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Desert Cantos
The catalogue for a 1987 traveling exhibition of work by Misrach; his third book. Photographs by Richard Misrach; essay by Reyner Banham. 106 pages; 58 full-page color plates + 9 text illustrations + 1 map; 12 x 9 inches. Biography, bibliography, exhibition history.
- GenresPhotographyArt
106 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 24, 2024
Misrach has an eye designed specifically for the 8x10 view camera. His landscapes are expansive and detail oriented, minimal with maximum focus. This book is from the 1970s of the American Southwest, the vast expanse of desert and man-made changes to it.
It is worth it to read the introduction, which provides context that Misrach does not do since the images have no useful titles or commentary. Through it we learn about the Salton Sea, the space shuttle landing, and the fire. It is not critical to appreciating the images, but I found that it added interest.
It is worth it to read the introduction, which provides context that Misrach does not do since the images have no useful titles or commentary. Through it we learn about the Salton Sea, the space shuttle landing, and the fire. It is not critical to appreciating the images, but I found that it added interest.
October 31, 2013
It takes lot of courage and sincerity to accept the fact that we humans have been destroying the planet. Photography of most people is focussed on capturing "what is left" of this "beautiful planet" and not the violence of man on its surroundings.
Desert Cantos is a great book that focuses on human conquest of deserts and the consequential damage. As the author puts it in the afterword - "The world is as terrible as it is beautiful, but when you look more closely, it is as beautiful as it is terrible."
The introductory essay - "The man mauled desert" by "Reyner Banham" is a befitting introduction to the theme of the book. In the essay, Banham says "In guilt or despair, we try to block out these manifestations of our presence, and lift up our eyes unto the hills beyond - hoping that they, at least, will still look something like the work of Ansel Adams"
Everything we try to photograph stops being pristine. The very intention to photograph something pristine / virgin sullies/pollutes it. Man can never separate himself from the wilderness any more. There is none left!
A great set of photographs buttressed by introductory essay to rethink how our actions have affected our surroundings and still we try to avoid photographing them.
Desert Cantos is a great book that focuses on human conquest of deserts and the consequential damage. As the author puts it in the afterword - "The world is as terrible as it is beautiful, but when you look more closely, it is as beautiful as it is terrible."
The introductory essay - "The man mauled desert" by "Reyner Banham" is a befitting introduction to the theme of the book. In the essay, Banham says "In guilt or despair, we try to block out these manifestations of our presence, and lift up our eyes unto the hills beyond - hoping that they, at least, will still look something like the work of Ansel Adams"
Everything we try to photograph stops being pristine. The very intention to photograph something pristine / virgin sullies/pollutes it. Man can never separate himself from the wilderness any more. There is none left!
A great set of photographs buttressed by introductory essay to rethink how our actions have affected our surroundings and still we try to avoid photographing them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews