Hmmm... dalam RM85 harganya, amat berpatutan!
Malaysia: A Pictorial History 1400-2004
Author: Wendy Khadijah Moore
Publisher: Archipelago Press
Review by Elizabeth Ng
THE next time you snap a picture with your ultra-slim, ultra-light, multifunctional digital camera, take a moment to remember how things were like for a 19th century photographer.
Back then, photographers in Malaya had to carry an entire laboratory with them so they could develop their photos on the spot. Everywhere they went, they lugged about flasks of chemicals, a darkroom tent, basins, glass plates, distilled water, tripod and camera, which in itself weighed about 10 kilograms!
Also, if you've noticed, pictures from that period are usually of eerily empty streets and portraits where the subjects pose rather stiffly. There's a technical reason for that. The cameras then had long exposure times (of about several seconds) and any moving objects would appear either blurred or invisible.
The interesting facts above are part and parcel of this wonderful book entitled Malaysia: A Pictorial History 1400-2004. Apart from its concise history on Malaysia and photography, the book is packed with over 1,200 images of our country as we journey from the 15th to the 21st century.
The images are made up of faded pencil sketches, subtle watercolours, engravings and photographs from artists and photographers alike. It includes the first views of Malaysia produced by 19th century professional photographers, studio portraits, experiments of early amateurs as well as unpublished rarities.
The book is divided into six chapters, each highlighting a significant period in Malaysia's history such as the birth of the Malacca Sultanate; the arrival of the Colonial era; the Japanese Occupation and surrender; Independence and the creation of Malaysia; and the nation's emergence from the end of the Emergency to what it is today.
This wealth of material brings Malaysia's history vividly to life, making this one of the more engaging books on history. Although the text isn't comprehensive, it is informative enough and nicely complements the images - which are, after all, the heart and main thrust of the book.
The changing times are noted through changes in the images' tone, colour and type. Early engravings give way to sketches and watercolour pieces of the idyllic and pristine beauty of our country.
Later, sepia-toned and black & white images of a simpler and less cluttered past come to life before they are replaced with the rich hues of modern-day photography.
The book inspires a sense of wonder and appreciation for our nation's rich culture and society.
It doesn't matter whether you're reading it for the nuggets on the development of photography or the history of Malaysia because both topics are beautifully tied together by the glossy images, making Malaysia: A Pictorial History 1400-2004 a good choice to have sitting on your bookshelf.
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