Negative Originals

“It is rare to encounter books about the history of photography in Colombia, and even rarer to find one that engages the construction of raced identity in a sophisticated and nuanced way. Everyone should read this book!” - Geoffrey Batchen, author of Negative/Positive: A History of Photography

“Providing a rich portrait of a vibrant and little-known photographic culture in Medellín, Colombia, Juanita Solano Roa shows how photography was central to the formation of both modern and subversive identities and attitudes. Solano Roa’s use of the negative as a metaphor for a ‘reversed’ photography and history is original and exciting, as she demonstrates that the photographic negative is a capacious resource. Her argumentative subtlety, systematic theoretical underpinnings, and nuanced reading of images make for an excellent book.” - Christopher Pinney, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Visual Culture, University College London

"The book is carefully researched, well-argued, and highly accessible. ... It is a standout example of how race and image making were co-constitutive at this postcolonial juncture of Colombia’s history. Negative Originals is a major contribution to the history of Latin American photography." - Tatiana Reinoza, CAA Reviews