Questions Without Answers: The World in Pictures by the Photographers of VII by Friend, David (2012) Hardcover

by David Friend

This major work presents, in chronological order, a remarkable sequence of photo-stories from pioneering photo agency VII, documenting world history as we have experienced it since the end of the Cold War. In the years since this pivotal moment in international politics, our world has been transformed by the spread of American capitalism, the increasingly rapid decline of regional cultures, the resurgence of ancient feuds and the rise of complex terrorism. This period has also seen a shift in the character of photojournalism, as represented here by the dynamic, up-to the-minute work emerging from VII. The 12 extraordinarily talented photographers who make up this agency work at the cutting edge of digital photojournalism, committed to recording social and cultural change as it happens around the world. Each brings an individual vision to the agency - some choosing to tackle dramatic events head-on, others pursuing more idiosyncratic, personal projects - but all share a commitment to their individual subjects and to their belief that the act of communication provides hope even in the most extreme situations. This ambitious book features photographers' personal material, including journals and project notes, alongside a strikingly broad selection of stories. Photos documenting the recent American election sit alongside a collection of portraits featuring famous cultural figures such as John Updike and Tim Burton. We move from an exploration of 'volcano culture' in Indonesia to dispatches from the current economic crisis and its effect on those working in finance. The crucial work done by VII in documenting conflict - environmental, social and political, both violent and non-violent - is also represented, including stories from the war in Iraq, the crisis in Darfur and the terrible events of 9/11. With an introduction by the eminent Daniel Friend, the former director of photography at "Life" magazine, this book is an important, moving and compelling record of the world we live in.

Genres: Photography

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

David Friend is an editor, author, and award-winning documentary producer with a career spanning journalism, photography, and film. Since 1998, he has been the editor of creative development at Vanity Fair, following his tenure as Life magazine’s director of photography. His work has shaped major journalistic projects, including the 2005 Vanity Fair story that revealed FBI insider Mark Felt as “Deep Throat,” the confidential Watergate source. He also played a key role in expanding Vanity Fair into books, e-books, television, and digital media, launching VanityFair.com.
As an author, Friend has explored cultural and historical themes in books such as Watching the World Change: The Stories Behind the Images of 9/11 (2006), The Naughty Nineties (2017), and two volumes on human existence, The Meaning of Life and More Reflections on the Meaning of Life. In the realm of documentary film, he is an Emmy- and Peabody-winning producer, with projects including Lakota Nation vs. United States (2023), MLK/FBI (2021), and the widely broadcast CBS prime-time special 9/11.
Beyond journalism and film, Friend has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the Middle East, coedited 13 Vanity Fair books, and curated photography exhibitions on three continents. His poetry has been published in The New Yorker, further highlighting the breadth of his creative work.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to look through.

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

not not not for the faint of heart or those easily disheartened, as VII sends their photo-journalists to the hotspots of the globe for famines, wars, sex trades, indian massacres, freedom fights, earthquakes, usa politics (ugly), usa wars, russian wars, mormons, etc etc each journalist has a very short essay and captioned photos.
sudan
hurricanes
gaza
malaria
lebenon
inidan hiways
deforestation
somalia
ossetia
kashmir
wall st
congo
china
arab spring
etc
etc