Rare First Edition.
Sometimes all it takes is the sight of a translucent leaf, or bare branches reflected in still water, or long grasses shifting in a gentle breeze, to remind us that life is miraculous and nature is waiting patiently for us to come home. Spending time with this book and the incredible images it holds, is like hitching a ride to some blissful place, a lost memory or long forgotten dream.
Dutch cinematographer Robby Müller (1940–2018) was one of the greatest pioneers in modern film history, acclaimed for his use of natural light and minimalist images. As director of photography, Müller made films with long-time collaborator Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, Lars Von Trier and Steve McQueen.
He also never left home without at least three cameras in his bag. He would usually carry a SX-70, a 600, a Spectra, but also a Polaroid camera, as he was particularly interested in the immediacy and colour effect of Polaroids. These Polaroids were his personal, private work, and he created a collection of around two thousand of them, many of them motifs of the natural world.
Born in the West Indian island of Curaçao and growing up in Indonesia, Müller's daily walk to school led through the jungle, where he caught and collected tropical butterflies. This was perhaps the foundation for a life-long fascination with nature, light and colour.
Flora Polaroids, a new book of highlights from Müller's Polaroid collection, is as delicate as one of his tropical butterflies. It shows his sensitivity to light and nature, seen through an acute aesthetic eye. Each snapshot of flowers, insects or trees glows and sparkles like a jewel, exposing the treasure all around us and bringing our attention to the joy of simple and minute details.
A Zen-like, meditative excursion I highly recommend.
Designed by Linda van Deursen and edited by Andrea Müller-Schirmer.