“Long after the journalists are gone – or long after the PM has left
the journalists behind – Carisse is still there, and it is understood that
his function is to document all that he sees.” – Marc S. Bell, author,
Privileged Access, inside-book jacket.
Jean-Marc Carisse has served the three Canada’s Prime Ministers,
Trudeau, Turner and now Chretien, for over two decades. His collection
captures moments in the history of Canada. Divided into several themes that
highlight portraits, meetings with dignitaries and celebrities, family
and leisure, day-to-day working images during campaigns, in office and
with the media, and moments of tragedy that have affected the PM and
Canada.
Carisse’s privileged access to power presents Canadians with a unique
view of history in the making and visually-demonstrates the nuances of
power and political theory in practice.
The official book launch took place on May 3, 2000, at 12 noon, on
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada.
At the book launch, the Right Honourable Jean Chretien, Prime Minister
of Canada, welcomed the 200-plus crowd comprised of politicians, staff
and media. Trudeau and Turner were unable to attend the book launch. A
relaxed and playful Chretien momentarily switched roles with Carisse. In
a postmodern twist, the usual subject became the photographer to shoot
an image of Jean-Marc Carisse.
Filled with national pride, the writer for Privileged Access, Mark S.
Bell praised Carisse’s photo essay, commenting that the book represents
a distinctly Canadian heritage as viewed by Canadians. For Bell, the
publishing of Privileged Access is a sign that Canadians “no longer need
to look to the South” for photographers and writers to publish Canadian
culture.
Used to expressing his views of the three PMs in pictures, a soft-spoken
and eloquent Carisse thanked all those responsible for assisting in the
making of Privileged Access.
Jean-Marc Carisse. — © Digital Journal
He thanked his long-time friend and fellow photojournalist, Janusz J.
Uiberall, Founder and Publisher of Digitaljournal.com who in 1996,
convinced Carisse to begin selecting photographs for a photo album.
Uiberall describes that creative process: “We both went through thousands of
fascinating images. The selection wasn’t easy. Finally, in the spring of 1999, I
found a Canadian book publisher Warwick Publishing, Inc., based in
Toronto, Canada, who was very enthusiastic about this project and signed the
exclusive contract with Jean-Marc.”
Carisse stressed his own pleasure in having had the opportunity to
photograph “the rich complexities of three Liberal Prime Ministers,” in
both their public and private lives.
Carisse’s photographic career spans a quarter century. His images have
graced the covers and pages of many political biographies and history
books and have been published by national and international magazines,
including Macleans and Time.
Jean-Marc Carisse (photographs),
Mark S. Bell (text).
Warwick Publishing, Toronto, Canada
Price: $50.
Photography by
Janusz
J.Uiberall,Digital
Journal.com
