Step back into the American West of yesteryear with this fascinating new book.
Ernst Haas: The American Westwritten by Paul Lowe and edited by prestelis a dazzling compendium of vintage American West photographs taken by the late photographer and photojournalist Ernst Haas.
Already established as a talented black and white photographer in Europe, the Austrian photographer moved to America in 1951 and quickly gained a reputation for capturing iconic color images of American geographic and cultural landscapes.
Delving into the archives of his black-and-white and color photographs from the mid-to-late 20th century, the book captures spectacular images of scenes with the bright lights of Route 66, vast canyons in Arizona, and rows of cowgirls in New York . Mexico.
In the introduction to the book, photography teacher Lowe writes: “This book follows Ernst Haas’s 34-year love affair with the myth and reality of the American West. Haas celebrated the grandeur of the landscape, but also criticized the excesses of American culture and found solace in Native American traditions. Haas used his exceptional color control to great effect.”
And the editor notes, “The remarkable book offers a vision of America that feels both poignantly distant and reassuringly familiar.” Below are photos from the book that sum up that view…
This colorful 1969 photo, titled Route 66 Albuquerque, shows traffic on the streets of Albuquerque, New Mexico, after a heavy rain
This beautiful photo by Haas, taken in August 1977, shows Arizona’s Spider Rock casting its shadow in Canyon de Chelly. It is titled Rock Mountain
In this striking 1966 photo by Haas titled “Buffalo Winter,” a buffalo takes shelter under trees during a snowstorm in Yellowstone National Park
This fascinating photo, titled Flood Lands, taken in 1963, shows part of Utah’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Captured in 1978, this dynamic photograph of wild horses galloping across the landscape is titled Free Spirits
This curious photo from 1960 shows a house being towed by a trailer down a Nevada street. Haas called the shot Snail Pass
LEFT: This beautiful photo shows a little girl dressed in Native American clothing standing in front of a Plymouth Valiant car and teepee in 1975 in Seattle, Washington state. Haas captioned the photo Seattle Settlement. RIGHT: This beautifully lit photograph, titled “TV and Shadows,” shows a television near a window in California, circa 1975
This beautiful photo, titled “Cowgirls in Santa Fe,” shows a series of five young women wearing identical cowboy hats in New Mexico in 1952
In this epic 1960 photo, Haas captured an aerial view of cloud and rock formations in the American West
Ernst Haas: The American West, written by Paul Lowe and published by Prestel, is available now from bookshops and online retailers for £36 ($55) (ISBN: 978-3-7913-8825-0)
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
