I recently received a review copy of Mothers and Children by National Geographic. It is a wonderful small book full of pictures of mothers with their children from all over the world. The contributors include Annie Griffiths Belt, Sam Abell, Jodi Cobb, Joel Sartore, and more (see my earlier interview Sam Abell Talks about Photography and Life and my review - The Life of a Photographer – Sam Abell). The book contains 120 pages with 100 beautiful photographs.
The book is divided in four sections: the north, the south, the east, and the west. These refer to parts of the globe rather than a country. I like the Jewish proverb quoted, “God could not be everywhere so he created mothers.” The diversity of people and dress is striking but the common qualities of the mother-child relationship come through. There are mothers and daughters of all ages.
Not surprisingly, I especially liked the total context and qualities in Sam Abel’s picture of a mother and three children in Northwest Australia. A. W. Cullers’ beach shot in Wales is a picture I could look at for a long time and continue to see new things. Gordon Gahan’s shot of mother and newborn finger play in Rostock Germany captures some of the joy and wonder of that moment in life.
There is an introduction from mother and writer Lynne Perri and three lyrical essays, co-written by Craig Wilson, about work, play, and life at home are sandwiched between the four sections. They have their own illustrations. This is the perfect Mother’s Day gift but one that does not lose its relevancy year round. I hope they now do a Fathers and Children book.
Comments