On Meeting Sebastiao Salgado

[johnbuckley]

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Last night, my wife and son and I had the wonderful opportunity to see Genesis, the forthcoming series of photographs that Sebastiao Salgado will premiere in April. The event was at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, and we were invited by Peter Fetterman, the great Los Angeles gallerist from whom we've bought some of Salgado's images. Salgado was delightful - warm, funny, very sweet in a way. And the photographs, to my eye, rank among the most amazing images ever taken.

 

Here's something I posted after meeting him. Forgive the photograph, please, as my X1 let me down :-)

 

On Meeting Sebastiao Salgado

[Guest WPalank]

Funny John. I was just visiting a patient of mine that owns a Photographic Gallery in San Francisco. He took me ot the back where he pulled this image out of the drawer:

mumble mumble: claudinegossett: Photo by Sebastião Salgado ...

 

If ever there was a time that I could adamantly proclaim that an image over a low resolution device like a computer monitor doesn't do the final image justice, this was surely one of them.

[Paul J]

When talking of "masters" or "greats" I find it difficult to compare any others to Salgado. The decisive moment, the composition, the preparation, the daring, the intent, the content and meaning, the technical exposure, developing and printing are all beyond impeccable.

 

There is nothing quite like standing in front of a Salgado print. The perfection is overwhelming and rather humbling.

[D&A]

John,

 

Thanks for your posting and well wrtten article regarding Genesis and your personal thoughts attenting the event at the Brazilian embassy. I've always been in awe of Sebastiao Salgado and his imagery, both from a technical and artistic viewpoint and was fortunate enough in the past to view a number of his works first hand. I both envy and can imagine the oppotunity you had (and to think I was up in D.C. this past week). The release of Genesis is definitely something to look forward to this spring.

 

Dave (D&A)

[johnbuckley]

William, Paul, Dave - thank you. Yes, seeing the man's prints gives you a much greater sense of his artistry than anything that you can see online. Genesis is going to have its premier in London in April, and there are shows in museums in Paris, Rome, Toronto, and Rio in the subsequent months. Taschen is publishing a book that I believe will have all 500 images in it. They are also publishing, for collectors, a book like the one they did some years ago for Helmut Newton, which will be huge, and hugely expensive. I think the non-collectors book will be in the $100 - $200 range, which as much as that is, is a bargain.

 

The slide show at the Brazilian Embassy was wonderful, and Salgado had told my wife, son, and me to be sure to sit in the back, which we did. He was concerned the projector wouldn't do the pictures justice, especially if one sat too close. But the projector was fine. The pictures really are breathtaking.

[D&A]

William, Paul, Dave - thank you. Yes, seeing the man's prints gives you a much greater sense of his artistry than anything that you can see online. Genesis is going to have its premier in London in April, and there are shows in museums in Paris, Rome, Toronto, and Rio in the subsequent months. Taschen is publishing a book that I believe will have all 500 images in it. They are also publishing, for collectors, a book like the one they did some years ago for Helmut Newton, which will be huge, and hugely expensive. I think the non-collectors book will be in the $100 - $200 range, which as much as that is, is a bargain.

 

The slide show at the Brazilian Embassy was wonderful, and Salgado had told my wife, son, and me to be sure to sit in the back, which we did. He was concerned the projector wouldn't do the pictures justice, especially if one sat too close. But the projector was fine. The pictures really are breathtaking.

 

John, was there any mention of a showing of some or all of the images from genesis here in the States, (or even in North America) possibly late in 2013 or sometimes thereaftere? I certainly hope so! Thanks!

 

Dave (D&A)

[johnbuckley]

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Dave - it is frustrating, but no. At least no plans that I know of for a US museum show in 2013.

[johnbuckley]

Oh, but yes to North America: Toronto.

[kdemas]

I had the pleasure of meeting Salgado a few years back in San Francisco, what a classy and intelligent gentleman. His work speaks for itself.

[D&A]

Oh, but yes to North America: Toronto.

 

Thanks John! I'm a bit surprised, no US showing in 2013, but maybe Toronto is a possiblility for me. Do you have some idea when it's scheduled to be there?

 

Dave (D&A)