Call of the Desert: The Sahara

by Philippe Bourseiller, Jean-François Chaix, Edmond Bernus

The desert is brought close in vivid color photos, printed full page or in double-page spreads, and some on fold-out pages--for armchair travelers with either a good table for reading or strong arms and exceptional dexterity (the book weighs 9.6 pounds and measures 11.5x15"). Photographer Bourseiller spent four years criss-crossing the vast desert that spans 10 countries in northern Africa; 200 photos are presented in an extravagant large-scale format that befits the subject matter and the remarkable quality of his images. Several contributed essays explore the region's history, culture, people, and future; and the photos are fully captioned in a separate section at the end of the book. The Abrams edition is a translation of the French work published in 2004, by Editions de La Martinière. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Genres: Geography, Africa, Travel

424 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Always in search of a magical light that gives all its value to a landscape and to the people who inhabit it, Philippe Bourseiller travels the great natural spaces of the planet with his Canon. For nearly forty years now, he has been working on the great nature of our planet to create a true photographic memory of the Earth. These landscapes never stop changing and photography, as a form of memory, is one of the best instruments to follow their evolution and better understand their upheavals and the permanent adaptation of the people who live there.

In 1983 he joined the staff of France Soir Magazine. It was his first approach to color, all subjects are covered: news, people, sports, expeditions…. From 1987 to 1990 he became a member of the magazine department of the Sygma agency and gradually moved towards what would become his favorite field: nature. In 1991, he decided to become a freelance photographer in response to his desire to specialize in nature and environmental subjects. His first report on the eruption of the Pinatubo volcano in 1991 oriented an important part of his work towards the world of active volcanoes.

Philippe Bourseiller is a field photographer, knowing how to be at the same time a mountaineer, a speleologist, a diver…, his experience allows him to evolve easily in the extreme universes he is in contact with, and to bring us back rare images. Recognized worldwide for his mastery of light, color and composition, his work has been awarded several times by the prestigious World Press prize and a Visa d’Or at the International Festival of Photojournalism in Perpignan. He regularly collaborates with major magazines: Géo, Paris Match, Figaro Magazine, Stern, Life, National Geographic…. and has published more than twenty books translated into several languages.

Several large exhibitions have been presented in the world.

Reviews

[Tweedledum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning photography alternates with fascinating articles on the history, geology, sociology, anthropology etc etc of the area. I could look at these photos for hours. All adds up to a much deeper understanding and respect for the Saharan peoples.