NATHAN HOWARD FARBMAN
A little bio

  Many years ago my father bought me Richard Haliburton’s Complete Book of Marvels. I was in grade school at the time, ill, and confined to my bed. At leisure and at length, I was enthralled by the marvels I read about… the seeds for travel had been planted.

Much later, I served in Vietnam, in the Central Highlands (1966-67) and planned to photograph the luxurious landscape I flew over while I was leading a recon platoon. Although I earned an Air Medal for the number of missions flown, a combat wound scuttled those photography plans. Not long after my discharge from the Army I met John Robaton, a photographer with Magnum, as we both travelled on the Trans Siberian Railway. Later, I watched him edit dozens of his slides and befriended him during our weeks together in Europe. Though I thought about photography school I wanted a broader education and subsequently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (1971).

My day job afforded me the luxury of time away to travel the world. I was never “on assignment”, and therefore had to return to my employment on a certain date. Consequently my photographs were taken “on the go”. I was aware of wanting to capture great images, but, as I gleaned from John, quality would be few and far between.

A period of disequilibrium, minor chaos some might say, ensued. During this time I was involved with Veterans Affairs and was diagnosed with PTSD. Fortunately I was able to keep my job and continue to travel. After decades I had a number of images worth displaying and the Vineland, New Jersey, Public Library granted me a show. (2004) Subsequent travels with my current wife resulted in a second show (2015).

During my travels I kept notes daily which I expanded into a journal when I returned home. That endeavour enriched my experience and helped identify the sometimes too many photos taken and those that would be placed into an album.

I used to tell my children, “enjoy your learning”, now I add enjoy your travels. Travel not only can be fun but it is also enriching, uplifting, educational and more. There’s a world of art, architecture, monuments and night life to explore. When you have the chance, carpe diem.