Photo Nomad

Photojournalism reached its peak in the years immediately following the Second World War. These were the years when Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, David Seymour, Ernst Haas and Werner Bischoff wandered the world taking photos for the Magnum Photo Agency. David Douglas Duncan was one of their contemporaries. Instead of taking photos for the more glamorous Magnum, he worked for Life Magazine. Interestingly, his reputation is not as great as the Magnum photographers. One has to wonder whether it was his talent or the place he worked for that caused him to be consigned to the role of a lesser master of Twentieth Century photography. "Photo Nomad" is a collection of Duncan's work from the late 1930's to the late 1970's. Duncan like his peers was everywhere during this time period. If something important was happening in the world, Duncan was there taking photographs. His photographs of the Korean and Vietnam Wars are especially powerful. However, if he will be remembered for any images, it will be for his wonderful photographs of Pablo Picasso. "Photo Nomad" is as much a history book as it is a collection of first rate photographs. Highly recommended.

Great photo history of the wars and their effect on our country. A good book for young audience viewing.

David Douglas Duncan LIVED the twentieth century. The wars, the celebrations and celebrities, the places and times--HE WAS THERE, and he captured it on film. As page twenty-four introduces, "My 20th Century". Photo Nomad is a photographic autobiography of his life, a life of such far-reaching adventures, experiences, and travels that is almost impossible to fully comprehend. In a time when most photo books have the lifespan of the latest pop song, this book is an epic. Beautifully printed in Italy, it is a quality volume that will last many lifetimes and provide endless inspiration.

About ten years ago, when I was about 30, I kept running into this book called "Yankee Nomad" at used bookstores. It was a book published in 1966 and it contained some incredible photographs. I finally found a copy which was in perfect condition for a reasonable price and I bought it.And I actually found myself reading it from cover to cover. My initial attraction was based on my love of photography. But I soon discovered that the book appealed even more to my love of travel. David Douglas Duncan was a photojournalist who roamed the world for various major magazines (Life, National Geographic, etc.) for several decades (five or six!) on assignment covering some of the most significant events of the 20th century. I do not exaggerate when I say this man's life makes Hemingway's pale by comparison. The variety of places, people, events and dramas which this man photographed is staggering.This book, "Photo Nomad" seems to be an updated and revised verion of "Yankee Nomad." It includes the next three decades of DDD's life as well as the photography going back to the late 1930's covered in "Yankee Nomad." There is some overlap of photos, but the new stuff is so good and of sufficient quantity that it is definitely worth having even if you happen to have (or want) "Yankee Nomad."It is the DIVERSITY of images and places which I find most appealing. A sampling: The south Pacific in WWII; North Korea; treasures of the Kremlin; Palestine; Afgahnistan; the High Atlas mountains of Morocco; giant squid fishing off the coast of South America; Egypt; and, as quite an enhancement, many photos of Picasso at work (DDD and Picasso became close friends and were mutual admirers). I also loved a series of photos of classic 1950's Mercedes which were raced by DDD at high speed in beautiful European settings and photographed at slow shutter speeds so DDD could capture "the spirit" of the car as it whizzed by leaving a trail of light. I've always been a Robert Capa admirer, but DDD has war photos which are just as good and then a vast variety of other images. His life has been a montage of powerful images and events. I just wish I'd read (or just looked at the photos) of his books 20 years ago, as I'm sure I would have altered my career choices based on what I learned about this man's career.This book is very well produced in cloth-covered hardbound. There is a moving little photo story of DDD's small doggy which apparently was recently taken when his car was stolen and which DDD responded to by utilizing his media friends to mount a massive publicity campaign to recover (successfully, for ransom money). DDD is apparently still alive and well and living in France.My short list of Magnificent 20th Century Lives would include DDD in the TOP FIVE. This book explains why. If you are into travel, photography, adventure, history, geography, or humanity, you will LOVE this book and you will feel great affection for its creator.