Why Did Google Dedicate a Doodle to Abbas Attar?
News Desk
Islamabad: Today, Google commemorated the 80th birthday of Iranian photographer Abbas Attar with a special doodle, paying tribute to his passionate worldwide documentation.
The doodle, now in black and white, reflects Attar’s signature style, which often eschewed color in favor of stark and powerful imagery.
Attar, renowned for his impactful photojournalism, is celebrated for his ability to capture raw and unfiltered moments. The monochromatic doodle serves not as a symbol of mourning, particularly on ‘Good Friday’, but rather as a homage to Attar’s preference for capturing the essence of reality in his work, stripped of extraneous distractions.
The monochromatic Google lettering is composed of individual sheets of photo paper, symbolizing Abbas’s dedication to his craft. In his own words, “When I take photos, I see black and white…My photography is a form of thinking.”
Born on this day in 1944, Abbas’s early life remains largely undocumented, but his passion for photography blossomed before he relocated to Paris. There, he focused his lens on documenting social upheavals and developments in developing nations.
Today, Google pays tribute to Abbas Attar’s impactful legacy with a poignant doodle, honoring his contributions to the world of photography and journalism.
The doodle, presented entirely in black and white, is not intended as a solemn reflection, especially on ‘Good Friday’, but rather as a tribute to Attar’s distinctive style of capturing the world in monochrome.
It features a striking portrayal of Attar himself, caught in a moment of introspection as he takes a self-portrait in front of a mirror—an early precursor to the modern-day selfie.
This choice of monochrome pays homage to Attar’s renowned body of work, which often favored powerful, evocative imagery devoid of color, inviting viewers to engage their imagination.
The Google logo, depicted in grayscale, resembles sheets of photo paper with individual letters—a fitting homage to a photographer whose work was deeply rooted in the artistry of black and white photography.
Attar’s presence in the image exudes strength, reflecting his frequent portrayal of himself in a similar manner throughout his career. He famously remarked,
“When I take photos, I see black and white,” emphasizing how the absence of color heightened his awareness and allowed him to capture events with clarity and depth, while also exploring complex relationships between humanity, nature, and animals.
Attar’s passion for photography developed long before he settled in Paris, where he refined his craft by focusing on social upheavals and cultural shifts in developing nations.
Over his illustrious six-decade career, he fearlessly ventured into conflict zones worldwide, bearing witness to wars and revolutions.
His lens captured the raw realities of human struggle and resilience, from the tumult of Biafra to the upheaval of Bangladesh, and from the jungles of Vietnam to the turmoil of the Middle East.
From 1978 to 1979, Attar immersed himself in the Iranian revolution, producing groundbreaking documentation of the rise of religious fundamentalism.
This work culminated in the seminal book “Iran: the Confiscated Revolution,” offering profound insights into a pivotal moment in history.
He also explored world religions, beginning with the resurgence of radical Islam in 1987 and culminating with an examination of Judaism before his passing.
Through his penetrating lens, Attar illuminated the shift from political ideologies to religious fanaticism as a primary catalyst for global conflict.
His humanistic images endure as a testament to the enduring power of visual storytelling, inspiring future generations to pursue clarity and authenticity in comprehending the complexities of our world and its diverse tapestry of humanity.
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