‘For Every Minute You Are Angry You Loose Sixty Seconds of Happiness’ by Julian Germain is a portrait of an elderly gentleman ( Charles Snelling). Originally released in 2005 this book quickly sold out and was out of print until Mack books reprinted a second addition last November.
© Julian Germain
A combination of brightly coloured images together with a collection Snelling’s photo albums the book captures the life and values of an elderly gentlemen, which are so often over looked in this fast paced world.
In the book Germain describes how he met Charles on a Saturday in April 1992. Whilst on his way to photograph a football match in Portsmouth he noticed a brightly coloured house, completely different from any other on the street. Upon closer inspection he discovered it was a shop and went inside to have a look. It was there that he struck up a friendship with Charles Snelling who showed him ‘that the most important things in life cost nothing at all’.
Each image in the book is striking, naturally lit and full of a brightness that Snelling surrounded himself with. From an old kettle steaming on a stove to an image of Snelling grinning in blue robin reliant, Germain captured the beauty and simplicity of Snellings life. The inclusion of Snelling’s photo albums, full with flowers and images of his wife help piece together the story of his life and define the things that are most important to him.
The book provides a brief escape from the busy schedules that we so often get caught up in.
reviewed by Sarah Lloyd