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| Cover image taken on The Somme |
Charlie Waite is a renowned British photographer who has an
eye similar to Ernst Haas in the way that he perceives form and perspective.
This book is almost a collection of visual memoires; a
collection of his favourite images taken from numerous travels around the world
from Bolivia to Wiltshire. The book is laid out with text to support each image
on the left hand page with the image facing on the right. One of the few
exceptions is a double page spread image of Lake Titicaca, depicting the
crystal blue waters of the lake with the Andes rising behind.
The book follows a square format which I find generally very
pleasing, especially for the images that use perspective as it seems to enhance
this effect. The choice to use this format may also have arisen from the format
of his Hasselblad camera. There are other images taken in traditional portrait
or landscape format that punctuate the overall layout, and although these work
perfectly well, it’s still the square format that presents better.
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| Champagne, France |
The text forms an integral part of the book as its concept
is not merely to present a series of stunning landscapes, but to offer more about
the reason behind each image; the text embellishes the title itself and he
explains why each image is one of his 50 favourites; what struck Waite as being
the compulsion to shoot that place at the time he chose. His memories are also
included and he explains in the introduction how he first became enthralled
with photography after watching the developing process in the darkroom.
While most of the images contain some sort of majesty and
grandeur, it’s the simpler compositions that arrest my attention; the avenue of
trees in Champagne, the line of reeds taken Camargue, France, more reeds set
against an avenue of poplars at The Somme have a simplicity and beauty that I
love. At the time of writing this book review I can identify heavily with his
sense of appreciation for the simple lines and textures of rows of reeds and
this can be seen in my own photobook.
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| Camargue, France |
Waite’s journey through his 50 favourite photographs is an
inspiration, not only in the end result of a fine image, but also in the
opportunities and experiences of appreciating everything that comes with
photography; an appreciation of the weather, of textures, or people and places;
the large aspects and also the details that come together to make a memorable
image.
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| The Dordogne, France |
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