William Allard

Posted by David Tamburo / at 1:46 PM / /

Though this review is one of my own, I believe Allard can tell his story the best.



I like to think that photography is one of those subjects where no matter the person; we are all capable of comprising some sort of image. Though these images may be of your cats, your friends, or the inside of your apartment, we are all born with constant cameras (eyes).
The anti-thesis of what I just wrote is that only few people are able to capture something worth passing over my desk, my computer screen, or sent to me in an email from fellow photographers. To put it nicely there is a lot, and I mean a lot of “photographers” out there that feel that no matter where they point their camera, they have something.

I was lucky enough to be given Five Decades: A Retrospective by William Albert Allard. I was completely ignorant to this photographer, until I opened the book. My good friends over at National Geographic sent me this book to read, enjoy, and write about. Though I never heard of Allard, I was immediately reminded that I knew of his photography; my grandfather subscribed me to National Geographic for the first 15 years of my life and gave me many, many copies from his collection.

Allard’s work has always been ( now familiar with his name ) one of the types of photography that makes me want to keep doing what I do. He, just like other photographers, are able to engage themselves so deeply with their subjects that the photography that is the result, makes you feel that you are there. He makes these images come alive.

Flawlessly Allard is able to crop out the surroundings with the supplied frames on whichever camera he works with. He captures what needs to be captured, telling the story, developing such warm rich colors, and making you want to know so much more about the work. I believe that he is one of the most prolific photographers of our time.

Blessed amongst this book, complimenting the wonderful photographs are stories, written by Allard. Being a journalism and photojournalism major in college allows Allard to develop the photos and paint the pictures with words and lights, making you feel as if you were right with him when he was taking the pictures.

Though I could keep complimenting the work of Allard, I highly suggest you pick up this book.