I
have just finished reading the interview with Josef Koudelka. The
only Czech person to document the soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
and Prague in particular. A defining moment in his life and career.
A fitting point to introduce to you Apertures volume on their
collection of published conversations.
Like
many of you I am familiar with Josef Koudelka's images of this period
but do not know much, if anything, about the man behind the lens. Of
the sixty nine names that appear on the cover very few of them jump
off the page as people I have read about and know well. There are
some who I have heard of from others but a greater portion I have no
knowledge of at all.
I
read a very small review of this book in black and white photography
mag that peaked my interest and the fact that it was a collection of
interviews - a format that I have enjoyed reading in the past and
prefer to televised versions. To be able to kick back with a cup of
tea in a free moment and allow what is being discussed fully occupy
your attention is a great way to understand fully what is going on.
There
are no images in this book to distract you from what is being said. A
bold move by Aperture. I sometimes feel that when I'm reading
articles that are interspersed with pictures that they tend to take a
back seat to the point of not being noticed. I know this is true in
my case as I can revisit books and magazines and have no recollection
of the accompanying images it is as though I am coming to them again
for the first time.
I
have discovered I do not like pre views of anything. I like to have
an open mind on what is about to pass in front of my eyes and lodge
in my brain - a bit like life it's self! Likewise, this book has
introduced me to a lot of things and opinions I had not considered.
I have no doubt that at some point in my photograph making some of
the things I have read will show themselves in my images.
I
am methodical in the way I read -I start at the front and work
through. I am about two thirds through this five hundred odd page
book which gives you some idea of it's size - not an easy book to
stuff in your pocket to read on the train, bus or plane.
The
conversations vary in length, some more fascinating than others, all
based on visual expression. I am enjoying the odd moments of time I
have spent with this book this year. I will go as far as to say if
you are a photographer you should have a copy of this on your shelf
and if a person from Aperture reads this you should do an
companioning volume on all the images that went with the interviews.
