments and possesions. Every detail is essential and is there for us not to pass judgement but to help us understand their lives and their humanity. Night Chicas contains some of the most important and powerful images I have seen in this genre of photography and in fact through his unique approach which is neither documentary nor artifice, he presents us with powerful insightful and visually stunning impressions which to me are simply timeless painterly observations. I could go on endlessly and talk about the beautiful light, the lush colors, and the artistic compositions, but that is not the point of this work yet they are bonuses that only support my belief in this artist's talent.
Night Chicas is Neleman's third book and like his other monographs Moko - Maori Tattoo and his still life work in Silence a must have for every photography enthusiast. ... Read more

Book Description

An HBO Documentary Film; Book; Exhibition; Education Packet; CD; Website; and Nationwide PSAs. Essays by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Nadine Gordimer, Rory Kennedy, Nan Richardson, and Jeffrey Sachs. Photographs by over 100 award-winning photographers representing 50 countries: Genin Andrada, Mary Berridge, Alessandro Balteo, Nancy Burson, John Dugdale, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Aleksandr Glyadyelov, Nan Goldin, Gran Fury, Sunil Gupta, Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Don McCullin, James Nachtwey, Nicholas Nixon, Richard Sawdon Smith, Oscar Sanchez Gomez, Gary Schneider, Andres Serrano, Joao Silva, David Wojnarowicz, and others.

In our world today, there are forty million people living with HIV/AIDS - forty million stories of hardship, pain, and anger - but also of courage and resilience. PANDEMIC: Facing AIDS brings us more than 200 stirring and groundbreaking images from around the world, in an emotional survey of the global epidemic. Featuring work by over one hundred award-winning, international photographers and artists. PANDEMIC captures the diversity of approaches to this topic over the past twenty years. The work gathered here has been used to document and to educate, to agitate and to protest, to salute friends lost and to mourn the deaths of family and strangers alike. A comprehensive survey of photographic responses to HIV/AIDS, PANDEMIC: Facing AIDS superbly captures the stunning complexity of the pandemic and conveys the despair, rage, heroism, and, ultimately, hope, that the photographic community has mustered to face the AIDS pandemic. Their legacy is a call to action and a challenge to each of us: toward a world without AIDS. The international traveling exhibition which opened at the Museu d'Art Contemporanie de Barcelona (MACBA) as part of the XIV International AIDS Conference, is travelling through 2005 to Pretoria, South Africa, The U.N., Moscow, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok, Atlanta, and other venues.

Pandemic: Facing AIDS Project supporters: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Home Box Office; The AOL Time Warner Foundation; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); M-A-C AIDS FUND and M-A-C Cosmetics; The Elton John AIDS Foundation; The Pfizer Foundation; Doctors of the World-USA; Brazilian Ministry of Health; Levi Strauss Foundation; The Red Ribbon Foundation; The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation; American Foundation for AIDS Research (amFAR); Firelight Foundation; The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation; The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute; Warner Music Group. ... Read more

Book Description

A Testament to the Great Spirit and Success of a Remarkable Woman Explorer

In the early 1920s, the last great age of world explorers, a remarkable young woman, Janet Elliott Wulsin, set out with her husband, Frederick Wulsin, for the far reaches of China, Tibet, and Outer Mongolia to study the people, flora, and fauna of the region. Janet’s strenuous, eventful exploration is detailed by a text enriched with excerpts from her candid personal letters. The journey proved to be a test of the Wulsins’ endurance and of their relationship.

While in Asia, the Wulsins took many extraordinary photographs, which form the heart of this richly produced publication. They documented tribespeople and sublime desert landscapes, and, perhaps most remarkably, were allowed to photograph the interior of several of the great Tibetan Buddhist lamaseries, many of which have since been destroyed. Several dozen rare, hand-painted lantern slides survived and are reproduced here in splendid color.

The photographs from the Wulsin expedition are now in the collection of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, in collaboration with which this volume is being produced.
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Reviews (1)

A rich archive of treasures
In the early 1920s, explorer Janet Wulsin and her husband Frederick journeyed the far reaches of China and Tibet to study the people and the lands of these remote regions - the photos from their expedition come to life in this collection, along with several dozen hand-painted lantern slides that appear in color. Vanished Kingdomsis a rich archive of treasures which charts the findings and peoples of a bygone world. Any serious collection of Asian treasures - both art and cultural - will find Vanished Kingdoms an essential addition, unparalleled in scope and coverage. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Imagine having 61 widely published photographers from around the world candidly discuss their careers and beliefs while showing you key images from their portfolios. That is the engaging concept of Magnum Stories. From Iran-born Abbas (whose career began with a series about the Vietcong in the 1970s) to Patrick Zachmann (who has documented the lives of Malian immigrants in his native France), each photographer is given ample space to talk about his or her work. Editor Chris Boot accompanies the interviews with a brief explanation of the cultural or political background of each suite of images. The one thing the interviewees have in common is past or current membership in Magnum, a photographers' cooperative founded in 1947 by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson and David Seymour as a means of breaking free from the editorial tyranny of Life and other photo-based magazines. Boot's introduction deftly summarizes Magnum's history and the practicalities of postwar photography. The presence of vintage "Magnum stories" by such photographers as Erich Hartmann ("Our Daily Bread") and W. Eugene Smith ("Country Doctor") adds a welcome historical dimension. While the founding generation were mostly photo-journalists who organized their images into visual "stories," today's members often pursue topics of personal interest with photographs that do not relate a straightforward narrative. These topics range from outlaw biker gangs in the U.S. (Dennis Stock) to the mountain peoples of Laos, Guatemala and Georgia (John Vink), from the tacky seaside resort of New Brighton in Liverpool, England (Martin Parr) to Siberian prison camps (Carl De Keyzer). With nearly 800 illustrations, this distinctive, square-format book offers a kaleidoscopic survey of the many faces of documentary photography. —-Cathy Curtis ... Read more