Sebastião Salgado

Epic and biblical. That’s how I would describe Salgado’s work. And let’s not forget the tonal ranges. And textures. And what about the atmosphere they exude? And then there’s the composition. The composition that I used to spend hours staring at, in absolute awe. Add to all this the obvious respect and admiration in which he holds the people he photographs. The way in which he creates artistic and photographic masterpieces despite or because of the subject matter – the famine in Ethiopia, the gold mines in Brazil, death, war torn countries, poverty. Out of all this tragedy comes an immense beauty and respect for the people and landscapes he photographs. Out of all this come absolute works of art.

And to me this is how it should be done. As a photographer, if you are going to invade someone’s life you should damn well make sure you pour your heart and soul into the creation of the image and come away with something that is the best you can possibly hope to achieve. And in Salgado’s case this is nothing short of breathtaking photography. This is the lesson Sebastião Salgado taught me. That it is possible.

If ever an exhibition of his works comes anywhere near you stop at nothing to go and see it. Otherwise there are numerous books of his you can buy. His latest ‘Africa’, published by Taschen is well worth owning.

Latest

Swarm

It was as simple as ‘get to the top of Finland and turn left’.  At least that is

Blink and you’ll miss it

Iceland. Never has the essence of a country so closely resembled the way in which I see the

Under the Stars in Madagascar

There are times when writing about memories from as far back as my eighteenth year feels wrong. How

Viewpoints

The Rooftop Collective exhibition edition VI Tempus Fugit. So they say. Here we are again, another Rooftop Collective

Memories

Knee Deep in Prayer

I stood knee deep in the water and prayed. Prayed. If ever a word had connotations, it’s ‘prayed’.

Where have all the cats gone

India 19-03-11: It was just a sensation at first, a feeling that something was missing, something you couldn’t

Portuguese lakes at sunrise

I am now long overdue a film developing session followed by some printing. And I cannot wait. Apart

Blizzards in the Lake District

January 2010. New Years resolutions and a new found determination to drown myself in my photography again turned

Randomly Selected

Marjoram and Fireflies

At the end of a long day driving, walking and taking photographs around the north western mountains in

His Savage Eyes

by Rebecca Lori: Over time humanity has forged a powerful relationship with its surrounding landscape. So much so,

Rambert’s Ghost dance at Saddler’s Wells Theatre

It really is a fault of mine, and something I have been trying to rectify over the years

Portuguese lakes at sunrise

I am now long overdue a film developing session followed by some printing. And I cannot wait. Apart