Sebastiao Salgado's Africa

[Rafael]

I received my copy of this astonishing book yesterday and have already spent several hours with it. Thus far, my favourite photograph appears on page 43. Salgado has long been one of my favourite photographers. So, I was inclined to like this book from the start. But, after spending several hours leafing through it, I am still left almost speechless by the extraordinary nature of the photographs. For anyone looking to improve their documentary photography, buying and studying this book will be $45 very well spent.

 

[jplomley]

I agree. I've had mine for about three weeks and can't stop looking at the images. A few have brought me to tears.

I wonder if the impact would have been the same if they were taken with a digital camera? Would they look too smooth, too sharp, not "gritty" enough? The grain of Tri-X certainly adds something to this book, and "gritty" is the only word that comes to mind. And it fits perfectly with the subject material.

~ Jeff

 

[BigSteveG]

I need to buy it soon. Salgado is a genius and certainly one of the greatest photographers alive today. His "Workers" is probably the single most inspiring work I've ever seen.

 

[pfoto]

A huge hole in the recent "Magnum Magnum" book is the exclusion of pictures by Sebastiao Salgado. Why? As far as I can tell, because he left the agency. Ridiculous!

 

[Pablito]

He is driven and he is a force to reckoned with. I do not believe he is a genius, nor that he is one of the greatest photographers alive today. There is much I admire in his work, but there is also a lot of validity in what his critics say as well. I'll leave it at that except to say that I looked at the Africa book in the bookstore, and it sayed in the bookstore. I do own "Other Americas" and "An Uncertain Grace."

 

[migtex]

I do understand some people may question his motives, some may question his ways of doing things... but he believes that is the best way (for him at least) to passe the message and left his signature.
Two of the pics taken while the presentation of his book"AFRICA" in Lisbon last October.
Taken with Nikon S and Nikkor 5cm 1.4 wide open at 1/15 on Tri-X...

Yes, I got mine signed.....

 

[Ade-oh]

He is undeniably a marvellous photographer. There is an exhibition of his work currently at the Hacklebury Gallery in London, fortunately about 150 metres from where I live. Very impressive to see the prints 'for real'.