FACES

Of the more than 7.4 billion faces on the planet, we only see some 80,000 in a lifetime. When we do see them, it’s likely we don’t take the time to truly see what’s there, behind the eyes, smiles or frown lines.

This is the sole focus and intention of FACES, an incredibly beautiful book by internationally renowned photographer Serge Anton.

“ ‘The face is the mirror of the soul.’ It is the reflection of what the human being hides deep inside, spiritually and emotionally, a state of soul, a fleeting or transient expression. I like to capture a fragment, to grasp what is revealed in a furtive instant and belongs only to this unique moment,” explained Anton.

FACES is a unique collection of portraits of individuals from Africa to Asia, over 30 years of travel. In this instance, as in many, the images in the book speak far louder than words. They capture their subjects’ expressive nuances in detail: every line, crease, dimple, freckle, hairline, eye shape, color and expression. The photo subjects consist of children, women, men, old, young, sick, healthy, wealthy and poor.

Talking about the portraits, Anton said, “They grant us insight into their being: from the boy who plays with a water jug and looks at us with soft, questioning eyes, to the Berber whose sun-tanned face reflects his whole life, the landscape, the clay buildings, and the dignity of his people.”

It was easy to get lost in the pages as I flipped through, amazed by not only the use of light and artistry on the part of the photographer, but in the mesmerizing images of those photographed. It raises so many questions about each individual person.

I chose to review this book for a travel website, not because it’s directly about travel, but because it showcases one of the most wonderful aspects of travel — the opportunity it provides to see people different from oneself. This book allows readers a glimpse into communities around the world they will likely never see otherwise.

At the very least, it’s a great coffee table book to skim through at leisure. At most, it’s an arresting, expository and awe-inspiring collection of images taken by a supremely talented individual with an admirable goal of understanding people.

Lannoo, the book’s publisher, also published Streets of the World, an incredible exposé featuring images of day-to-day street scenes from more than 200 countries, taken by Dutch photographer Jeroen Swolfs. His incredible images capture “the culture, colors, rituals, maybe even the history of the city and country where he found them.” Learn more about the book here.