Usually the Magnum Blog shouldn't be about shameless self promotion, it should offer an added value to our readers. Today however, I chose to use our blog for self promotion. Not shameless because I'd like to offer an added value or two.
First of all I'd like to introduce a book to you that was already published in 2001. Many books got lost in the deepness of a publishers warehouse and were recently found again. Secondly I'd like to offer a 25% discount on the books price in the Magnum Store to the first three blog readers who order a signed copy of it. But more on that later.
About two years ago I was lucky to be part of the process when an outstanding multimedia essay about Paul Fusco's body of work "Chernobyl Legacy" was produced at Magnum In Motion. In my humble opinion it's still one of the best, if not the best, Magnum In Motion essay that was produced. A powerful and subtle story, shown by mixing photographs, the photographers voice and diagrams and charts to transport factual information.
The essay was published right in time for the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster and was picked up by a huge number of websites and blogs. Within the first week about a million people saw the essay. Tons of e-mails started to come in expressing deep sympathy with the people shown in the story, e-mails of people who wanted to donate. One of the e-mails that haunt me until today came from a mother who offered to donate all her son's birthday presents to send them off to Belarus. Her son's birthday however was only to come up in about two weeks time...
Screenshot from the Magnum In Motion essay "Chernobyl Legacy" by Paul Fusco
If you haven't watched Paul Fusco's Chernobyl Legacy essay you should do so right away, and if you watched it already go ahead and watch it again. It's a moving and sensitive documentation of history. Certainly not suited for the fainthearted but therefore even more important to understand what happened and what's still happening.
The Book
"Chernobyl Legacy" is a 228 pages book published by the New York based multidisciplinary design firm de.Mo in 2001 and was designed by Giorgio Baravalle. The book is an amazing testimonial, a book showing extraordinary photography, incredibly well designed, it's a storytelling book.
Former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, wrote in the book's foreword "The most vulnerable victims of Chernobyl were, in fact, young children or unborn babies at the moment when the reactor exploded. Their adulthood - now fast approaching - is likely to be blighted by that moment, as their childhood has been. Many will die prematurely. Are we to let them live, and die, believing the world indifferent to their plight?
We must not, and that is why this book, which movingly illustrates the Chernobyl Legacy, is so important."
Actor Michael Douglas writes "Chernobyl Legacy gives voice. Its content moves, educates and shows us why we must all become responsible to insure that what happened to Chernobyl never happens again."
I couldn't agree more with both of them. This book is one of my most favourite photography books. It's definetly not a book that you'll have fun looking at, it's not a book to quickly flip through and it's not a book to amuse your friends with. But it's a book about an important event of history, it's a deeply human book and a book that will and should start discussions. A book by a photographer that I always experienced as an extremely generous, mindful, open and helpful man. Thank you Paul Fusco!
The Discount
And as promised in the beginning we are offering a 25% discount on the books price from the Magnum Store for the first three readers who order the book. With the discount you only pay $ 112,50 instead of $ 150 plus shipping for a signed copy of "Chernobyl Legacy" by Paul Fusco. If you want to order and hope for the discount please send me an e-mail. If you are one of the first three you'll get a coupon code from us that you need to use in order to receive the discount. If you do not use this code we can not give a discount anymore once the ordering process is completed.
If you are not one of the first three to order don't worry, we'll have similar special offers for signed books again in the future.
I remember seeing this book at a friends house when I first started becoming very interested in documentary photography. It is the only book that has ever truely given me nightmares and effected me deeply. Of all the books I have ever seen I think the Chernobyl Legacy made me think the most - not only about the horrors of the meltdown and its consequences, but also the way in which such power for potential destuction of humanity and the world is often in the hands of a only a select few people. I think Paul Fusco's book is a testament to age in which we live. I look forward to receiving a copy (I've been looking for it for several years!)
I viewed the Chernobyl Legacy essay on Magnum in Motion when it first posted and thought it was great. Several years ago In Seattle, we were even luckier because Paul was here to lead a weekend workshop. Paul gave a slide presentation of his work the night before the workshop to an audience of about 150 people. A major portion of the slide show was his work at Chernobyl. Seeing the images projected on the big screen was very emotional, and Paul's narration and commentary added to the impact of the imagery. We were mesmerized by what we saw. Thank you Paul for doing this work so we can all see and feel the human cost of this environmental and political catastrophe. I am really glad the book has finally gotten to see the light of day again. It is even more important now as our government actively renews interest in nuclear power as a salvation to a failed national energy policy, and as the nuclear power industry pumps money into the presidential contenders' coffers.
