Book Spotlight: A Respect for Light: The Latin American Photographs 1974-2008

I love photography and when I get the chance to see the work of excellent photographers it's always a special treat. In A Respect for Light: The Latin American Photographs 1974-2008 by Mario Algaze, published by Glitterati Incorporated, http://glitteratiincorporated.com , the legendary photographer's work through the years is highlighted. It's a major retrospective of his work and it's a delight to gaze upon each photograph.

Mario Algaze
Photograph © Javier Silva

Cover: Sendero iluminado, Cuzco, Perú, 2002

As I said in the beginning, I enjoy photography very much and love all varieties, but I have a special appreciation for a beautiful black and white photograph. There's just something so moving about how the light and shadow play upon each other to create something of beauty. It's very fitting that Algaze's book title plays upon this element of the light in his work as the examples found in his book are stunning. There is a cinematic quality to his work and he is well-aware of this himself. In the foreword by Vince Aletti, Algaze is quoted as saying:

"I am a film director wannabe, a hibernating Truffaut, wanting to come out one day."

(From A Respect for Light: The Latin American Photographs 1974-2008 by Mario Algaze, published by Glitterati Incorporated,

 http://glitteratiincorporated.com )

He also says:

"The most important ingredient in my photographs, is a very early morning light, a magical light, which on most days only allows you about an hour to work. There's a certain quality before 9:30 in the morning, where light hits in a forty-five-degree and there are long shadows and soft light."

(From A Respect for Light: The Latin American Photographs 1974-2008 by Mario Algaze, published by Glitterati Incorporated,

 http://glitteratiincorporated.com )

La movida, Cartagena, Colombia, 1987

El principe del solar, Ciudad de Panamá, 1994

As I looked at each photograph I picked up on what he says about the light. Many of the images caused me to think of times when I've been out walking early in the morning and how the light is so pristine at that time of the day. There is a crispness to the light in the morning which is not there as the sun gets higher in the sky later in the day. When the sunlight is bright, it engulfs everything and photographs look very different. Algaze's use of shadow and light is extraordinary.

Salón de té, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1993

Plaza Mayor, Madrid, España, 1981

Salón de billar, Boquete, Panamá, 1994

Desaparecidos, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1984

This book would be a great Christmas gift for anyone that loves photography...whether you get it for someone else or for yourself. It's an intriguing book to return to again and again.

A Respect for Light: The Latin American Photographs 1974-2008 can be purchased here.


*Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review. All opinions are mine