Customer Reviews

India: In Word and Image

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book because very interested in everything related to India, and in particular history, traditions and religions. Reviews were all very good, so maybe I had too great expectations... In my opinion this book represents a good documentary introduction to India, but lacks something if you're looking for an innovative or original interpretation of this beautiful country.
Pictures are quite good, but too often they look like "seen before" images.
India is so spectacular in its variety, its different moods and colors, that sometimes western travellers risk to miss its deep roots, its hidden soul.
By a technical and artistic point of view, I hope I'm not alone to consider debatable the actual trend to print photographs with unreal, super bright colors. Far from adding any charme, "boosted" colors cannot help a weak image, but they could render false and dull a good one.
For those interested in a more intimistic and reflective approach to India I'd suggest "India" by Don McCullin, "Children of Bombay" by Dario Mitidieri or the beatiful works by Raghu Ray

Between the covers of Eric Meola's staggeringly beautiful India in Word and Image is a vision as large and dynamic as India itself. In a similar way to his first book, Last Places on Earth, Meola's peripatetic photography takes us on a journey to reveal the pride and dignity of a culture living in an ever-shrinking world of globalization and instant communication. Yet his new book goes further: through his lens we enter the soul of a country full of color and an unrestrained enthusiasm for life. From the riotously colorful celebration of Holi to a lone, meditating monk under a bodhi tree, the photography of one of the medium's true masters shows us an amazing part of the world.

The immediacy of Meola's photography is breathtaking, whether he's focusing on an expansive vista or some minute detail that he has found and wants to share with us. Viewing the many and varied portraits throughout the book, I feel as if I'm looking not at images printed on a page, but directly into the eyes of the subject.

The inclusion of writings on India by Tagore, Narayan, Rushdie, Kiran Desai, Jhumpa Lahiri and several other great writers of India help make this a very illuminating and moving book.

A Gujarati friend taught me a useful phrase in his language: "Salu che." It is good. But that doesn't begin to describe this astounding book.

Eric Meola is a master of color photography. This book is a visual trip for the eyes, mind, and heart. Mr. Meola has captured the festivals, but more importantly, the soul of India. Whether or not the reader is interested in India, you can't help being drawn in to the photographs of the people, the landscapes, and the atmosphere that is so richly portrayed.

Beyond the exquisite color photographic compositions in this book, Mr. Meola has that rare photographer's eye to see what most people don't even notice....the glow off a burning cigarette, a gecko that happened to be sitting on a sculpture, a telling expression in the eyes of a young woman.

This book along with its moving text, is a tribute to an India that exists in a Kiplingesque dreamscape that may one day be gone. Enjoy it now and share it with those you love.

Frank Stefanko / photographer

India is a land of amazing contrasts and exotic imagery. Eric Meola has traveled to India many times for the purpose of photographing the people, landscapes, architecture, celebrations, and art of this vast and diverse land. The result is "India: In Word And Image", a coffee-table art book compendium showcases India's diversity and heritage from the monasteries of the Himalayas, to the tea plantations of Darjeeling, to the stark desert of Jaipur. Spectacular photographic images are enhanced with more than thirty literary passages underscoring the story of India, its people, places, architecture and art. A superbly presented visual travelogue, "India: In Word And Image" is an ideal selection for academic and community library 'Memorial Fund' acquisitions, a welcome addition for personal and library Photography reference collections; and an ideal browse for armchair travelers through the wonders, lands, and people of the Indian subcontinent.

It's your standard catalogue "Incredible" India images which serves no purpose other than the selective rendering of oriental exotica. I suggest if you are looking for on colour photography on India, buy a book by photographer Raghubir Singh.

This was a 70th birthday gift for a friend who spent his childhood in India. He has enjoyed both the awesome photographs as well as the stories that accompany them. This has brought back many memories. He thinks it is a great book.

This book was given to a family who plan to visit India. They were so excited to receive it--said it was a wonderful "window" to what they expect to see in India. Beautiful pictures and articles. A definite display book in your home. And I also must mention that the price is the best that I found on the Internet!

Last fall, my wife's son and his wife got married in India. I saw a couple of very favorable reviews of this book in newspapers, and decided to buy it for them for Christmas. (I Can use that word online, can't I?)

When they opened it, we were all amazed not only by the beautiful pictures, but also by the mini-essays that accompanied them. This is a coffee table sized book that begs to be read, and not just perused.

The photographs are arresting, beautiful and moving. The text is right on and varied in approach and subject. The result is a book that one comes back to time and again. I completely agree with Rob Atkins review.

An excellent coffee table book that almost can migrate to the serious bookshelf. The literary selections are quite good, but more of them are needed so that the offering can be more of a quality tasting menu and less an experience of eye candy...