HAITI: REFLECTIONS

Photographed by Daniel Kedar
Port-au-Prince: .
Shiboumba, S.A., 1999.

dkedar@shilboumba.comDaniel Kedar dkedar@shilboumba.com

Daniel Kedar's web page

Comments by Bob Corbett
March 2001

Some months ago some one wrote in asking about Daniel Kedar's book of photographs, Haiti Reflections. I've since acquired a copy and want to report that is filled with marvelous and uplifting images of Haiti.

It is a book without words and it needs none at all. Yet a message is revealed in the clusters of photos. The opening set is on the sea -- fisherman, boats, beach, the sea. Then we shift to very colorful carnival scenes. The third section is my favorite -- portraits of people, mostly just heads and the beauty and expressions of all Haiti are written in those few dozens photos. These are followed by a long section which feature children and young folks. The color and creativity of shots in this section is noteworthy.

A short section of the Citadel and other buildings and then natural wonders follow, soon blending toward human made things such as taptaps and market layout of fruits, vegetable and grains.

A hilarious section is next: things being carried on the head. Oh my, lots of good laughs in this marvelously shot group of over 2 dozen. A creative section follows of signs on buildings and walls, and the book ends with sorts of house parts and gingerbread houses.

The book is colorful, upbeat, well-conceived and brilliantly photographed. This is a Haiti to have on your coffee table. It won't educate one of the poverty or politics of Haiti. Nor will it bring moans of pity from those who are seeing Haiti for the first time. Rather, it will display a beauty and power of Haiti that has won the hearts of so many of us. A job well done.


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