Roger Ballen: Boyhood

This new and expanded edition of Roger Ballen’s (born 1950) widely acclaimed 1979 debut photobook , admired by André Kertesz, Bruce Davidson and Elliott Erwitt, features new and unpublished images taken by the photographer in the 1970s. In photographs and stories, Ballen leads us across the continents of Europe, Asia and North America in search of boyhood: boyhood as it is lived in the Himalayas of Nepal, the islands of Indonesia, the provinces of China, the streets of America. Each stunning black-and-white photograph—culled from 15,000 images shot during Ballen’s four-year quest—depicts the magic of boys revealed in their games, their adventures, their dreams, their mischief. More of an ode than a documentary work, Ballen’s first book is as powerful and current today as it was 43 years ago—a stunning series of timeless images that transcend social and cultural particularities.