Books — Benjamin Hargreaves

ON A ROAD, ON A JOURNEY

ORDER: AMAZON | direct from author

In his latest book of photography Benjamin Hargreaves brings us a celebration of travel with images taken during journeys through the United Kingdom, Europe, India, Australia, the USA, Cuba and elsewhere. The book uses images of roads, tracks and waterways to evoke both a literal journey and a metaphorical sense of life as a journey.

On A Road, On A Journey transports readers through 45 photographs to other worlds, such as by a red road in Australia, on a ferry in Bohemia, crossing the Splugen Pass into Italy on foot or on a rough track in Ladakh.

Within the book, Benjamin also includes an introduction highlighting the importance of roads and journeys in mythology, poetry, song and literature. He explores how these ideas have become important symbols in the way we think. Readers may just want to go travelling, and feast their eyes, or they may be prompted to think about life's journey.

On A Road, On A Journey can be purchased direct from the author for £15.00 (plus £2.00 p&p in the UK).

"I have 'read' it at two different speeds already, and particularly enjoyed that you have curated from many years, as well as locations, which further spreads the scope and strangely distils the focus of the concept ...
I am so glad you have your work 'made flesh' in your hands, which I know is so satisfying. I can only wonder at the rich experience you must feel as you revisit each image, but I can assure you it is just as impactful to come to them for the first time." SP

CARS IN THE LANDSCAPE

ORDER: DIRECT FROM AUTHOR

Benjamin's first book Cars in the Landscape is a celebration of the beauty of cars with an underlying theme of reclaiming the motor car for beauty, amusement, idiosyncrasy, whim and joy - for a view other than just utility and efficiency. The book contains 38 photographs with whimsy or deeper thought, intended for contemplation and the pleasure of looking. There are layers of association and suggestion.

An introductory essay considers how much more the motor car is than its mere material self - as a driving force in twentieth century western development, as a work of art, as a joy to drive, as a symbol, as an enabler and even in relation to spiritual understanding. The cars are above all in use, or have been, because they are more interesting there than in studio conditions or in museums.

This book is in part a plea to slow down and pay more attention to our surroundings, a natural role for photography to play. These photographs are primarily a paean of praise, sometimes with wit, for the beauty of the motor car in the landscape. Cars in the Landscape is for both those who love cars and those who appreciate beautiful photographs. You may just want to buy an old car and start travelling around Europe...

Cars in the Landscape can be purchased direct from the author for £10.00 (plus £1.50 p&p in the UK).

"I absolutely love it! I'm surprised at myself as I have very little inclination towards cars except for getting me from a to b, but there is something poetic and interesting and multi-level which reveals itself through the locations of them." MA