Illuminations [Hardcover]

William Carter (Author), Weston Naef (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book of black-and-white photographs, supplemented by a light text, is an exquisitely printed compilation of Carter's fifteen-year project of portraying the nude, not as a sex object, but as a spiritual document. -- Book Description

From the Publisher

Capping the author's 35-year career as a photographer-writer, this work is both a culmination and a starlingly fresh departure. Carter's earlier books won awards on such diverse topics as the jazz musicians of New Orleans and the ghost towns of the American West. Illuminations, printed on sumptuous paper by state-of-the-art presses in Florence, Italy, is a once a highly fresh, personal view of the human body, and an affirmation of many civilizations' deeply held values of form and beauty.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Art Books Intl Ltd (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881529150
• ISBN-13: 978-1881529156
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 10.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #945,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Los Angeles-born William Carter graduated from Stanford University in 1957. He became a professional photographer, writer and editor while concurrently pursuing fine art photography. In New York, Carter worked as a book editor for Harper & Row, 1961-63. Based in Beirut 1964-66, he published in Life, the London Sunday Times, Geographical Magazine and others. In 1966-69 he freelanced from London, doing assignments for such clients as The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily, and TWA's Annual Report.

Returning to San Francisco in 1969, Carter turned to longer-term projects. He published his first book of text and pictures, "Ghost Towns of the West," in 1971. His second book, "Middle West Country," appeared in 1975. Carter's permanent love affair with New Orleans jazz led him to create his third book of text and photographs, "Preservation Hall," in 1991. Increasingly absorbed in fine art photography, he began exhibiting in galleries and published "Illuminations," a book of nudes, in 1996. Carter's fifth book, "Causes and Spirits," is an autobiographical photo-appreciation of humanity worldwide, available now.

William Carter's photographs have been widely exhibited in the U.S. and Europe.

More than 150 of his black and white prints are in the permanent collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. A Carter nude was shown in the Getty's concise 150-year history of that genre in 2007-2008. Four of his Middle Eastern images appeared there in Engaged Observers, a 2010 survey of photojournalism since 1960.

To view William Carter's photographs, visit his website at http://wcarter.us.

Visit William Carter's blog at http://bywilliamcarter.wordpress.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a beautiful, magical book., November 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Illuminations (Hardcover)

I have been coming back and back to "Illuminations" for many months. There is a surpassing beauty to the images and in the uncomprimising way in which they have been selected and printed. The text adds a useful dimension, including the "illuminating" foreward by the curator of the Getty Museum, who has spotted an obvious (so far relatively undiscovered)future major figure in photography.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning interpretations of the human body and soul, June 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Illuminations (Hardcover)

Through the medium of photography, Carter renders the human form in breathtaking detail, capturing the inner soul of people by avoiding salacious or prurient poses. His mastery of his craft is reflected on every page of artful beauty. Each image challenges his audience to search further into the depths of mankind. A remarkable job. Thank you, Mr. Carter