Charlie Crane: Welcome to Pyongyang

by Charlie Crane (Photographer), Nicholas Bonner (Introduction)

Charlie Crane's large-format photographs of Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, were taken on three visits between 2005 and 2006. His landscapes and portraits are presented here in the manner of a guidebook, with an introduction by Crane's collaborator and producer, Nicholas Bonner, and with commentaries on the scenes depicted from interviews recorded with the city's official tourist guides.

Genres: Photography

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Valarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed in this book. It reads like a North Korean tour guide, focusing only on the benevolence of the Dear Leader Kim Jong il, and offers nothing that the reader couldn't get from any DPRK propaganda website. The photographer and the introducer are highly complimentary of North Korea's hospitality to visitors, completely ignoring the fact that outside their little bubble, North Korean citizens are starved and tortured to death in concentration camps. When the people of North Korea are finally freed, this book will be classified as an evil dictator's propaganda aided by Western tourists.

[Paddy Sz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful images set with very interesting local stories. Even in the highly restrictive world of the DPRK, the stories found are enchanting. Not the best book to look for if you want a proper travel piece riddled with opinion, bit certainly a nice one to dip into for inspiration and the start of research.

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on North Korea. Obviously it is from a controlled context but does seem to show some insight into the country. The introduction labels the book as an unbiased & uncensored view, which it is clearly not but still gives some idea into how the country is controlled.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Unapologetic' view of North Korea as they wish the world to see themselves. Polished, socialist paradise. Excellent photography of people and places. No, this may not be real life to most North Koreans, but it simply would not be possible to achieve this calibre of photos outside of the guided tourist route. Careful analysis of the photos brings suspicion that things are not what they may seem.

[Daisy]

These photographs are stark and gorgeous. I must look at this book in person.

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Welcom...

[Joss Ratcliffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, Would be great to see more day to day life rather than so many staged photographs, but being North Korea perhaps that's unreasonable. Still a pretty cool book to flick through.