Marco Polo's adventures are so famous for its picture of Marco Polo going places that he had flown so compelling. So when I saw the book Marco Polo: A Photographer's Journey, I am very interested to read it. The thickness of the book is above average somewhat dampen my interest, but a great curiosity makes me excited. As its title suggests this book as thick as 503 pages compiled by a photographer. He is one of the many people who were inspired by Marco Polo. He is Michael Yamashita, National Geographic Magazine freelance photographer with an international reputation. Michael Yamashita moved to feel the adventure as experienced by Marco Polo. Together with his team, Michael Yamashita conducted an expedition.
The expedition aims to trail traces the journeys of Marco Polo. Flashback story is poured Michael Yamashita in this book. Michael Yamashita select photos to pour her story. It took four years to complete this book project. No wonder the result was very amazing. Hundreds of photographs tersajikan with each story. This book also comes with a historical record of the journeys of Marco Polo, written by Gianni Guadalupi a writer, translator, and editor of anthologies.
Michael Yamashita began his journey from Venice, which is the birthplace of Marco Polo. Marco Polo began his journey when he was 17 years old. When he traveled with his father, Niccolo and his uncle, Maffeo. They were the first Westerners to travel to the Silk Road to China and visited the Kublai Khan. Marco Polo and then record the journey in a book Il Milione. This is the book that raises its name. This book is also likely that inspired Michael Yamashita. From Venice, Michael continued his journey to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, along the Silk Road to China, and returned to Venice via Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. All the places he visited following the community and its culture immortalized by Michael Yamashita and his team.
The book opens with a foreword by Michael Yamashita tells the story behind the making of this book project. The next chapter describes the history of the story of Marco Polo, written by Gianni Guadalupi. Next Chapter I contains the history, adventure story from Venice, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan. In addition to containing photographs depicting the beauty of nature and life are diverse, this chapter also includes writings from Michael Yamashita.
In Chapter II, the adventures of Michael continued to China. Starting from the Pamir, Kashgar, Xanadu, Beijing, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Laos, Myanmar, Labrang, to the Tibetan Plateau. Chapter III peeling way home through which Marco Polo. Michael Marco Polo along the trail back through Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. Michael Yamashita and his team also visited Quanzhou, and Vietnam. This chapter is the most interesting chapters in my opinion because Indonesia is shown in this chapter. First Marco Polo also visited Indonesia and now Michael Yamashita had to stop in Indonesia. The island is served by Sumatra. Marco Polo first narrated the Batak people assume they cannibal eating a human body. However, through observation Michael Yamashita revealed that the assumption is wrong. From the writings of Michael can be concluded that the presumption arises because of the Batak people eat fish that vaguely resemble the hands of people. I photographed a platter of fish Whose contents looked vaguely like a human hand (p. 439). In this chapter also displayed photos of the wedding couple Batak (p. 437). From Indonesia, Michael left for Sri Lanka and then India and then back to Venice. In addition to photographs, this book also features maps depicting the route taken by Marco Polo as well as by Michael Yamashita and his team. This map helps the reader to trace the adventures of Michael.
Overall this book is photographing the facts of life from around the world. Silk pathways through which Marco Polo recorded neatly. The photographs are presented in addition to quality is also very appropriate decision Momennya. Michael Yamashita's journey along the Silk Road opened his chances to capture people in their daily lives. Kepiawiannya for storytelling through photos is a selling point of this book. Although containing hundreds of photographs, readers are guaranteed not to be bored. Photo after photo strung beautifully into the fabric of an exciting story to read. Of natural scenery, cultural events and daily life of society tersajikan with each story. With the view we are increasingly able to feel other cultures that exist around the world. Michael Yamashita's Through the photographs also invites us to realize the beauty of diversity. Not only do we find differences but also similarities between the various nations visited Michael. We are also invited to experience the adventure that was experienced by Marco Polo.
Reading this book seemed to get around the continent of Asia, we seemed to go adventuring with Michael Yamashita. Witnessing the beauty of nature, the uniqueness of the community, and the things that we had never seen before. But unfortunately some of the places visited by the majority in Asia so that we can not see life in another continent.
Some interesting photos include photos titled Ethnic Crossroads (p. 245) depicting people from different ethnic groups are conducting business transactions. Photo titled Asbestos (p. 281) depicting a worker who must breathe asbestos dust is hazardous. Then photographs portraying everyday life in Suzhou (p. 297), from this picture looks a traditional market in Suzhou is not much different from traditional markets in Indonesia. Photos depicting an old woman with a small foot in Yunnan (p. 326-327) is also interesting to observe. Yunnan in the past women have a habit of foot-binding in order to grow with small size. The habit is already banned but still practiced by the older generation of Yunnan. Then picture a group of monks who were praying in a snowstorm (p. 359) and photo thirsty monks who eat snow (p. 381), two photographs showing the human side of a monk. Photos on the next page titled The peep show was a pilgrim who perform religious rituals.
Photo titled A Thirst For Holiness (p. 391) shows Buddhists waiting dibagikannya water from wells Buddha. Next photo titled Holy Men (p. 455) displays an ascetic who reach 12 feet long hair. Photo titled Chennai (p. 477) shows an Indian woman was spreading manure around the house to repel insects in the area of Chennai. Photos on next page (478-479) showing an Indian woman is worshiping cows. In India, cows are considered sacred and worshiped as gods. The next photo emphasized the sanctity of cows in India, this photo shows a priest is being splashed milk curry mixes up the statue of Nandi (sacred bull) in Tanjore. No less interesting is the photo titled Mumbai (p. 486-487) which shows a Hindu hermit who for 50 years does not wear underwear as a form of divorce himself from the world-oriented material. The photos show a variety of unique human stories from various countries. Portrait of everyday life and the uniqueness of the community from different countries in addition to increasing knowledge also broaden our way of thinking. We are geared up to be able to accept each other's differences.
This book is perfect for those who have a hobby streets because it could be a reference to the places that can be visited. For readers who are also hobby streets but limited funds, this book is enough to treat your disappointment. At least you can feel his experience, though not directly. Reading this book provides its own pleasure that makes you addicted to reading it repeatedly. Like a cake, the sweetness makes you want to taste it constantly
Source: http://www.fotografer.net
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