Yes, Paul Fuscos Chernobyl work is outstanding and the Magnum In Motion essay is just perfect. I would love to buy the book but currently it is not possible. But I saw it in a bookstore in Germany about two years ago. Funnily it was also signed but they wanted 200 Euros for it...
I will leave a very un-Bob Black like post: this one will be succinct! ;)
Paul's book is iconic, seminal and absolutely magisterial. I showed my son, then 13, the Magnum-in-Motion essay about Paul's work last year. My son, was born in Moscow, though lived in the shadow-breath of that vaporous and trecherous history.
As a photographer and father, i simply thank Paul for his extraordinary work on chernobyl.
This work is simply amazing. I have no words to describe its power, although if you have not yet seen it, I must urge you to stop whatever you are doing, go to Magnum in Motion, and watch it right this instant.
Das ist schreklich die kinder das tut wei kamman denen nicht helfen opariren chernobel ist armes land wie Russland wo ich her komme Esto Altai da gibt auch niks kein arbeit und fiel toier .
Access To Life
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Magnum Photos teamed up to produce a major photographic commission.
In Access To Life, eigth Magnum photographers portray thirty people in nine countries around the world before and four months after they began antiretroviral treatment for AIDS. Visit the Access To Life website
Usually the Magnum Blog shouldn't be about shameless self promotion, it should offer an added value to our readers. Today however, I chose to use our blog for self promotion. Not shameless because I'd like to offer an added value or two.
Reader comments (7)
I remember seeing this book at a friends house when I first started becoming very interested in documentary photography. It is the only book that has ever truely given me nightmares and effected me deeply. Of all the books I have ever seen I think the Chernobyl Legacy made me think the most - not only about the horrors of the meltdown and its consequences, but also the way in which such power for potential destuction of humanity and the world is often in the hands of a only a select few people. I think Paul Fusco's book is a testament to age in which we live. I look forward to receiving a copy (I've been looking for it for several years!)
Comment posted by Tim Veling on March 12, 2008
I viewed the Chernobyl Legacy essay on Magnum in Motion when it first posted and thought it was great. Several years ago In Seattle, we were even luckier because Paul was here to lead a weekend workshop. Paul gave a slide presentation of his work the night before the workshop to an audience of about 150 people. A major portion of the slide show was his work at Chernobyl. Seeing the images projected on the big screen was very emotional, and Paul's narration and commentary added to the impact of the imagery. We were mesmerized by what we saw. Thank you Paul for doing this work so we can all see and feel the human cost of this environmental and political catastrophe. I am really glad the book has finally gotten to see the light of day again. It is even more important now as our government actively renews interest in nuclear power as a salvation to a failed national energy policy, and as the nuclear power industry pumps money into the presidential contenders' coffers.
Comment posted by Bob Parker on March 12, 2008
Yes, Paul Fuscos Chernobyl work is outstanding and the Magnum In Motion essay is just perfect. I would love to buy the book but currently it is not possible. But I saw it in a bookstore in Germany about two years ago. Funnily it was also signed but they wanted 200 Euros for it...
Comment posted by Lea Kast on March 13, 2008
I will leave a very un-Bob Black like post: this one will be succinct! ;)
Paul's book is iconic, seminal and absolutely magisterial. I showed my son, then 13, the Magnum-in-Motion essay about Paul's work last year. My son, was born in Moscow, though lived in the shadow-breath of that vaporous and trecherous history.
As a photographer and father, i simply thank Paul for his extraordinary work on chernobyl.
bolshoi spasibo dorogoi nash.
Bob
Comment posted by Bob Black on March 13, 2008
Wasn't Magdelena Caris the second author/photographer on this book? She isn't worth even being mentioned? Wow!
Comment posted by Jeff Ladd on March 14, 2008
This work is simply amazing. I have no words to describe its power, although if you have not yet seen it, I must urge you to stop whatever you are doing, go to Magnum in Motion, and watch it right this instant.
Thank you Paul Fusco for doing this project...
Comment posted by Bill Reeves on March 16, 2008
Das ist schreklich die kinder das tut wei kamman denen nicht helfen opariren chernobel ist armes land wie Russland wo ich her komme Esto Altai da gibt auch niks kein arbeit und fiel toier .
Comment posted by Natalija Harig on April 1, 2008