Alan Harvey is God.

There are plenty of good documentary photographers in the world. A handful of naturally talented photographers, among them, have grown up to be among the top best. And, there is Alan Harvey.
David Alan Harvey is undoubtedly at the pinnacle of fine documentary photography. A sudden urge sent me digging through my old National Geographics to look for more of his stories. I was trying to read him through his powerful pictures. I spent a lot of time to understand, absorb and see beyond his pictures he has clicked for an assortment of assignments. His pictures represent photography at its sensitive best; his natural style of capturing the beauty of a place is quite unmatched. It is easy to understand why he is the best.
Harvey easily diverges from his contemporaries like Salgado and fellow photographers at Magnum, even McCurry. Salgado’s works would seem more of fine art, very passionate and moving (I am talking with mainly ‘Sahel’ in mind); Steve McCurry’s would seem to represent the perfect ‘on-assignment’ work- more apt, very client conscious, classy and ‘easily’ appreciated pictures I would say. But Harvey pictures borders on the abstract, the intelligent, and carries an air of freedom and unabashed individualism. He let goes of himself and tries to blend into the subject he is shooting.
Harvey’s pictures easily come together in being, most of the time, collages made using very few basic colours. And that is exactly what makes them powerful. His ultramarine blues, faded crimsons and scarlet, pure yellows, burnt umbers weave into beautiful pictures that rightly captures the ‘essence’ of a place and yet, representing a very superior style of a minimalist. Another element is the use of stark shadows. A deliberate harsh contrast seem to bring to the viewer’s attention the presence of a foreground or a background subject but the lack of details quickly restores the importance of the balancing element.
Harvey is selfish. He has no time for anybody. He is impatient. Harvey thinks only of photography. He represents a style where art and documentary photography don’t argue. If there is someone I don’t mind mimicking, that’s him. I am shameless, but I love him.

Resources:

~Reel People: Dave Harvey, on NGC. I don’t know when it is going to be aired again. Reza is being featured next on 12th feb.
~National Geographic: His bio and some questions answered.
~Take Great Pictures: Bio, interview and a must-read tips on documentary photography.

Afternote: People who have listened to Alan Harvey tell me that he is far from being 'selfish' and self centered. He only gets too involved in his subjects, he says. i am sorry if my analysis is far from the truth. i apologise. i love him more.