Photo of the week: Pervez Musharraf
Martin Fuchs
Pakistan. 2008. Pervez MUSHARRAF, the current President of Pakistan, and former Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army. © Alex Majoli/Magnum Photos
Pervez Musharraf came to power on October 12, 1999, ousting Nawaz Sharif, the elected Prime Minister, dismissed the national and provincial legislative assemblies, assumed the title of Chief Executive and became Pakistan's de facto head of government, thereby becoming the fourth Army chief of Pakistan to have assumed executive control. Since then, he has been actively supported by western countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. Later in 2001, Musharraf appointed himself to the office of President of Pakistan.
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Authors:
Alec Soth, Ann Tornkvist, Ben Shneiderman, Bjarke Myrthu, Bruce Davidson, Bruce Gilden, Chien-Chi Chang, Chris Steele-Perkins, Claudia Guadarrama, Claudine Boeglin, Constantine Manos, Daniel Power, Elliott Erwitt, Frank Smyth, Geert Van Kesteren, Inge Bondi, Jörg M. Colberg, Jessica Dimmock, John Vink, Jonas Bendiksen, Magnum Photos, Malaria No More, Martin Fuchs, Martin Parr, Martine Franck, Matthew Murphy, Meagan Young, Pablo Inirio, Paolo Pellegrin, Patrick Zachmann, Peter Marlow, Pia Frankenberg, Reiner Holzemer, Simon Wheatley, Stephen Bulger, Stuart Franklin, Artprice.com, |
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Reader comments (18)
love this triumvarite of lighting:
the amber light-halo from the painting/portait behind Musharraf, the amber light-halo radiant around the lamp/phone and the whitelight around the flag.....ghosts everywhere in this photograph....like picture of dorian gray.....he appears placid (almost dignified: paradoxically presidential).......
and yet the picture is haunted by death and sadness...
strong pic....(love with the other TV pics too)....
cheers
b
Comment posted by Bob Black on February 21, 2008
Good picture.
Is Alex still using compact digicams? looks like 4/3 format to me so maybe either a compact digicam or a 4/3 DSLR. I use compact digicams a lot and they give a huga freedom and are excellent street cams. Thanks for the inspiration Alex!
Comment posted by Martin Brink on February 21, 2008
He is the most dangerous and sick person in the world who can kill millions for his vested interests. Bravo his supporter Bush
Comment posted by Conscience on February 21, 2008
Very interesting quote about the ghosts, Bob. There is a feeling in this picture that such ghosts would not be so much be skeletons from his closet, but rather as if waiting in the shadows to fall upon him, ifonly haunting his thoughts. He simply looks vulnerable, almost as a child would in the dark, turning their back to the ominous..
PS: I wonder if Trotsky was sitting exactly like that, when the ice pick struck down....
Comment posted by herve on February 21, 2008
Interesting that Magnum would choose a picture of a military strongman as a picture of the week.
Comment posted by peter on February 23, 2008
Love the lighting. Great photo of a scary man.
Comment posted by cfimages on February 23, 2008
good on you Alex Majoli // always excellent work
Comment posted by robert on February 24, 2008
Perfunctory
Interior decorator’s lighting is effective.
Comment posted by Doug Ford on February 24, 2008
Or is it Alex's strobes?
Comment posted by John Vink on February 25, 2008
Preved dyatlam!
Comment posted by Jenna on February 25, 2008
I'm always intrigued with how a photo like this, in such a high-power situation, is made. Who else is standing in the room? How much time the photographer had to make this image ... what did it take to get such an audience ... the interaction between the president and the photographer ... lighting, if any, used ... is this even a little "staged." The awkward questions ... "Excuse me Mr. President, do you mind if I turn on this lamp?"
There is so much order and calm here ... so strange really in context. Separated, oblivious? And what is the historical significance of the man in the portrait seemingly looking right at the camera and how does this relate to Pakistan today? (and I feel I should probably know this but it would also seem pertinent information for the legend)
Comment posted by tom hyde on February 26, 2008
This is brilliant! With the elections just concluded in Pakistan this makes a perfect choice.
The portrait of Jinnah overlooking the scene adds so much poignancy to this photograph.
Hopefully the promise of democracy will last this time in Pakistan.
Vikrant
Comment posted by Vikrant Kumar on February 26, 2008
Answered my own question about the portrait. It is of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, whose death on Sept. 11, 1948, only one year after the birth of Pakistan as a nation, arguably left unanswered questions regarding governance, identity and direction that remain 60 years later. What a wonderful photo.
Comment posted by tom hyde on February 26, 2008
J'aime beaucoup la lumière
Comment posted by guyvan on February 28, 2008
The green and the yellow, the portrait at the back – he is enclosed…
Comment posted by Jenny Maria on February 29, 2008
Esa atmósfera es tan inquietante y perturbadora ... Excelente foto.
This atmosphere is so worrying and disturbing... Excellent photo.
Cette atmosphère est si inquiétante et perturbatrice... Une photo excellente.
Comment posted by Estrella on March 19, 2008
It's a great photo, I would like to know, as tom hyde said, how this photo was taken. I would like to know about the conversatios between Alex and Musharraf before and after the shot, who decided that kind of lighting and every little detail on the set. It's always interesting for me as a begginer, knowing how could Alex told Musharraf to let him take this marvelous picture.
Greetings from Venezuela.
Kevin.
Comment posted by Kevin Leonardo on April 1, 2008
its really great portrait. can i know how you make this great picture??
Comment posted by sayoga on April 6, 2008