A fine example of existentially serious travel photography, made on a series of trips Arata Dodo took to towns around the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia. Taigan means opposite shore: Dodo wanted to explore the idea that the people of these towns are only faintly aware of what is happening on the other side of the Caspian, while searching within himself for clarity about his own future. His bold colour snapshots balance the documentation of the social landscape of the countries he passes through with his own experience of travelling alone, more or less reliant on the kindness of others. He does not try to cobble together a mythical pan-Caspian country: the book is clearly separated by country, with a warmly written text for each, and these texts together with the direct images give the feeling of wandering along with him.