June 25, 2012
"The Light of London" Showcases City at Dawn and Dusk
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 4 MIN.
NEW YORK, NY - It was Samuel Johnson who wrote, "By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show."
"The Light of London," the sixth in the extraordinary photography collection shot by renowned photographer Jean-Michel Berts, captures the majestic city at twilight, picturing the natural beauty and medley of architecture that the global capital possesses.??
"The Light of London" is Assouline's newest title in "The Light of" series and a magnificent photographic homage to the city that will host the 2012 Olympic Games this summer.
As William FitzStephen wrote, circa 1180, "Among the noble cities of the world that Fame celebrates, the City of London of the Kingdom of the English, is the one seat that pours out its fame more widely, sends to farther lands its wealth and trade, lifts its head higher than the rest."
Expanding on Assouline's popular series, "The Light of London" showcases a new collection of evocative black-and-white images by Jean-Michel Berts.
In the twilight of dawn and dusk, when the stately avenues and gritty side streets are empty and silent, London's smorgasbord of architecture, both medieval and modern, can be seen with new eyes.
Jean-Michel Berts' camera obscura exposes the unique character of this majestic city when the bustle of the global capital is stilled.
Jean-Michel Berts has been a photographer since age sixteen. With his first Rolleiflex camera he became sensitive to the effects of light. Today Berts enjoys an international reputation and exhibits his work at galleries in Berlin, Paris, London, New York, and Tokyo.
In addition to "The Light of Paris," "The Light of New York," "The Light of Tokyo," "The Light of Istanbul," and "The Light of Venice" for Assouline, Berts has also worked on advertising campaigns for luxury brands such as Cacharel, Dior, Jaquet Droz, Lanc�me, Herm�s, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Today Berts enjoys an international reputation and exhibits his work at numerous art fairs around Europe. His photographs can be seen on his Web site: http://web.me.com/jeanmichelberts
John Julius Norwich is the author of histories on the Republic of Venice, the Byzantine Empire, the Mediterranean Sea, and most recently, the Popes. He has also written on architecture, music, and the history plays of Shakespeare, and has presented some thirty television documentaries on the BBC. Lord Norwich is also a regular lecturer on history, art history, architecture, and music.
The Light of London is available for purchase at ASSOULINE boutiques worldwide and through www.assouline.com?
DETAILS:
"The Light of London"
Photographs by Jean-Michel Berts?
Text by John Julius Norwich
10 1/2 x 13" / 27 x 33.5 cm - 132 pages - hardcover with jacket
ISBN: 978-1-61428-042-2
$65 - �45 - �38
Direct link to product page: http://www.assouline.com/9781614280422.html
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A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.