Published by National Geographic, 2004, hardcover, illustrated, 504 pages, 26.5 cms x 26.2 cms x 4.2 cms, condition: new.
A collection of nearly three hundred photographs from National Geographic, representing the work of more than one hundred fifty acclaimed photographers, captures portrait images of people from around the world.
This large (and heavy!) volume showcases decades of National Geographic portrait photographs. As with all photographs collected for a printed book, those here are a mixed bag. There are a number of technically first-rate photos plus a few that are iconic but many are not that interesting when divorced from the articles they were originally published with. I did find the essays excellent though with their ruminations on photography and portraits and especially on the history of and philosophy behind photography at National Geographic..
Though it is true that much of the National Geographic photography of its day was rooted in a search for a certain exoticness / otherness. I think this collection really captured the diversity of human culture before globalization had subsumed everyone into a conformity of fashion, ritual and custom. The portraits here show people at work, at home, in celebration throughout the world over the 20th century. From tribal peoples to Depression era workers to Persian revolutionaries to Central European peasants to factory workers. The diversity of the world is captured wonderfully through these pages.
That isnt to say there still isnt huge diversity today. But as the cogs of globalization crunch forward, as the internet is beamed into everyones pockets: were losing that cultural diversity that geographic isolation used to bring. The world has become a global melting pot: American movies, French dining, Scandinavian design, Chinese goods all blend together in every city and town in the world. Where every road is mapped, every town has a blurb on Wikipedia. We currently live in our own unique time period of unparalleled global cultural integration that is interesting in of itself. But theres something lost that we may never get back.
The tiny town customs, the strange (to us) coming of age celebrations, the unique styles of dress. The adventure of setting out and meeting people who have never met or seen someone like you.
This is the period captured by National Geographic over its 100+ years. For this peek into a vanishing world, it is a wonderful collection. It is truly a shame to see the magazine no longer being published in print, and many of its staff writers being laid off. Were poorer for it.
