The past did not happen in black and white. ‘The Colors of Life’ from Gestalten Publishing puts fresh color into the life of the early 20th century, which we almost only know from black & white photographs. And that even though color photography also existed 100 years ago. The restorer Stuart Humphryes has compiled more than 200 of these rare color photos and painstakingly restored them.

He takes us with him on a journey to people and places of the early 20th century through the lens of color photography – capturing the daily lives, work and play of people from different cultural backgrounds. With the use of color photography, these individuals and their stories come to life in a way that black & white photos simply cannot match.

The book includes an impressive photograph of the first air show ever, Paris Aérosalon in 1909, or of painter Claude Monet in 1921 in his colorful garden in full bloom in Giverny. The shimmering interplay of light and the diversity of plants in his garden inspired the Masters of Impressionism to create their great works of art.

The book reminds us that color has the power to evoke personal and shared emotions that resonate across time. ‘The Colors of Life’ is a captivating journey into the past, allowing readers to see and experience history in a new and vibrant light.

STUART HUMPHRYES – a. k. a. Babel Colour – is a digital artist, photo restorer and author. He became known as a print and TV colorist through his work on the TV series Doctor Who for BBC.

The Colors of Life - EARLY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY ENHANCED BY STUART HUMPHRYES
Editors: gestalten & Stuart Humphryes . Features: Full color, hardcover, stitch bound, 256 pages
Format: 24 × 30 cm . Price: € 50 (D) £ 45 $ 75 (US) . ISBN: 978-3-96704-123-1

EU + UK PUBLICATION DATE: 19 September, 2023
INT PUBLICATION DATE: 17 October, 2023
13.09.2023 show complete article

The illustrated book COLLAGE presents projects by 64 female photographers on the topic of sustainability, who have been either nominated for the Prix Pictet, the worldwide leading award in photography and sustainability, or have made it onto the shortlist. Their photos deal with ecological and social issues. They are about the negative consequences of exploiting natural resources, the negative impact of climate change but also about joyful and bizarre moments.

The book features essays by Prix Pictet award winners Sally Mann and Jan Dalley, arts editor of the Financial Times. In an introductory interview between Michael Benson, the Director of Prix Pictet, and the legendary Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, she says: “The job of the photographer is to create a synthesis and turn experiences from everyday life into a strong and poetic work.”

The Prix Pictet is the leading global award in photography dedicated to sustainability. Founded in 2008 to draw worldwide attention and stimulate action on issues of sustainability through the medium of photography, the award is supported by the leading asset and wealth management firm, Pictet Group.

Selected as the cover motif was the contribution by Yvonne de Rosa, who writes about the work: “I held an artist residency with inmates from a juvenile detention center in Naples. Inquisita is the visual memory of my dialogue with Artemisia Gentileschi, who lived in the area and whose art is now presented every day by the young guides who see her as a role model.”

In the series ‘Drummies’, South African photographer Alice Mann documents a South African subculture of all-female drum majorette teams (GoSee reported). The series ‘Holding the Baby’ by British photographer Polly Braden deals with the negative effects of government austerity measures on single parents in England. The photographer: “I was inspired and provoked by a United Nations report which stated that single parents have been hardest hit by austerity. These collaborative photographs – some taken during lockdown by the parents themselves – capture the families’ sense of adventure, optimism, creativity and ambition, transcending their difficulties.”

Among them is also one of our personal favorite female photographers, Alex Prager, who portrays in her series the instability, the chaos and the turmoil of modern-day America. Female photographers are also among those introduced, who upon first glance, might not have all too much to do with sustainability, but who are definitely a wonderful addition to such a competition and book.

COLLAGE – WOMEN OF THE PRIX PICTET SINCE 2008
Editors: gestalten & Prix Pictet Ltd.
Features: full color, hardcover, stitch-bound
128 pages, 23 × 29 cm, English
Price: €39.90 (D) | €41.10 (A) | 51.90 CHF
ISBN: 978-3-96704-085-2

GoSee  prix.pictet.com & gestalten.com
08.03.2023 show complete article

Andrea Rehn presents us the opulent photo book ‘Between the Sea & the Sky’ by Jimmy Nelson here on GoSee, which was published in September by Jimmy Nelson B.V.. “In his newest book, Jimmy Nelson (born 1967 in Sevenoaks, England) portrays 20 communities in traditional dress and amid the environment that has formed them, the Netherlands. “It is his most personal book to date,” says Andrea Rehn, who helped to develop the international Press Department for the teNeues Group where she personally supported photographers such as Rankin, Martin Schoeller, Jimmy Nelson or Michael Poliza.

