Black White Photography - UK (2019-05)

25

B+W

I

n 2014 the European Space

Agency’s Rosetta probe

became the first to orbit a

comet and land a module on

its surface. Its objective: to find

clues to the origins of our solar

system and the emergence of

life on Earth. The incredible

interstellar mission brought

back a raft of truly otherworldly

photographs, the best of which

are featured in Comet.

Launched in 2004, it took 10

years for Rosetta to reach its

destination, in a voyage spanning

millions of miles of space. Built

around the various phases of

this journey, the book includes

high-resolution monochrome

images ranging from shots of the

Earth receding into the distance,

to fly-by images of Mars and

the asteroid belt, and the three-

mile-wide comet, 67P, itself.

The rugged surfaces, towering

cliffs, blankets of dust and

dramatic outbursts of the comet

are captured in breathtaking

detail, set against the inky

blackness of space.

An extraordinary book.

Claire Blow

E

mily Matyas began her

career as a journalist,

and it is easy to see

her sharp eye for

stories, people and places in

this beautiful collection of

photographs. The pictures were

taken in Sonora, which borders

Arizona and is the second

largest state in Mexico.

Featuring 57 black & white

pictures and 25 colour ones,

the photographs capture

the close-knit families and

communities, providing a

deeper understanding of life

in Mexico and puncturing the

stereotypes. The book’s title,

Sol y Tierra (Sun and Earth),

underlines how the strong light

and bare earth are part of what

makes Mexico distinct and form

the backdrop to the work, play

and friendship of the people.

Perhaps the title also hints at the

character of the subjects as well.

The pictures are supported

by short and engaging essays in

English and Spanish by a range

of writers including Matyas,

who writes: ‘I hope these

images start a dialogue across

borders, one that goes beyond

stereotypes, replaces the notion

of them with we and conveys the

inherent value of understanding

each other, person to person,

nation to nation.’

Timely and inspiring.

Mark Bentley

T

here are some

photography books

that slap you in the face

with harsh criticisms of

wrongdoings, shouting opinions

on how the viewer should feel.

This collection does not do that.

It requires contemplation. A quiet

moment is where these images

will make a memorable impact.

Robert Adams has

photographed the altered

landscape of the American West

for more than 40 years. Through

his investigation and exploration

of suburban sprawl he discovers

the glory of the natural world

and the tragic nature of

human beings. In a ‘landscape

of mistakes’ he captures the

poignancy of our interaction

with the environment beautifully.

Each frame communicates

a landscape in anguish yet

forever resilient and, ultimately,

triumphantly picturesque.

In this revised second edition,

he looks back through his own

heritage, finding the spirit of

explorers past. So he ventures

out into the vast landscapes of

the American West to find a

truth about the contrast of our

interaction with nature. His

photographs hold a stillness and

a hope that we can change –

a hope just as valid today.

Scott Teagle

I

n ancient times, before the

era of smartphones and

apps, making photographs

was often a more tactile

experience. And while the

camera filters on our apps may

be groovy, quick and free of

chemicals, analogue techniques

still offer a wealth of creative

opportunities that can help

photographers establish their

own visual style.

Natalia Price-Cabrera’s No

Filter is a book of spells filled

with ideas for transforming

digital and analogue pictures

into something magical.

There are tips for making

daguerreotypes, cyanotypes

and tintypes; photogravures

and photograms; salt-paper

prints and solargraphs. Post-

production tools include

scissors, paper, iodine, milk,

nail polish remover and blood

(yes, really). The instructions

are clearly and engagingly

written with excellent examples

from a variety of skilled

photographers.

This is photography that

is experimental, physical,

messy, smelly, slow and hugely

enjoyable. A delight.

Mark Bentley

ON THE SHELF

NEWS

FROM THE

MISSOURI WEST

Robert Adams

Steidl

Hardback, £90

COMET:

PHOTOGRAPHS

FROM THE ROSETTA

SPACE PROBE

Jean-Pierre Bibring

Hanns Zischler

Thames & Hudson

Hardback, £50

SOL Y TIERRA

Emily Matyas

Daylight

Hardback, $45

#NO FILTER:

GET CREATIVE WITH

PHOTOGRAPHY

Natalia Price-Cabrera

Laurence King Publishing

Paperback, £12.99

Black+White’s line-up of some of the very best new photographic

publications out in the bookshops or to order online.