VISIONARY PHOTOGRAPHER JOHN ISAAC
Binney & Smith Gallery
April 26-June 29

During his three decades as an official United Nations photojournalist and nature photographer, John Isaac has seen the good, the bad and the beautiful in the world. His work has taken him to some of the most spectacular and some of the most desolate places on Earth, from drought and famine-ravaged Ethiopia and the war-torn Middle East, to the majestic peaks of Kashmir and the untamed wilderness of Alaska.

“Visionary Photographer John Isaac: Reflections of My Journey” features 30 photographs chronicling Isaac’s two decades as an award-winning photojournalist with the UN and 10 years as a nature photographer. Also included in the show, which is sponsored by Olympus, is a selection of images from his new book, “The Vale of Kashmir,” which will be published by W.W. Norton in fall 2008.

While touching on all periods of Isaac’s career, the exhibit accentuates his current nature and wildlife images, the majority of which have been taken using Olympus digital cameras as part of the Olympus Visionary Program, of which Isaac is a founding member.

“I just want people to be a little bit aware of what is going on today in the world,” Isaac says. “I know that we see in the news the atrocities that are happening all over. At the same time, when you look at it, we tend to forget about the beauty that is surrounding all of us.”

Born in Trichy, India, in 1943, Isaac graduated from Madras University in Chennai, India, and eventually made his way to the United States with only 75 cents in his pocket. Pursuing his dream of being a musician, he played his guitar in the bars and clubs of Greenwich Village until a chance meeting with a UN worker landed him a tryout with the United Nations International Choir and eventually a job with the UN.

After working his way from the UN darkroom to the photography staff, Isaac began traveling the globe covering international conflicts, famine and genocide. During his 20 years as a UN photographer, he visited more than 100 countries, documenting world crises such as the Cambodian Killing Fields, the war in Lebanon, the invasion of Afghanistan, the Iran-Iraq War, the famine in Ethiopia, the genocide in Rwanda and the war in Bosnia.

Throughout his career, Isaac earned numerous awards and honors for his work, including Picture of the Year from the Missouri School of Journalism, Best Photograph of the Year from Graphis Magazine, Professional Photographer of the Year from the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Photographic Council. In addition, he authored many books and served as an official “History Tour” photographer for Michael Jackson.

“John Isaac is a photographer’s photographer. His professional pedigree as the former official United Nations photographer has given him the rare opportunity to experience historic events at a dizzying pace that none of us could even imagine in our wildest dreams,” says Banana Factory Director of Visual Arts and Education Janice Lipzin. “He works intuitively on every level of the picture-making process and treats all of his subjects with honesty and respect. Using his instinct for the right moment and the right light, his work transcends the normal and everyday and enters a poetic realm where beauty touches everything.”

Throughout the years, Isaac has supported numerous humanitarian causes. He provided coverage for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), working closely with Harry Belafonte and Audrey Hepburn when they served as Goodwill Ambassadors for UNICEF, and in 1998 he traveled to Africa to photograph the plight of children in Liberia for Luciano Pavarotti’s foundation, Pavarotti and Friends. In 2006, sales of Isaac’s works from a solo exhibition in Singapore raised $53,000, which he and his wife, Jeannette, donated to the Kashmir Earthquake Relief Fund. In addition, Isaac has authored a series of books called “Children in Crisis,” which gives a first-hand account of the daily life of children and their families in troubled regions around the world.

In 1998, Isaac retired as Chief of the UN’s Photo Unit and shifted his focus to his love of nature. Since then he has photographed birds, mammals and landscapes from New Mexico and Wyoming to Iceland and Africa. One of his favorite subjects is the dwindling tiger population of India, which he has documented on numerous occasions. Throughout the past five years, Isaac has also made 11 trips to Kashmir to photograph the region’s people, culture and beauty.

“I’ve been to more than 100 countries in 30 years, but Kashmir is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve been,” Isaac says. “It really is a paradise. I went in 2003 and I totally fell in love with the people.”

 

JOHN ISAAC EVENTS

May 2, 6-9 p.m.

First Friday
Meet the Artist!

 

May 17, 4 p.m.

Artist’s Lecture
You’re invited to join John Isaac as he talks about his work, his inspirations and his career and performs on the guitar. Light refreshments will be served. Free to ArtsQuest members; $5 suggested donation fee for nonmembers.

 

June 6, 6-9 p.m.

First Friday

Enjoy the sounds of the Olympus corporate band, Peripheral Vision, as it performs with special guest artists, including John Isaac.

 

 

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