Sebastião Salgado. Gold: Serra Pelada Gold Mine / Goldmine Serra Pelada / Mine d'or Serra Pelada

This is an engrossing and absorbing piece of reportage that straddles the boundary into photographic art. Sebastiao Salgado alternates between the dehumanising nature of the labours’ work in the gold mine, when he shows us the scale of the excavation and the ant-like mass of tens of thousands of workers, then focuses on individuals in which we can see the overwhelming desire of men who have gambled all on one single chance of wealth.The reproduction of the images is first class, even though there will be those who will complain about images crossing the page gutters. There is also a short, but fascinating, introduction by Salgado.A masterpiece, and a must for any collection of photographic reportage and art.

Great images, made me feel quite horrified at the conditions. I am from a gold mining background and the safety aspects of this operation are prehistoric. I was exhausted by the time I got to the end of the book.

I've been waiting years for this book to be published. The photos themselves are stunning and profound, and Salgado is one of my favourite photographers. But the photos are spoilt by the ridiculous decision to produce this book in portrait format, as many of the photos are split over double pages. The seam down the middle is not just madly distracting but distorts the images, and ruins their potency. I don't think anyone would choose to watch dross on television like this, so why do it to a work of art? I can't fathom why on earth anyone would do this? Despite the amazing photos, I sadly will probably return this book. But if you think that you won't mind viewing these photos over double pages, then go ahead and buy this book.

Got it as a gift for a friend and he liked it.

Disappointed