Al Sol: Photographs from Mexico, Cameroon and Nicaragua (ISBN 0891011145)

A compassionate look at village life by a passionate photographer.:
"Stella Johnson's photographs are poems weighted with grace, dignity, and compassion." Constantine Manos Photography, the international language, can enrich our lives and open new worlds. This is the case with Stella Johnson's first book, Al Sol. Johnson has immersed herself in village life as both a passionate photographer and compassionate observer in Mexico, Nicaragua and Cameroon. Living with the people whom she photographs, she is able to cross the line to capture intimate moments. Working with a handheld Leica she is free to discover extraordinary moments in ordinary situations. Moments that allow us inside . . . children playing without toys . . . women preparing food and attending to life's daily chores...men fishing. Johnson demonstrates her skill at filling the frame and layering complex images: her use of light and shadow brings a classic luminosity to her images. Each image stands on its' own. Patience and a little bit of magic bring a sense of joy and wonder to daily village life. Her palette of human emotions is universal, reminding us of the importance of love, dignity and respect. The accompanying text expands the story: a preface by Constantine Manos; Johnson's writing and a conversation about the work with Gela Garcia and Gustavo Illades. The design by Michael Alpert is eloquent. Al Sol is a book that will engage the human spirit and grace any book collection.