Afghanistan: A Darkness Visible [Hardcover]

Seamus Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

Afghanistan is a collection of stunning, lyrical photographs from an acclaimed, prize-winning photojournalist.

From 1994 to 2006, Seamus Murphy photographed the effects of the Taliban regime, the tumultuous years of civil war, and the historical elections following the fall of the Taliban. Alongside scenes of war and politics, his magnificent photographs capture intimate images of domesticity, work, and leisure.

Seamus Murphy has won six World Press Photo awards and has received widespread acclaim for his work in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Seamus Murphy sees Afghanistan's turbulent people and its magnificent landscapes with an eye that is sometimes shockingly clear. I find his images as disturbing as they are haunting and lovely. This is a beautiful and valuable book."John Simpson"Seamus Murphy is a poet with a camera who has captured the essence of life in one of the oldest countries in the world, today under attack from one of the newest. He has eloquently captured the stoicism of a people bombarded throughout history and yet still survive."Philip Jones Griffiths

About the Author

Seamus Murphy has won six World Press Photo awards and received widespread acclaim for his work in Afghanistan and the Middle East. In September 2004, his Afghanistan pictures were exhibited at the Oxo Tower Gallery in London and were visited by over 10,000 people.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 175 pages
• Publisher: Saqi Books (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863566200
• ISBN-13: 978-0863566202
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Travel > Asia > Afghanistan

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Photos; Poor Book Design, March 16, 2010

By 

Dingo - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Afghanistan: A Darkness Visible (Hardcover)

The photos are brilliant and span the gamut between extremely visceral combat images to soft moments in the private lives of Afghans. Any fan of grainy, black & white photography with a solid sense of composition and timing should seriously consider this book. Murphy has the eye of a Cartier-Bresson style street photographer and the compassion of a man like James Nachtwey.

My only gripe is with the formatting of the book. Every photo looks to be your standard 2x3 crop shot horizontally. The book's dimensions, however, do no justice to the images and the result is that each and every one dips into the gutter. Why the publisher did not go with a horizontal aspect ratio to match that of the actual images is beyond me.

5.0 out of 5 stars Bone Chilling, October 31, 2011

By 

film addict (new york , NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Afghanistan: A Darkness Visible (Hardcover)

These pictures really encapsulated everything we haven't heard about Afghanistan. For the first time I felt as an American, I had some insight into the culture of a country that we have been entangled deeply with over the last decade.

5.0 out of 5 stars Afghanistan: A Darkness Visible, July 28, 2008

By 

Patsy Dickey "Writer/artist" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Afghanistan: A Darkness Visible (Hardcover)

Seamus Murphy has gone into this other world like a hidden spirit, then put his viewers right there with him. His viewpoint is stark, but not invasive, and the most beautiful study painted with dust I've ever beheld. His portraits startle; portray fear and well as joy. How Murphy did it we'll never know. Pure genius is how. Patsy Dickey, Atlanta