Josef Koudelka's Diaries Published by Aperture

Aperture has released a new book titled Josef Koudelka: Diaries, featuring 69 journals authored by the Czech photographer over a span of 50 years. These diaries encompass his reflections on documenting Roma communities throughout Europe, the 1968 Soviet invasion of Prague, and the impact of environmental degradation. Curator Tomáš Pospěch likens them to a 'cookbook' of traditional photography. The book combines transcripts with visuals of the original pages, showcasing Koudelka's handwriting. Although he contemplated destroying the diaries, he ultimately chose to share them with someone in 2014. The publication includes an introduction by Koudelka, who transitioned from studying aeronautical engineering to photography in the 1960s and sought political asylum after leaving Czechoslovakia in 1970. The diaries also feature entries from 1969 motivating himself to create, alongside observations from Milan and Poland regarding social transformations.