One of the greatest photographers of all times, Larry Towell is a visual poet indeed. He only shoots in black and white, and the accent is on the story. Working in some quite problematic areas of the globe, he had found himself in quagmires more times he could count. Palestine, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, all of them were seen and captured in a unique way. People, conflicts, emotions, everything that had some story to tell was immortalized. What makes him stand out among other great photographers is his love for home, his family and the land he grew on. Those feelings are so strong that one entire series is dedicated to, simply said, home. His experiences as a poet and a folk writer influenced his style of photography. A minimalist approach was chosen, and by shooting exclusively in black and white, the artist knows how to emphasize the story. Even the names of the photographs contain, other than the standard year and location, a short description of the moment captured. The words are a short version of the photograph, summarizing the picture in one sentence or in a short paragraph. Joining the Magnum, the world’s most prestigious photo agency, was a life-changing for Towell. Strict rules for new members made him a Magnum nominee in 1988, and after 5 years and two more revisions of his work, he finally became a full member in 1993. Other members had left an impact on the artist, both professionally and personally. Alex Webb, Sesan Meiselas, Gene Richards were some of the members who helped him in the process of editing, and they played a significant role in forming his distinct visual language. Josef Koudelka is another member Towell respects greatly, his dedication and the fact his work is non-commercial. Koudelka’s support meant so much to Larry, and it still does. In fact, the very act of joining Magnum was so important that the artist admits he probably wouldn’t be a photographer today, at least not... (http://www.widewalls.ch/artist/larry-towell/) undefined

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