Four and Twenty Photographs: Stories from Behind the Lens

Craig Varjabedian is one of the West's most eloquent photographers. In his sixth publication, Varjabedian shares his favorite photographs and the stories behind them. Landscapes, architecture, and people are magically revealed through his images as readers gain insight into his creative process. The strength of these four and twenty photographs is not only in their beauty but also in the relationship between photographer and subject--a relationship that goes far beyond the visual.

This picture transcends a portrait of a cowboy and horse; it presents a moment of trust and affection. I see love, respect, familiarity, trust--all these emotions mutually between a horse and a man. However, the reality presented in a photograph is sometimes different from the reality of the subjects themselves.--from Four and Twenty Photographs

Varjabedian's finely detailed photographs range from the magnificent landscapes of the Southwest, to intimate portraits and luminous places. Whimsical, solemn, enlightening--the narratives expand upon the photographs, so that you view the pictures with another level of meaning, the imagination behind the image. Varjabedian elaborates on his recognition of the decisive moment--the moment a subject reveals its authentic self to the photographer.

The remarkable photographs by Craig Varjabedian are not only beautiful but also extremely valuable documents of architecture, culture, and lifestyle. . . .--Beaumont Newhall, photographic historian and author of History of Photography