'forty years ago, two men went missing in southwest Iceland. The facts of their disappearances are scarce, and often mundane. An 18-year-old set off from a nightclub, drunk, on a 10-kilometre walk home in the depths of Icelandic winter. Some months later, a family man failed to return from a meeting with a mysterious stranger. In another time or place, they might have been logged as missing persons and forgotten by all but family and friends. Instead, the Gudmundur and Geirfinnur case became the biggest and most controversial murder investigation in Icelandic history'
Following a talk from Jack, I felt compelled to get a copy of my own so I could spend some time immersed in this intelligent book design. Furthermore, I was captivated by the story and had to know more.
Jack spoke about his research methods and his time in Iceland. There is a real sense of integrity and care that is present in the photo-book. Embellished in the story and those it had affected, Jack's rigorous approach enabled the book to present a complex story through a multifaceted mixture of photographic styles and intelligent book design.
I have passed the book among my family members and they have all been charmed by its tangible design utilising different paper types and weights. Finally, the enchanting photographs printed upon the pages form a strong foundation in which the book is built around.
The skillfully composed large format photographs are clear and static, they aid our understanding of the complex and mysterious case. As I progress through the book it becomes apparent that the work is as much about false memory ( or memory distrust syndrome). The book incorporates text by Professor Gisli Gudjónsson CBE a former Reykjavik policeman and forensic psychologist. The added text gives the work an extra rigour and integrity which is further reinforced by involvement with a diverse range of people connected with the case in some way.
Although largely sold out in stores I believe there are some copies available over at
http://www.jacklatham.com