“Over these last several years, even in the darkest days of the pandemic, my time in nature has been a constant source of solace and wonder. My days out photographing and exploring usually start very early, in the hours prior to sunrise, when the birds are still sleeping and the quality of quiet is extraordinary. I think of this time of day as “the shadow’s veil”, when the first delicate veil of light slowly becomes evident and the depth of earth’s shadow gradually lightens in the slow progression of night to day.
When observing the transitioning day, I find there is a therapeutic element to the patterns and surprises. For myself, this awareness leads to an insightful perspective on life’s usual challenges. A sense of humility emerges in consideration of the enormous scale, complexity, and sheer power of nature; our problems don’t register in significance.
This book is a collection of observations about the unfolding of days. These photographs were made either in the hours before sunrise or very early in the day when the light is new, shadows are long, and hope is eternal.” — from the Introduction by Jeffrey Conley
Jeffrey Conley’s fourth title with Nazraeli Press is an artist’s book of the first order. Limited to just 1,000 copies, each presented in a custom slipcase of wood veneer over boards, The Shadow’s Veil presents 64 of the artist’s most powerful images, many published here for the first time. Beautifully printed in duotone with two distinct varnishes on natural Korean art paper, the exposed sides of the book block are painted charcoal gray and bound in unbleached linen fabric.
Conley’s previous book, West, was published earlier this year on the occasion of his solo exhibition of the same title at Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre in Nice. It sold out upon publication. The Shadow’s Veil will be shipped on a first ordered, first served basis and is likewise expected to sell out quickly.
