Black Opal Press
September 5, 2006
This new book by photographer Steven Benson is his much acclaimed photo essay documenting the Yangtze River valley which is now under the water of the 400 mile long reservoir behind Chinas massive Three Gorges dam. The photographs, made in 1999, quickly became historic images on June 10, 2003 when the reservoir filled to a depth of 425 feet. At 1.3 miles long and 610 feet high the largest concrete object on Earth will ultimately force two million people from their ancestral homes while demolishing 13 cities, 140 towns and 1,352 villages. Steven Benson states, –I wanted to create –I wanted to create – a lasting document of an extraordinary part of the planet before it disappeared Рa valley that had inspired artists, poets and philosophers for centuries. Additionally, because there are 30 million people in the reservoir area effected by the construction of the dam I was interested in deconstructing this monumental public works project and return it to a human scale.” With essays by noted photography scholar and author A.D. Coleman and Dai Qing, journalist, author and one of Chinas leading environmental activists. The book also contains an interview with Steven Benson conducted by Jens Friis, curator at the Museet for Fotokunst in Denmark and editor of KATALOG magazine. Hardcover, 9X11 inches, 144 pages, 90 duotones Price: $35.00 USD + 4.95 S&H (Pre-release price until July 31, 2006) $45.00 USD + 4.95 S&H (Scheduled release in August, 2006) A signed copy of the book can be purchased on the photographers website or send a check or money order payable to: Black Opal Press P.O. Box 405 Lake Orion, Michigan 48361 USA Contact: info@blackopalpress.com *Examples of the photo essay can be seen on the photographers web site: http://www.stevenbensonphoto.com