In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits

by National Geographic Society, Leah Bendavid-Val (Editor), Chris Johns (Foreword)

A collection of nearly three hundred photographs from National Geographic, representing the work of more than one hundred fifty acclaimed photographers, captures portrait images of people from around the world.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Coffee Table Books, History, Art and Photography

504 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.

Reviews

[GlenK]

This large (and heavy!) volume showcases decades of National Geographic portrait photographs. As with all photos collected for a printed book, those here are a mixed bag. There are a number of technically first-rate photos plus a few that are iconic but many are not that interesting when divorced from the articles they were originally published with. I did find the essays excellent though with their ruminations on photography and portraits and especially on the history of and philosophy behind photography at National Geographic.

[Joshua Loong]

Though it is true that much of the National Geographic photography of its day was rooted in a search for a certain exoticness / otherness. I think this collection really captured the diversity of human culture before globalization had subsumed everyone into a conformity of fashion, ritual and custom. The portraits here show people at work, at home, in celebration throughout the world over the 20th century. From tribal peoples to Depression era workers to Persian revolutionaries to Central European peasants to factory workers. The diversity of the world is captured wonderfully through these pages.

That isn’t to say there still isn’t huge diversity today. But as the cogs of globalization crunch forward, as the internet is beamed into everyones pockets: we’re losing that cultural diversity that geographic isolation used to bring. The world has become a global melting pot: American movies, French dining, Scandinavian design, Chinese goods all blend together in every city and town in the world. Where every road is mapped, every town has a blurb on Wikipedia. We currently live in our own unique time period of unparalleled global cultural integration that is interesting in of itself. But there’s something lost that we may never get back.

The tiny town customs, the strange (to us) coming of age celebrations, the unique styles of dress. The adventure of setting out and meeting people who have never met or seen someone like you.

This is the period captured by National Geographic over its 100+ years. For this peek into a vanishing world, it is a wonderful collection. It is truly a shame to see the magazine no longer being published in print, and many of its staff writers being laid off. We’re poorer for it.

[Jude]

There are some wonderful photographs in this book!

[Sarai]

The photos in this book are marvelous. I did read some, but not all, of the commentary. Mostly, I just enjoyed the pictures. They really tell a story and it was so interesting just to pore over them and examine them at leisure. Wonderful.


Product Description
National Geographic Greatest Portraits tells the story of portrait photography through the eyes-and words-of five accomplished National Geographic photographers. The book showcases images never-before-seen alongside award-winning favorites. New and fascinating text reveals photographers' individual experiences photographing people and their evaluation of NG portraits produced during each decade-from the late-19th century until today. National Geographic Greatest Portraits opens with a beautiful and surprising look at National Geographic's contribution to the knowledge of the world's peoples through photography. Five chapters follow, each spanning approximately two decades and covering an era in world history and photographic style. The chapters are: Before 1930 (Exploring the power of photography), 1930s-1940s (The Great Depression and World War II), 1950s-1960s (Bright colors and perky smiles), 1970s-1980s (Back to realism), 1990s-Present (Everything is relative). Each of these chapters is a portrait of the world.

[Ron]

Though many of the photographs are memorable and striking, I was most impressed by a few of the written articles. One described the dramatic effect that changes in the portability of cameras and speed of film have made in the general format and subject matter of content and visual material in Nat Geo over the years. Another piece reflected on the rather distanced stance that the magazine seemed to take over the yrs toward such earth shaking events as the Depression and WWII. At points there was an inferred taking to task such an editorial attitude and at other times a justification of it given the need for a centered, balanced more upbeat attitude during such rough times. It's of note that Nat Geo didn't experience a down turn in its business over the depression.

[Magila]

how do you rate a book of pictures? i don't know how you do it, but i'll tell you how i did.

it has some really iconic nat geo photos and is a great coffee table book. it has a handful of essays on photography/portraits from today's nat geo all-stars. those were interesting. it's certainly a quick and relaxing 'read.' so that's alot of good.

that said, i object to some of the photographs being called portraits. they're not. i totally embrace a wider application of the term, and being more-encompassing. but the team was a little too liberal. and! and! with just shy of 100 years of photos, there could have been some better ones here and there too. there were a handful of fantastic photos, but on sum i'd swap about a quarter of the pictures.

so... 4.