During the pandemic, which restricted travel across the world, Jimmy Nelson realized he didn’t need to travel to the ends of the Earth to discover outstanding human beauty. This insight gave rise to a new project much closer to home: ‘Between the Sea & the Sky’, a stunning art book and ode to the Netherlands.

The 528-page book explores Dutch heritage and traditional dress through intimate portraits and iconic landscapes captured using a tailor-made 10 x 8 analogue plate camera. The loving portraits and iconic landscapes are complemented by reportage shots. The strikingly large negatives give the images a recognizable level of hitherto unseen detail, while their strong contrast and depth create a romantic effect, an atmosphere reminiscent of paintings, subtly hinting at the work of the Dutch Masters from the Golden Age of the 17th century.

Jimmy Nelson : “The laborious process enables me to engrave the images with a real signature: it is the struggle to see the imperfection of the self that gives my pictures the artistic authenticity for which I strive. Then, camera and tripod in hand, I quite literally fell in love with the famous Dutch light. The myth about Dutch light started circulating in the 19th century. In the 1850s, the Netherlands became popular with artists. The likes of Monet, Manet and Whistler all came to see the country’s famous 17th-century paintings and the typical countryside for themselves. And in their slipstream came writers, painters and photographers from all over the world. Reading through their diaries and journals, it almost seems as if the Dutch countryside was discovered through 17th-century paintings, as if the landscapes and the light were the inventions of artists.”

A carefully curated selection of images can be scanned with the free Jimmy Nelson app to discover unique videos from behind the scenes and bring the images to life. 

In addition to the photographs, each chapter of ‘Between the Sea & the Sky’ includes information on the historical events, myths and proverbs of each region. The texts are complemented by hand-drawn maps and illustrations of the most iconic symbols, mythical characters and natural elements. Together, they tell the story of the Dutch; a people who, for centuries, have been fighting back the water to secure their land, almost a quarter of which lies below sea level. A struggle requiring incredible strength, solidarity and resilience, characteristics which, to a large extent, have shaped Dutch culture and identity.

With each book sold, the Jimmy Nelson Foundation supports local and educational programs which preserve both knowledge as well as cultural and natural heritage.

The exhibition is on show in Amsterdam from 18 September through 31 December, 2022 : The Jimmy Nelson Studio is presenting its works for three months as a gallery on the Westergasterrein, near Fabrique des Lumières (Westergasterrein, Polonceaukade 10, 1014 DA Amsterdam). Exhibited are new works depicting Dutch people in dress from ‘Between the Sea & the Sky’ and never-before-seen work from the previous period. (Wednesday through Sunday 12-7pm and upon arrangement).

Andrea Rehn has been supporting publishing companies, authors and photographers for more than fifteen years. After working several years as a media expert for the publishing house with a main focus on editorial work and PR, she established the international Press Department of the teNeues Group and has supported photographers such as Rankin, Martin Schoeller, Jimmy Nelson or Michael Poliza as well as authors, including Hellmuth Karasek or Marie Waldburg. In addition to book reviews, she has also organized interviews as well as radio and TV appearances. In October 2020, she started her own business, the Andrea Rehn PR agency in Krefeld. Interested in Jimmy Nelson? Andrea is at your service and will gladly receive your inquiries.

‘Between the Sea & the Sky’ by Jimmy Nelson with an introduction by Dutch author Arthur Japin, 290 x 370 mm, 528 pages, hardcover, with 381 works by Jimmy Nelson, 125 EUR (not signed), 195 EUR (signed limited edition), with hand-drawn illustrations. Send orders to jimmynelson.com

GoSee : jimmynelson.com & andrearehn-presse.com
07.10.2022 show complete article