This is right in my wheelhouse, if not in my budget:
With his new book Homage to Humanity photographer Jimmy Nelson and his team will be presenting an all immersive experience that invites you on an extraordinary journey. Next to Nelson’s established iconic photography, this new book will contain personal interviews with the portrayed individuals, compelling travel stories and infographics. This new assemblage of remarkable voyages is accompanied by an state-of-the-art mobile application that will allow readers to view 360 ̊ film material, behind the scenes video, storytelling, and more. Welcoming you on a odyssey to the remotest and most beautiful places on earth. Therefore this book will not only be an adventure, but an investigation into a far more in-depth catalyst of ethnographic discussion as to the lasting values and importance of these precious cultures.
Since his first internationally acclaimed exploration through Tibet almost 30 years ago, Jimmy Nelson has travelled to the world’s most hidden corners to photograph indigenous peoples. In 2013 he published his first book Before They Pass Away, with which his lifelong dream, to create awareness about the world’s unimaginable diversity, became reality.
The name chosen for this project had roused attention as it may give the impression that he pessimistically saw the sealed fate of those peoples he had come to meet. And maybe this is how he initially felt. But since he published his first book, his sustained and amazing interaction with the most diverse range of peoples have made him backtrack on this view. Where there are challenges, there are solutions. He has come to appreciate the pride, strength, vigour, honour and resilience of the people he asked to pose for his lens. This provides him with an unending inspiration to continue his work and set up the Jimmy Nelson Foundation.
Much like Edward Curtis, Nelson has been criticized for stylizing his subjects, creating “a photographer’s fantasy.” I get that. But the images on their own terms capture me; they make my heart sing. Perhaps this is a visual representation of the History/Myth equation that I find myself so often working to harmonize.
Paul McNamee says
Fantastic!
Matthew says
Sounds like an interesting project.
Speaking of projects, how’s moving been going? It’s a hassle and always a bit strange to move from one place to another.
Smartelek says
Looks fascinating, just placed an ILL on it. I am a big fan of Curtis, but nonetheless still agree with some his critics. They may equally apply to Mr Nelson’s work. That been said what Curtis did for the First nations (or for us rather) is of infinite value.
I am new to your blog and simply love it. You reopened vistas that were dormant in me, and made me discover new authors and players in the process.
I am still not clear what a Frontier Partisan is. Every time I think I got it I find out that there is a new component that i missed. For now it is more of a feeling than something something clearly defined. Maybe that’s what it is all about.
Thank you again.
JimC says
I appreciate that very much and it’s most appreciated today.
lane batot says
I DOOOOO get tired of hearing about this vanishing people, and that dying culture–for although there is often sadly truth to this popular cliche’ of the Dominant, all-absorbing modern society, there is a LOT that has managed to survive, and continues to, and it is nice for a change to see that acknowledged! Human Diversity is every bit as important and necessary for the survival of our species, as biological diversity is for life on this planet!