Customer Reviews

The Vale of Kashmir

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The person who said, "Once you pick it up, you can't put it down..." might have been enjoying John Isaac's book, The Vale of Kashmir. Of the thousands of available coffee-table travel books, I'd be surprised if any could compare with the beautiful images of this picturesque - but remote - part of the world as seen through the eyes of John Isaac.

According to the book's cover profile, Mr. Isaac spent most of his career as a photographer with the United Nations. He certainly has a way with people and his work shows him to be a compassionate and skilled photographer who, in this book uses his incredible talent to reflect ordinary people going about their daily lives in a culture that seems even more remote than the beautiful place in which they live.

I've never been to Kashmir yet I feel as if I have because John Isaac has captured the spirit of Kashmir in his photographs. Although all the images moved me, some of my favorite images are the daily pre-dawn flotilla meeting of produce vendors, the natural-light portrait of a father holding his newborn son, a student's-eye view of a small middle school, people at prayer and especially the dreamlike quality of a house engulfed by fog on an Island in the early morning. All of the images in this book make me feel like I'm viewing beautifully produced versions of personal photo-albums belonging to people I've actually met in a place that's vaguely familiar - in time long ago.

This is a book that's definitely worth owning - and buying as a gift for those who enjoy seeing the world in which we live and the diverse people who inhabit it.

Kashmir is one of the few places in the world where life has not changed a great deal since the middle ages. Photographer John Isaac made repeated, extended trips there over the course of a few years, and his genuine warmth for the people and landscape shine through in his luminous images. Rather than focusing on the political tensions that have recently brought violence to this disputed region, Isaac instead shows the beauty of the land and its kind, resilient people -- Muslims, Hindus, Sufis and Buddhists -- whose long history of tolerance and harmony is often forgotten.

A former U.N. photographer, Isaac has an intense curiosity about, and empathy for, the people he photographs. He investigates every aspect of life in Kashmir, from the floating gardens of Dal Lake to the annual saffron harvest. There are many stunning images here, but there are also quieter images of daily life in a place free of fast food joints, designer clothes and iPhones. We see fishermen rising early to cast their nets, craftsmen making richly-detailed rugs and shawls, and families preparing simple meals. It may be a cliche to say so, but the bottom line seems to be that these people are materially poor and spiritually rich.

In the book's introduction, Isaac says that whenever he told Kashmiris he was working on a book, they asked him not to focus on the problems between India and Pakistan, but instead to depict Kashmir's beauty. Isaac has more than fulfilled that mandate, and anyone who sees this lovely book will surely emerge with an ardent desire for peace, here and elsewhere.

This book is one of the true fine photography books published. The paper and inks used are far higher quality than those mass produced in China. As you may know, publishers only do that for the best of the best artists - maybe one in a thousand.

The book spans landscape to intimate portrait photography. There is a short series of a father and son within the book that is so emotional that one can feel the love between them. Each of his photographs draws the viewer in until one feels no longer apart but entangled within the setting.

During a talk that I attended, he told how he spent weeks getting to know small groups and specific families until he became part of the backdrop and his picture taking was welcomed. One of his photographs won a $25,000 contract. Although he had already paid generously ($20) for the photograph and gotten written permission from the subject, he returned to India and found the family again. When he discovered the holy man who had been the subject was ill, he paid all his medical bills and gave money to his son for future care. Listening to him, I realized that he doesn't just photograph people but uses his photography to show his love for them.

If you would like to see two galleries of his photos and the long list of awards that include an international lifetime achievement award, check out his website at [...] .

I hope one day that I can take photographs that have the same power and depth as his does.

These days when you hear about Kashmir you only hear the negative. John Isaac shows you the real Kashmir - the beauty of the region, the amazing scenery and the peaceful people. This book offers you a glimpse of life in a place few of us get to experience. Beware these photos may have you scheduling a trip to India.

I recently met John in Austin TX. What a treat! He explained how and why he created the book. One story that he told me was how he spent weeks getting to know people and was then allowed to photograph them. John's photos have effected foreign policy and the fate of thousands of people.

Well composed photos and wonderful use of color makes this book something special in my library and a book that I will cherish for years.

The Vale of Kashmir by John Isaac is by far the finest book I've seen to date on the magical state of Kashmir. John's photos and text demonstrate how passionate he is about the revealing the beauty of Kashmir and it's people. He concentrates, not on the political issues of the day but on the true and lasting beauty of Kashmir, its scenery, people and culture. Each of his incredible photographs shows this splendor not only in the breathtaking quality of the photo itself but in how he reaches to the very soul of the Kashmiri people and the land in which they live. One senses the kindness and compassion of the people through John's photos as well as being awed by his magnificent landscapes. By western standards Kashmir is a poor country although reading through The Vale of Kashmir one understands its great richness in culture and beauty, be it from friendly smiles, exquisite handicrafts or the magnificent landscapes. What John Isaac wants most to accomplish is a true understanding of this land and for people from around the world to visit and enjoy Kashmir in all it's grandeur. Read and Enjoy!

Among John Isaac's many, many gifts, perhaps the greatest one is that he sees the world through his very loving heart. Not only is he a fabulous story teller who can paint an experience vividly with words, but his stunning photographs make you stop and feel what he wants you to see.

I didn't want to put this book down; I wanted to savor it from cover to cover. Though many books clamor for a spot on the coffee table, this one gets the place of honor; in easy reach to study and enjoy.

A beautiful book and an important one; Kashmir must be returned to the world's attention in just this way.

A fabulous book of photography that captures the pristine grandeur of this little-known land. The photographs depict the breathtaking, often dreamlike, landscape. They also invite you to have an intimate look at local daily life; you feel as if invited into one of those rooms to share smiles and a cup of tea that warm your body and soul. The photographs collected here are sheer visual poetry, reflecting the deep affection this compassionate and sensitive photographer holds towards the people and the land of Kashmir.

A rare treasure to keep, and to share. The book had a profoundly calming effect on me.

From Moghul emperor Jahangir to rock star George Harrison, Kashmir has been declared a paradise on earth for centuries. Only in more recent history has it made negative news for the conflict fought over its territories by India and Pakistan.
In his photographs, John Isaac not only captures the breath-taking beauty of Kashmir but the peace-loving soul of its people--an everyday, intimate Kashmir removed from the media, a Kashmir he came to know well and love over the year he spent there to make this book. You are invited to rediscover the natural and human treasures of Kashmir!

The Vale is the part of the Kashmir region where China, India and Pakistan come together. The resulting confluence of ethnicity, culture and religion shows in the photos. The landscape is striking. Life is both picturesque and harsh. People look either old or young.

I appreciate that the author and publisher let the photos speak for themselves. There is a short introduction. The photos are tersely labeled.

The large format and the glossy paper bring out the beauty of the land, the people and their way of life. There is a good balance of landscape and people. People are shown at home, at work, at leisure and in their worship.

I have never met anyone from Kashmir; nor have I met anyone who has traveled there. Kashmir features in the news only as a place name where larger powers vie for control. I cannot name a political leader or any celebrity from Kashmir. These may be clues to the isolation of this area.

The photos are gorgeous and will certainly adorn any coffee table and engage readers and browsers.