Desert Cantos is a landmark in contemporary photography, marking the first time Richard Misrach’s epic series was presented in book form. Organized into thematic sections or “cantos,” the book juxtaposes the spectacular natural light and space of the American West with the scars of human intervention—man-made floods, desert fires, and military bombing ranges. Featuring 58 full-color plates and an insightful introduction by architectural critic Reyner Banham, the work challenges traditional landscape photography by presenting the desert not as an empty wilderness, but as a politically contested and environmentally fragile symbol of American culture. The book received the 1987 ICP Award for Outstanding Publication and remains a cornerstone of environmental photography.
