Urban Reflections: (21st Century Cities S.)

"Urban Reflections" - A landmark book partnership with Hewlett-Packard puts the focus on urban changes in 21st century cities. World renowned photographers Elliott Landy, from New York, Carl De Keyzer, former Paris bureau chief for Magnum, Douglas Kirkland from Los Angeles, and the French artist photographer Yves Chaudouet have joined forces with over 40 photo-journalists from across Europe, Africa and the Middle East in a trail-blazing cities500 publishing project. This exciting collaborative book project between the internationally acclaimed Hewlett-Packard and cities500 puts the focus on the world's swiftly changing urban landscapes in this 21st century. The book - "Urban Reflections" - is the first in a planned ongoing annual series called "21st Century Cities", which will have different themes and titles each year. Details of the book project were unveiled as part of HP's annual Lab University event - the latest held in Tenerife in June, 2005 - when more than 300 photographers and journalists from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa took part in a week long interactive conference. The book was published in November of this year. Dr Ralf Leinemann, HP's Director of Consumer Segment Public Relations for Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented: "We regard this book as a fascinating way of engaging journalists and photographers across such a wide geographical spread. It gives them a marvelous opportunity to have their work published and demonstrates the unity of purpose and ideas that is so important in our societies". Celebrity photographers such as Carl De Keyzser from the fabled Magnum Photos and the American photographer Douglas Kirkland are featured in the book. And the famous Woodstock photographer Elliott Landy whose iconic photographs of the young Bob Dylan and the Doors, amongst others, put his own name up in lights - has contributed a kaleidsocopic snapshot of New York. The book features a series of intriguing and very personal photographs taken by journalists and photographers showing the places and views they like best about their home cities - places as far apart as Moscow, Johannesburg, Bremen, Milan, Paris, Tel Aviv and Helsinki. Further support for the book comes from the world acclaimed media and public relations consultancy Hill and Knowlton, Echo Research and the London based IncrediBull Ideas whose chairman Dr David Bull is a well known UK TV personality as well as an established author. According to cities500 vice president Guy Woodland it is hoped that these books will come to be regarded as an important collection of relevant contemporary 'snapshots' of the world in the early years of the 21st century. "The books feature photographs and essays focusing on urban cityscapes and landscapes, and their peoples; recording and reflecting sites of interest, events, and national celebrations," he said. "The books will look at this changing world through the eyes and impressions of photographers and journalists from cities spread across Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions vastly different yet all experiencing in many degrees the inevitable spread of modernity. "We are delighted that HP has had the vision to support this unusual publishing project along with a number of their working partners.