Chicago-based photographer Sandro Miller has spent more than five decades traveling the world with his cameras and an insatiable curiosity, documenting the human condition through his lens. His remarkable new book, "On Earth as It Is Not in Heaven," published by Skira Press, showcases this extraordinary journey with 276 pages featuring 229 photographs that celebrate humanity from birth to death.
The book represents Miller's tribute to humankind, as he explains in his own words: "These portraits were not made for me, and they were not made for my sitter, the portraits were created for you, the viewer." The collection explodes across the pages like visual fireworks, holding viewers' attention while intriguing the mind and often grabbing the heart.
Miller's journey began in tragedy and found redemption through photography. Growing up in Elgin as the eldest of three children, he was just five years old when his father died in an automobile accident. This early loss shaped his worldview and led him to see photography as his salvation, driving him to capture the essence of people from all walks of life.
The photographer's talent was evident even in early encounters with subjects like Bill "Moose" Skowron, the legendary baseball player who had never sat for a formal portrait before meeting Miller in 2000. Skowron, a Chicago native and 16-inch softball legend who played for the New York Yankees and hit 28 home runs in 1961, was initially nervous about the photo session. Despite his anxiety about what to wear and what kind of person would be taking his picture, Miller's skill and personality won him over. The session, which began awkwardly, transformed as Miller's assistants applied makeup, changed Skowron into a black turtleneck sweater, and guided him through various poses, including one where he bit down on a baseball, creating striking images.
Throughout his career, Miller has built an impressive portfolio working for hundreds of national advertising campaigns for major clients including American Express, BMW, Pepsi, Nikon, Microsoft, Nike, and the U.S. Army. His editorial work has been featured in prestigious publications such as The New Yorker, GQ, Esquire, Time, Forbes, ESPN Magazine, and the Chicago Tribune. He has also held solo exhibitions in Chicago, Germany, and Italy.
"On Earth as It Is Not in Heaven" marks Miller's 16th book and features commentary from photography experts David Campany, Phillip Prodger, Anne Morin, and Alan Cohen, as well as former Chicago journalist and prize-winning poet Patricia Smith and actor John Malkovich. The book includes several photographs of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who has long been one of Miller's favorite subjects.
Miller's previous works demonstrate his diverse range and deep connection to his subjects. In 2009, he published "Imagine Cuba, 1999-2007," which featured Cuban boxers, wrestlers, volleyball players, and swimmers, as well as ordinary people from the streets who, as Miller describes, "filled a void in my soul, a void that felt empty with loss" after his father's death. The book brought dignity and humanity to so-called ordinary people, showcasing Miller's ability to find beauty and significance in all his subjects.
A very different project emerged in 2012 with "Sandro: Raw: Steppenwolf," a massive 234-page book weighing about 15 pounds. This work came about during a particularly challenging period when Miller was diagnosed with stage 4 throat and neck cancer. Knowing he faced an arduous eight-month treatment journey that would make it impossible to work with clients, Miller turned to his archives and found thousands of photos he had taken for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company over 14 years. The book featured ensemble members in new and vibrant ways, captured during moments after completing their required poster and advertisement shoots when trust and creativity flourished.
Miller's most intensive photographer-subject relationship has been with actor John Malkovich, with whom he has collaborated on several books including "Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters," "Malkovich Sessions," and "Malkovich: Then Came John." In these works, Malkovich appears dressed as famous stars like Bette Davis and Orson Welles, and recreates iconic photographs. Malkovich, who contributes to the new book, describes Miller as "a fantastic colleague and friend, a great storyteller and a wonderfully gifted seeker and finder of truths."
The formal publication of "On Earth as It Is Not in Heaven" includes a book signing event at Miller's studio, attended by friends and family, including his wife, filmmaker Claudie-Aline Miller, and their two adult children, Nathan and Natalia. Miller continues his photographic work, maintaining the passion that has driven him for five decades. The legacy of his work is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that Moose Skowron, who died in 2012, kept a framed photograph that Miller had sent him after their 2000 session displayed in his living room until his death, a testament to the lasting impact of Miller's artistry and the magic he creates through his lens.
