Those who knew him say that it was rare to see him without a camera in his hands or hanging around his neck. In fact, this is how it appears in most of the photos of Carlos Saura published these days following his death. Also in the self-portraits of the illustrious Huesca director who, best known for his film career, always maintained an idyll with photography and cameras.
He himself explained that he was going to be a photographer, but the cinema got in his way. In the end, he ended up being “an amateur photographer with a desire for perfection”, according to his own words in one of the many interviews he has given throughout his life and in which his passion for photography was a topic. recurrent.
A relationship that moved between the most tangible – his collection of cameras amounts to more than five thousand models – and the relationship of the image with time. “Photography is a terrible thing, one of the most Machiavellian inventions in the history of humanity because, somehow, every time we shoot a camera, what we get and keep is already the past. Which is quite disturbing,” she explained.
Saura’s filmography is well known, but his photographic work is less so. So there is nothing better to remember his figure than to review some of the books published with his snapshots or linked to this world of images and cameras.
absences
We begin with a novel in which the passion for photography and cameras play a role in a disturbing story in which dreams, delusions and reality form a diffuse line.
The standard edition of Absences can be found for around 20 euros and includes almost thirty drawings of the cameras mentioned in the story and made by Saura himself. It is also marketed more exclusive version with a case and sheets of these illustrations that goes around 100 euros.
Spain years 50
Edited by La Fábrica in 2016, the truth is that it is not easy to find this book, which is today the most complete compilation of Saura’s photographic work, focused on his images from the 50s in Spain. Yes, exactly, as the title indicates.
A portrait of a poor, isolated country, destroyed by the post-war period and the dictatorship and which remains frozen in Saura’s snapshots. In fact, the title chosen for the English edition (Vanished Spain) perfectly reflects the spirit of this book.
If there is luck and there are any left, can be found for about 35 eurosalthough Art Circle also sells an exclusive edition that includes a copy of one of the photos for 150 euros. The English edition goes to 65 euros.
Carlos Saura, PHotoPocket
As always, the collection Photobolsillo de La Fábrica to the rescue of the tightest budgets that do not want to give up a photographic library in conditions. Even if it is in small format, of course.
The photographs of the 50s also make up this small album, which can be found for sale for less than 14 euros.
With texts by Agustín Sánchez Vidal, it contains more than 130 black and white and color photos of Carlos Saura’s family and professional environment, photographic portraits and self-portraits -like the one at the top of this article- and reproductions of drawings and stage photographs made by the author himself. Also includes a numbered author’s copy.
It is edited by Círculo del Arte and due to its format and price -it costs 180 euros- it is a great collector’s item.
