Arts & Culture

The Suffering of Light

An exemplary study of light, community and culture in Alex Webb's monograph, weaving together the most iconic photographs from his five decades-long career

Alex Webb

Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Mexicans arrested while trying to cross the border to United States. San Ysidro, California, USA. 1979. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos

The Suffering of Light is the first comprehensive monograph charting the career of acclaimed American photographer Alex Webb. Gathering some of his most iconic images, many of which were taken in the far corners of the earth, this exquisite book brings a fresh perspective to his extensive catalog.

Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Jumping. Boquillas (Border), Mexico. 1979. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos

"To me it all is photography. You have to go out and explore the world with a camera"

- Alex Webb
Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Bathing. Alto Paraguay, Paraguay. 1990. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos
Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Bar. Gouyave, Grenada. 1979. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos
Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Baseball fans. Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. 1993. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos
Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Barrio Chino, Havana, Cuba. 2007. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos

Recognized as a pioneer of American color photography, since the 1970s, Webb has consistently created photographs characterized by intense color and light.

Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Crowd on the shore. La Gonave, Haiti. 1986. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos
Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Street scene. Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. 1996. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos
Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Outside of the Blue Mosque during Ramadan. Istanbul, Turkey. 2001. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos
Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Along the river. Yaviza, Panama. 2004. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos

His work, with its richly layered and complex composition, touches on multiple genres, including street photography, photojournalism, and fine art.

Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light Boy looks out from a cardboard box. Leon, Mexico. 1987. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos

Webb’s ability to distill gesture, color, and contrasting cultural tensions into single, beguiling frames results in evocative images that convey a sense of enigma, irony, and humor.

Alex Webb | The Suffering of Light A street in Bombay. Bombay, India. 1981. © Alex Webb | Magnum Photos
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