Stay This Moment: The Photographs of Sam Abell
Abell has been a National Geographic photographer for 20 years; Robert E. Gilka, who wrote the introduction, is the former director of photography there. The publication of this book coincides with Abell's retrospective exhibit at the International Center for Photography in New York City. Taken during assignments in Newfoundland, Japan, Russia, Montana, and the Galapagos Islands on subjects as diverse as canoeing, gardens, and the Shakers (in Maine, Massachusetts, and Kentucky), every one of these exquisite 35mm images is memorable. The same high quality extends to Abell's unaffected, lively essay. As Gilka observes, Abell has found the ideal compromise between art and journalism. His quietly elegant photographs evoke rather than explain. One unforgettable image shows pears ripening on the sill of a lace-curtained window in Moscow, with the Kremlin visible beyond. Photos are captioned with title, place, and year; Abell's notes about particular images are included in the back matter. This is highly recommended for photography collections.- Kathleen Collins, Great Barrington, Mass.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.