A photographer’s photographer

Sam Abell’s book, ‘Sam Abell: The Photographic Life‘, is out of print but after reading the copy in my local library I tracked it down and bought a used one. It is that special.

I mentioned his work earlier when I reviewed his book Seeing Gardens. The Photographic Life, by contrast, is just that. An autobiography by a man who seemingly has done nothing but try and satisfy his fascination with the medium throughout his life, starting at a very early age.

This book is special. He relates how his father educated him in photography and how he risked his life time and again for a picture, not because he wanted to but because the drug of photography had him in its thrall. Later, as his father developed Alzheimer’s and could no longer recognize his son – what a cruel affliction this is – he still photographed him. It’s at once shocking and deeply moving.

In 1971, aged 20 and poor as a church mouse, I was desperately saving every last penny for my first Leica – an M3 that was to be my constant companion for 35 years when I finally bought it in 1973. Yet, when I saw this issue of Camera at the newsstand, savings were forgotten and my pennies deposited on the counter at W. H. Smith in Kensington because I simply had to have the picture on the cover. Yes, that cover, which haunts me to this day, was by Sam Abell and remains in my library. It also appears in this wonderful book.

Colinet, Newfoundland, April 1971

It’s one of his first color photographs and its appearance in this book brought back a flood of pleasant memories.

Did his work influence me?

Thomas Pindelski, Arizona, 1988. Leicaflex SL, 50mm Summicron-R

Thomas Pindelski, Burlingame, CA. July 6, 2009. Panasonic LX-100.

A very personal book by a very special photographer.

My used copy, through Amazon, was $84. Not a lot when it’s so important.