William Albert Allard: Five Decades

It is difficult to overrate this book. Among retrospectives, it is rare for the photographer and writer to be the same person. But Allard is one of those rare creative artists who are gifted not just in the field for which they are best known, but in other artistic competencies - skilled writing, visual design, and musicianship.This is a very sensitive, human book. Its beauty in writing and images goes well without saying. Nothing less would be expected anyway.This book summarizes until the last few chapters all of the stories we fans have awaited and enjoyed in National Geographic and in his books over the decades. The last too few chapters show some of his personal take. Would that there could have been more of these, of images that none of us has seen before.Allard is one of my top five personal photographic heroes. First has always been Ernst Haas, second Eliot Porter, and tying for third Allard, Cartier-Bresson, and, well, I have trouble deciding on this one. He has my vote for the best photojournalist/essayist since W Eugene Smith. His work is seldom a collection of hit-and-move on images. Most of his articles and single subject books are visual and written stories where it is so obvious that he, as the photographer, has the trust, acceptance, and liking of the subjects in the image. The people in his images are not just geometrical and color visual elements, but are conveyors of the images' feel and story.So many of his images over the years have bored into my mind as visual archetypes of certain human situations - probably more than any other favorite photographer of the human condition. While he gets and publishes once in a great while some shocking, gruesome content, what I remember more about his images is how many I'd love to have in our home. There is a gentleness and love of humanity that comes through in most of his images and in all of his stories. Few photographers achieve that quality. But when there is something to show of the dark side, he achieves the impact without the abrasiveness and breath-stopping qualities of some who specialize in the most down-and-out aspects of life.He admits in his interviews that he lacks the analytical vocabulary to describe and evaluate the architecture of his images in analytical/technical terms. Many photographers I know are that way. But when he says "I see in color," it brings to mind people with cross sensory brain architecture who perceive across different stimuli in the sense of, say, Kandinski, who when hearing music, saw colors and shapes in his mind's eye. Others hear music according to what they are seeing. I think Allard is of that ilk, where the visual, written/verbal, and musical are all happening simultaneously inside his head. To get the images he does, it seems to me that something like that must be going on. This is purely speculation, but, d---, he is good.If any reader of this review gets the chance to take one of his workshops, don't miss it. I had that privilege several years ago. I didn't shoot much that week, but I certainly enjoyed and was often awed by the work that the others came up with. After finally getting some time for him to look at some of my work, he made my entire photographic career, such as it is not, saying, "You use the frame well." It only took me twenty some years to get to that point.I hope there are more books to come. One I'd like would be just his unpublished and personal work. Allard came up in the 1960s and `70s when it was still possible for us of the Post-War Baby Boom Generation to find a handful of photographers to latch onto and follow through their careers. Now there are so many, I don't have a sense of whom I'd choose from among the younger crowd to call a favorite. But there is no question about my top five, and Allard is one of them.

The book was recommended during my pandemic reading. Something to keep me inspired and motivated. His years of National Geographic experience did just that it motivated and inspired me to shoot a little differently.

Oh, what a lovely book! I'm a big fan of William Albert Allards photography and is very happy with my purchase.

Bill Allard has influenced generations of photographers through his work in the National Geographic and this books shows why. He is a master of light and color and these images promise the passionate photographer a real treat for the eyes. Repeated viewing of these images and especially the insight he provides in his essays offers an advanced degree on what's involved in making a beautiful and impactful image. I own every monograph that he has released, but this is a true gem, a great testament to a fantastic career.

A most interesting book encompassing Five Decades of Allard's life with great photographs and background stories to match.An interesting side note is that the press runs of the book may be uneven as the photographs in my copy were perfectly reproduced while the photographs in a friend of mine's copy were a bit on the darker side, taking away from some of their nuance and appeal. A book worth having!

This man is my artistic and literary hero - and I'm a 43-year master photographer. Allard's approach, and his articulate recount of who, what, where, when and why is the bible for any photojournalist. His book "The Photographic Essay" has more of his philosophy, and has been my text for teaching students how to hone their craft. "Five Decades" is a lovely picture book to which I go frequently for thought and inspiration.

I met Mr. Allard several years ago, so to have a book of his work and to see all the different places he has covered is extra special.

Wow, what a wonderful tribute to a great photographic career. Allard's story is the history of the National Geographic since the 1960's. He and his youngcolleagues (Sam Abell, David Alan Harvey, Jodi Cobb and many others) transformed the way we look at color photojournalism. If you are only going to buyone book this year, make sure it's Allard's "Five Decades."

Excellent book and excellent quality print. Great large size.

I liked William's work, it's truly artistic and inspirational. It states that the book is published in 2010, I got mine freshly printed from China. It's a poor quality print, dull and greyish colours. I had to return it since I couldn't really enjoy it.

This is a nicely produced book containing a wide range of the subjects the photographer has covered including the cover image which was on the front of the first issue of National Geographic I ever bought. Bill's introduction to each chapter is fascinating in itself and really adds to the value.

I have long admired Allard's photography on the pages of National Geographic Magazine. I like this retrospective because it not only reproduces so many images that had been quite familiar to me over the years but also others I'd not seen before. The pictures are thoughtfully arranged in chapters with Allard's thoughts and reflections at the beginning of each chapter. He is also a writer, which is something I'd not fully appreciated before. The texts does a great job of giving authentic insights into his ways of working and also to how he feels about the human condition.

William Albert Allard's first assignments appeared in National Geographic when he was an intern at the magazine, in the mid-60's. More than forty years later, the art, science and profession of photojournalism has changed beyond all recognition. But, even though we're up to our eyes in images (thanks to the digital revolution) Allard's pictures stand out for their inimitable and timeless qualities. His early work went to print before I was even born. Thank goodness for this retrospective! I can't recommend it highly enough.