This retrospective covers more than forty years of work and unfolds in almost as many countries. Pentti Sammallahti is a wanderer who makes subtle observations of the people and animals he encounters. He records the ordinary and in that ordinariness finds the “wondrous” and “beautiful.” Sammallahti is recognized as a master craftsman both in terms of the photographic print and also in mechanical printing methods—he has been a major influence on published photographic art. He has had an enormous influence on a generation of photographers in Scandinavia and, since 1979, has published thirteen books and portfolios and received innumerable awards.
Pentti Sammallahti hat Humor, das wird in den Bilderserien, welche in diesem Band abgebildet sind, immer wieder ersichtlich. "Hier weit entfernt" ist eine Retrospektive die Fotografien des Schweden aus über 40 Jahren sammelt und neu anordnet. Was sich zuerst als Studie der Welt ohne Menschen zeigt wird immer stärker mit Tieren bevölkert, bis sich die Männer und Frauen wie Theaterfiguren in die Szenerien dazugesellen.
Durch die geschickte Mischung aus Fotografien, welche in diversen Reisen entstanden, werden thematische Schwerpunkte gefunden, neu aufgezogen und ad acta gelegt. Immer ist etwas klar: Pentti Sammallahti hat ein fantastisches Auge für Kompositionen, Begegnungen und verborgene Geschichten. Seine Bilder leben, erzählen Ungeahntes und wirken lebendig. Das macht aus diesem Band ein faszinierendes Genusserlebnis.
Great black and white photographs. Atmospheric, sometimes quirky. He seems to have done a fair bit of travelling - there are photographs here from the USSR; the UK; central Europe; Africa and elsewhere. Inspired by the work in this book, I looked into buying an original print of one of his pictures but it was over £1000. The book will have to do for now but it's still great...
Amazing photography, often with animals as humorous protagonist. Alerted to his work by an article in The Economist highlighting his artistic accomplishments as well as his democratic philosophy toward access (affordability) of his oeuvre.