Magnum Blog / Photo of the week: Pervez Musharraf

Photo of the week: Pervez Musharraf

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.

Bob Black

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

Martin Brink

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!

Conscience

He is the most dangerous and sick person in the world who can kill millions for his vested interests. Bravo his supporter Bush

herve

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....

peter

Interesting that Magnum would choose a picture of a military strongman as a picture of the week.

cfimages

Love the lighting. Great photo of a scary man.

robert

good on you Alex Majoli // always excellent work

Doug Ford

Perfunctory
Interior decorator’s lighting is effective.

John Vink

Or is it Alex's strobes?

Jenna

Preved dyatlam!

tom hyde

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)

Vikrant Kumar

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

tom hyde

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.

guyvan

J'aime beaucoup la lumière

Jenny Maria

The green and the yellow, the portrait at the back – he is enclosed…

Estrella

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.

Kevin Leonardo

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.

sayoga

its really great portrait. can i know how you make this great picture??

hayat

one of the greatest i,ve ever seen. Go mr president musharraf, we all pakistanis love u. may Allah bless and Pakistan even after ur resignation. i will inshaALLAH reinstate u.