[♏ Gina☽]

Even as a child, I loved to read National Geographics. Actually, as a child, I was already a voracious reader but I was always drawn to the yellow covers they had back then, running my finger down the list and seeing what treasures were inside. National Geographic has long been revered for its superb photography, and it's one of the reasons I am a photographer today. This book is a group of 280 of its most iconic portraits. This book is proof that a photo can evoke deep feelings without even knowing the person in it.

[Richard]

A big book full of big, magnificent photos. It's almost too big and heavy to sit on your knee and is best looked at whilst sitting at a table. The tone is set by the beautiful and haunting image seen here on the front cover and it's the 'ordinary' folk who are the most striking.

As a photography book it's not exactly a book to read but to flick through at times and enjoy all those faces and wonderful (often sad) faces.

[Ray Dunsmore]

Portraits are truly what National Geographic does better than any other magazine on the market, and this book is the solid proof. Though it doesn't really get truly impressive until the chapter on the '70s and '80s, it's still a fantastic statement of artistic achievement on behalf of what has become the magazine most sensitively attuned to the human condition.

[Cherylyn Ebertz]

I enjoyed all 502 pages of this fabulous book thoroughly! A glorious glimpse into the history of National Geographic, what makes a portrait great, insight from some of the best National Geographic photographers, and the photos are simply marvelous. <3

[Yellowoasis]

Astonishing photographs. The text is also worth reading, as it puts the photographs - and the politics of photography - into context. One gripe - i wish the titles were on the page with the photograph, as I dislike having to flip back and forth between pages.

[Jill]

These photographs make me want to quit my job and become a full time photographer! They are all definitely inspirational, fascinating and at times, sad. If you loves photographs, this is a book you should add to your To Be Read pile.

[Roxanne]

Beautiful and interesting to learning about the history of NGEO portrait photography from possed to candid and the fact that magazine acutually increased in subscriptions during the depression.

[Barb Bailey]

Love this photography book.

[Marvin]

Photographs are great, but start to look the same after awhile

[Singgih Noegroho]

so natural...I love it

[Jana]

One of the reasons why I bought my Canon.

[Russ]

A grand collection of fascinating photographs from around the globe. Text is limited in order to allow each image, captured through a camera lens, to be interpreted by the viewer.

[Tom Hannis]

Awesome. A real, enduring pleasure.

[Xenia]

This still is one of my favorite birthday presents ever. Exceptional work.

[Mari]

Lovely photos. Some good advice.

[Amanda]

My favorite was the Afghan Girl with piercing green eyes.

[Tyrone_Slothrop (ex-MB)]

La storia nelle foto del National Geographic

Interessante raccolta di fotografie del National Geographic, con un focus sul ritratto della persona umana - è divisa in sezioni storiche con valide introduzioni e alcune riflessioni non scontate sull'evoluzione del concetto di fotografia nel Novecento.
Una qualità è l'onestà intellettuale in cui la visione un pò conservatrice e a tratti retrograda del fondatore del National Geographic Grosvenor non viene nascosta - specie negli anni '50 - '60 - '70 le fotografie sono molte decorative con un chiaro intento propagandistico ed americano-centrico, con pochi obiettivi artistici e molti commerciali-promozionali.
Le foto degli ultimi decenni mostrano un chiaro cambio di prospettiva ed un tentativo di uscire dall'esotismo paternalista, con qualche risultato notevole come gli scatti di McCurry.

[MaxKender]

Una pubblicazione molto ben realizzata sia per le foto sia per i testi e gli interventi degli autori. National Geographic e la sua storia ci vengono presentati attraverso le parole e i lavori dei grandi fotografi ritrattisti della rivista. Parole ed immagini, senza troppi fronzoli e senza auto-incensarsi. Un volume di grande interesse.

[Erica]

I pored over these pictures, trying not to get too much dust on my hands, but still turning over every page to see what captured the viewer’s (and photographer’s) imagination in the past. How fashion and people across cultures look different now. Conclusion: yes but not that different

[Susan Liston]

Oh my goodness, there are some really incredible photos here, from the early 1900s on. I would dance a jig if I had taken any one of them. Fab.

[James]

A great compilation of exotic pictures of people from around the world.

[Cheryl]

Lots of good photos, naturally. And it tells the stories behind the photos, which is nice.

[Roy McDine]

Beautifully presented, a stunning history of some of the most outstanding NG images.

[Giorgia]

Bellissime foto, bellissimi esseri umani. Descrizioni che a volte lasciano percepire il pregiudizio di chi scatta