Trent Parke: Minutes to Midnight Hardcover – January 15, 2014

Ever since I first saw Trent Parke's work on the Magnum website (years and years ago), I've wanted to own one of his books but couldn't afford the highly collectable Seventh Wave, so when I heard that Minutes to Midnight was being release I was extremely happy. As soon as the book was available for pre-order, I placed my order with Amazon and waited patiently for the release date. That date and many subsequent release dates have come and gone with no explanation as to why the book keeps getting delayed. I have written to the publisher and to Magnum photos to ask when the book might finally be released but no one has responded. As a huge fan of Trent Parke's work, I'll carry on waiting (years if I have to), but I am deeply disappointed that I've had to wait approximately 18 months already - maybe even 2 years (I've lost track it has been so long).I'm sure that when this book finally gets released I'll be able to come back here and award it 5 out of 5, but, until then, this review will act as a warning to all potential buyers who are likely to have to wait a considerably long time before they will physically own a copy of what I hope will be one of the best photo books of the last 20 years by one of the most talented photographers in the world.********************************ADDED FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2013 - PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING!!!********************************I placed my order for this book approximately 2 years ago with Amazon.com. Since that time, publication of the book has been postponed again and again. Each time the book got postponed, Amazon sent me an email asking if I was happy to wait, which I always agreed to do (I collect photography books so I am aware that delays like this happen all the time and for a variety of reasons).Based on what I have seen elsewhere on the Internet recently, it appears that the book is currently being printed and should be released in the next few months, which is great news for all fans of Trent Parke. I must point out that, despite no longer being available for pre-order on this site, the book is available for pre-order on other Amazon sites around the world, including the UK which is where I live. However, I chose to purchase from Amazon.com because the book was available for pre-order on Amazon.com before Amazon.co.uk, and the price was significantly lower at the time I placed my order (approximately £25 on Amazon.com instead of the current pre-order price of £45 on Amazon.co.uk).As you can imagine, after 2 years of waiting, I was looking forward to finally getting my hands on the book - I could almost smell it - when, out of the blue, Amazon sent me an automated email saying that they couldn't source the book and that my order had been cancelled. Of course, I immediately contacted customer services to explain to them that there had been a mistake because the book hadn't been released, so of course they couldn't source it yet (nothing had changed). I also sent them links to other Amazon sites to prove that it hadn't been released and was still available for pre-order. The customer service representative took my details and told me he'd pass them onto the department that deals with these things. The person who wrote back to me must not have got any of that information because the piece of garbage email that I received from him seemed to completely ignore everything I had said.So I contacted them again and explained the situation, again - that I still wanted the book and that I didn't want my order to be cancelled because I want the book for the price that I agreed to pay Amazon 2 years ago (I can afford the £45, but I believe that Amazon should sell it to me for the price originally agreed - more out of principle than anything else). It seems that the incompetent that I spoke to the second time didn't bother passing that message to the appropriate department because no one wrote back to me. So it now appears that I'll have to buy the book for the full price. However, I won't be buying it from Amazon - I've decided instead to buy it directly from Magnum's online bookstore, or order it at my local bookshop. That way these jokers won't get a penny more from me.I'm sorry for any typos or bad grammar (I've written this is haste).

If you are a street photographer (and love black and white) this is a book that you MUST get for your library. The print quality is phenomenal (Steidl) and the narrative, flow, and sequencing of the book really takes you on an amazing journey.If I could only have 10 photobooks (while stranded on a desert island) this would be one of them.What I love most about this book is that it isn't just a collection of "best hits". Trent Parke isn't interested in just making strong single images-- he is interested in storytelling, narrative, and a flow of images. Through the book, you can really get a sense of the post-apocolytical nature of Australia (seen through his eyes) and follow him along this adventure.It is fascinating to know that he actually developed most of the film for this book while he was traveling, and also in the middle of this book-- his wife (Narelle) gave birth to their son.As for the images, they are dark, suspenseful, full of emotion-- and ask more questions (than offer answers). You can interpret the photographs however you would like-- but you can see themes of death, rebirth, and life which is very uplifting.If you want to see an in-depth book review of "Minutes to Midnight" check out my review here: http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2014/10/03/street-photography-book-review-minutes-midnight-trent-parke/

First, this book is insanely good. The energy that comes through this work by Trent Parke is intense, eerie, unconventional, dark, hopeful, beautiful, and bewildering. This is a book that tells an apocalyptic story saturated with powerful symbols. It has some of the best single images my beginner's eye has ever seen, but thankfully the sequencing and overall work is so strong I can't resist flipping through the whole book each time I sit down with it. Very happy it was reprinted this year. I wouldn't deliberate long about whether or not to buy it!I am sad to see so many 1 start reviews due to poor shipping/order fulfillments. I understand the frustration, but those who have given 1 star reviews for this reason should understand that it does not affect Amazon or any distributer who is to blame, only the artist. I think it's misleading that this book has only a 3 star rating (as of writing this review) - almost completely because many were burned by a distributer.

Lots of people will say that black and white photography is tired, especially film photography. Trent Parke pushes analogue black and white photography to the next level with his careful and sensitive study of light, and his adeptness with techniques like motion blur, long exposure and eye for creating a story through a sequence of emotionally impactful photos.

Think of a science fiction novel being told without words. Envision a civilization on the edge of collapse with narration by pictures with no captions. This is "Minutes to Midnight" by Trente Parke. It's a wonderfully done book, sequenced perfectly and a true work of art. Don't let the negative reviews on Amazon influence you--they're based on the availability of the book and other factors having nothing to do with the actual product itself.

Trent Parke is almost more of a novelist, painter, cinematographer or poet than a photographer - he expresses things with his photography that normally might be expressed in other art-forms, or not at all. His work really inspires you to see the world in a new way. And this is another 'Steidl masterpiece' - absolutely beautiful printing and binding.

One of the most creative street photographer I know, except he has an edge, which you can't find it in other street photography books. He is absolutely unique, different, and an old soul inside a young body. I will buy any books he has. There is no wonder Magnum chose him, but I think he is even beyond Magnum. If you like film photography, you will NOT be disappointed in this book, I guaranty.

Lovely take on the world.

Ótimo livro, com uma narrativa e fotografia impecável.

Every photo, every revisit to this book makes me discover more. Looking forward to more of Trent Parke.

Love the design, printing and overall quality. This is one of the best photo-books i've seen in years!

what an incredible body of work!Mr Parke's interpretation of his homeland elevates documentary photography to an art form.this is truly an artist at work. his solid background in sports photography affords him to anticipateof what's about to be captured within the four corners of the frame. the images are nothing shortof stunning and surreal at once.kudos to STEIDL for its superb printing of the book. the blacks are extra heavy due to its tritonetechnique where 3 different blacks are used to produce the images.highly recommended for the photo book aficionado.

Alta qualidade da edição! Chegou em ótimo prazo!