Comments on: Book report: “Photography, A Very Short Introduction”

By: Steve Durbin

Steve Durbin — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:20:50 +0000

Richard,

I absolutely agree with what you say. But whether intended or not, I think that anything that helps us better understand photographs has a chance of also making us better photographers. “Better” is a pretty slippery term that perhaps we can leave to each individual photographer, but I’m not talking about simple technical things in operating a camera.

For my part, I am certainly interested in the deeper context that Doug mentioned, but I am also always trying to work out ways to apply my growing understanding to make images I am more satisfied with. Mostly these days I am reading painters and poets.

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:14:50 +0000

@Steve Durbin. I think it’s missing the point a bit to think that the book, or books like it, are intended to improve our photography. What they do best (and this is one of the best IMO)is give us a framework within which to begin understanding photographs. The world/internet is bursting with images, but there is a real paucity of informed comment about them. We need more

By: June

June — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 05:11:32 +0000

I have order the Steve Edwards book from the library.

I read a whole lot of Doug’s blog.

I have spent an hour reading at Caponigro’s ideas.

I have looked at and wanted more of Sean Kernan’s essays.

And now I suppose I have to go back and order something by Robert Adams.

Ah the life of the uneducated — what a joy to have all this ahead of me

By: Leslie Holt

Leslie Holt — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 13:39:11 +0000

Steve,
Thanks. I will check those out.

By: Steve Durbin

Steve Durbin — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 23:26:28 +0000

Leslie,
I agree John Berger is one of the best popular writers on perception and semiotics; sounds like you know his Ways of Seeing. There has been amazingly little written for the general public on photography by photographers. The thoughtful books by Robert Adams, mentioned by Doug, are the exception. There are some good books written for photographers, typically in narrower areas of the subject, like landscape photography. Most of what is written by non-photographers is more about the social life of images, not about making photographs. Intriguing, but may not be what you’re looking for, and often off-target when talking about the doing of photography. John Paul Caponigro has some brilliant statements on his web site and some interesting interviews with photographers. I also really like Sean Kernan, a photographer who writes about art in general, art school, commercial art, criticism, etc here.

By: Leslie Holt

Leslie Holt — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 23:01:24 +0000

“I was afraid someone was going to catch me up on how not-well read I am on the literature of photographic criticism.”

I didn’t mean it that way:) This book just looks interesting and I thought I’d see what else you like.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:53:41 +0000

I was afraid someone was going to catch me up on how not-well read I am on the literature of photographic criticism. I have tried and failed to get excited by A.D. Coleman’s work. Robert Adams has written some interesting, and maddening, books, sometimes provoking a “You idiot, that’s not how it is,” response in me. Then I find myself nodding my head in agreement in the next paragraph. I do remember reading Sontag’s “On Photography” when it came out, and it had such an impact on me that I dropped photography for a couple of years.I have since resolved the conundrum.