Robert Adams... as a writer, 'Why people photograph' is accessible, light and feels like an interesting companion as a photographer as you read it...also 'Beauty in Photography', as something to read along or in parallel to your art practicing
I am a student of fine arts and am a Walter Benjamin scholar, among other things. The artwork essay is great. It is easy to understand at first but provides fertile ground for infinitely rich and complex interpretations.
Great video! Thanks for introducing Villem Flusser, I was not aware of him! WIll have to check him out. FYI I have an MFA in photography and of course, quite familiar with all of the other books and authors you mentioned. As for recommendations, have you read anything by Jeff Wall for instance: Jeff Wall: Selected Essays and Interviews. P.S. John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" is also a quirky BBC series where he speaks on camera. I think the series came before the book but don't quote me on that.
Hi! Thank you so much for the feedback! And yes, happened to have read quite a few texts by Jeff Wall! And I’m a huge fan of his photographic work as well :)
Berger opened my eyes and mind to concepts that later were obvious. Sontag infuriated, but also drove introspection. Flusser was unreadable. The others are either new to me, or published after I left photography. Additions I think should be on your list are “The Daybooks of Edward Weston,” which assures the modern photographer that things haven’t changed all that much, and “Art and Fear” by Bayles and Ormand, which addresses the universal difficulties that artists share, and how to persevere.
Ways of Seeing was also a BBC documentary series Berger did in the 70s (I think it predates the book actually) so anyone interested in the book should check that out too.
'On Photography' needs to be read critically. The posturing style is little more than word-noise that crumbles to nothing if you take time to dissect it. I'm with Lisette Model (Arbus's teacher/mentor) who wrote of 'On Photography' that “this is a book by a woman who knows everything and understands nothing.”
Thank you everyone to all the amazing feedback and recommendations!🫶🏻 happy to see so many people being passionate about books on photography!
Robert Adams... as a writer, 'Why people photograph' is accessible, light and feels like an interesting companion as a photographer as you read it...also 'Beauty in Photography', as something to read along or in parallel to your art practicing
I am a student of fine arts and am a Walter Benjamin scholar, among other things. The artwork essay is great. It is easy to understand at first but provides fertile ground for infinitely rich and complex interpretations.
Great picks. Also Jeff Wall: Selected Essays and Interviews. and Paul Graham: Photographs 1981-2006.
Love this! Thank you for sharing
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I read Barthes and Sontag in art school. I will look into some of the books you've suggested.
Looking at Photographs - John Szarkowski (MOMA)
Thank you!
Great video! Thanks for introducing Villem Flusser, I was not aware of him! WIll have to check him out. FYI I have an MFA in photography and of course, quite familiar with all of the other books and authors you mentioned. As for recommendations, have you read anything by Jeff Wall for instance: Jeff Wall: Selected Essays and Interviews.
P.S. John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" is also a quirky BBC series where he speaks on camera. I think the series came before the book but don't quote me on that.
Hi! Thank you so much for the feedback!
And yes, happened to have read quite a few texts by Jeff Wall! And I’m a huge fan of his photographic work as well :)
Berger opened my eyes and mind to concepts that later were obvious. Sontag infuriated, but also drove introspection. Flusser was unreadable. The others are either new to me, or published after I left photography. Additions I think should be on your list are “The Daybooks of Edward Weston,” which assures the modern photographer that things haven’t changed all that much, and “Art and Fear” by Bayles and Ormand, which addresses the universal difficulties that artists share, and how to persevere.
Thank you so much for the recommendations! Will make sure to check it out!
Ways of Seeing was also a BBC documentary series Berger did in the 70s (I think it predates the book actually) so anyone interested in the book should check that out too.
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'On Photography' needs to be read critically. The posturing style is little more than word-noise that crumbles to nothing if you take time to dissect it. I'm with Lisette Model (Arbus's teacher/mentor) who wrote of 'On Photography' that “this is a book by a woman who knows everything and understands nothing.”