Even when he arrived at "National Geographic" Magazine in the mid-1960's, Sam Abell had a style that was much more subtle than what most readers of the NGS Journal with the Yellow Kodak colored border with white filigree around the edges would imagine. Sam, like other NGS staff photographers was a good people and mood photographer and many of those who knew him would have expected him to go to work for "LOOK" magazine, but that publication disappeared and some of the other arty magazines such as "Holiday" were losing their photographic freshness.
This is definitely not a typical National Geographic Collection of photographs either. Yes the quality of the NGS is there, gorgeous print and super-saturated color quality, simple layout and quality printing in every respect, but otherwise the book most resembles a collection of paintings. When I looked at the beautiful fine arts photographs in this collection I couldn't help but notice the similarity of many of the images to what is displayed in many of the art galleries along nearby Newbury Street. So similar is some of the work that it could be hung in the same galleries and many viewers might assume that Abell's photographs were really paintings.
Sam Abell loves subtlety. Most of these pictures don't jump off the page and "wow" the viewers. Sometimes they simply slowly draw you into the scenes portrayed. Sometimes it takes a while to get the point and Sam always has a point. After decades of shooting for the NGS his personal tastes have naturally shifted from the stereotypical beautiful "National Geographic" image to more, personal, subtle images and patterns. His earliest photographs including the one of his father waiting a train station platform look so Art Deco in composition. Likewise for the surreal scene on page seven of a woman in a grey dress crossing and empty, sterile, futuristic looking grey concrete plaza. It too is Art Deco in style. More recent photographs don't emphasize the hard lines of a combination of Edward Hopper and Art Deco, and that's good. Like most world-class photographers whose style and interests change over time, that happens to most of the National Geographic staff photographers as well and Sam Able is a perfect example of that fact.
As I'm certain will be the case with other viewers and purchasers of this Fine Arts Photography Collection, there were many images that I loved, but there were many that I really didn't care for at all. The message that the photographer's eye sensed didn't transfer to me the viewer, although they probably did move other viewers. There are so few pictures showing any emotion. The biggest exception was the cowboy cradling his injured, fallen horse's head while waiting for medical help for his beloved steed. The photographer seems to prefer mechanical, machine-like patterns and pictures with hints of motion, form or color. In many cases the book's double-page spreads show two different views of the same subject matter. In addition to illustrating that more than one good photo exist within most situations, sometimes with a change in light, or simply examining a smaller detail of the over-all scene or the same scene taken in different weather or season such as "Two Views of Leo Tolstoy's Grave" shown on pages 190-191. It's very educational to see how a photographer such as Mr. Abell works a photographic situation looking for better, or at least different images within the over-all image.
The photographer's text is interesting, but doesn't always seem to add a lot of information to supplement the accompanying images. Mostly, the picture caption and/or accompanying text shows that the photographer takes his work very seriously even when he shoots pictures that are humorous like the dance class picture from the Farmington Country Club on page 35. Abell senses the unseen, unsaid and personal in his picture subjects. He attempts to bring that which is unseen to his viewers. Sometimes he gets the bear and sometimes the bear gets him.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
