Book review

MYSTERIES OF THE DESERT

Long ago, deserts represented a true challenge for photographers. Since it is an abstract landscape, such photos almost provoke metaphysical feeling of infinity, mystic and unreachable.

People who live today in that area, inherited nomadic, bedouin culture, which as frozen in time, expresses the essence of human existence. A man who lives in such surrounding is more sincere, towards himself, nature and God. He doesn’t want to rule the space that surrounds him, but to fit in it. By looking at the photos of Isabel Cutler, unavoidably, we get a desire to escape, even temporarily from the chaos of large cities as to merge with nature, although it is a desert ambiance full of challenges. Yet, the lady author didn’t wish to present desert as the spot of danger, but as the sanctuary of spirit of the people who live there. The photos express beauty of the unspoild landscape, retaining in themselves that nuance of the romantic enthusiasm which invites to imagining.

For Isabel Cutler, desert is the place in which we should enjoy. The additional value of her photos is expressive etnologic dimension which shows a man from desert. Traditional costumes, nomadic gatherings and the unavoidable herds of camels point out an unbroken life, distanced and safe from the polution of the urbane jungles. On the lady author’s photos, we see happy people, smiled faces and content lives. There, people are what they are, or what they should be, a part of nature.

Therefore, the book of photographs Mysteries of the desert, emphasizes what is forgotten, but in itself fascinating and aesthetically impressive.

All in all, this book is an adventure worthy going through.

The rest of the article you can read in the magazine.