Containing 30 essays that embody the history of photography, this collection includes contributions from Niepce, Daguerre, Fox, Talbot, Poe, Emerson, Hine, Stieglitz, and Weston, among others.
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About the Author
Alan Trachtenberg is the Neil Gray, Jr. professor emeritus of English and American studies at Yale University and the author of several books, including Reading American Photographs: Images As History, Mathew Brady to Walker Evans and Shades of Hiawatha.
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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice introduction to the primary sources in the history of photography
March 25, 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although Trachtenberg's collection has been around for awhile (since 1980), it provides a very nice selection of primary source materials on the history of photography. If you want to know what people were actually thinking and saying about photography during its first 140 years or so, you can find it here. In addition, Trachtenberg's introductions to the selections are quite good--not showy or promoting some particular intellectual hobby horse, but solid and factual and useful to students--I've been studying the topic for years and have found very few factual errors or questionable judgments in his material. The main limitation is that the book stops in the 1970s, so, for my course in history of photography I have to provide additional materials for the recent developments, such as digital photography and the relations between photography and computing and the internet. The only other common item somewhat like this is Goldberg's "Photography in Print," which costs twice as much and, although it is more complete, is not twice as good, at least for the purposes of students in a first course in history of photography. My students can pick up a copy of Trachtenberg for a few dollars used, not much more new, and they've responded well to the selection of readings. Some minor downsides: there is no index, and the individual readings don't give the date of publication (though this is generally available in the "Sources" section at the end of the book). In short, within its limitations, this is an excellent source book, and a bargain in an age of obscene textbook pricing.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
All photographers should read this book once. Starts with Daguerre. Mostly crit and theory by the artists themselves. Very good selection, enjoyable reading, goes fast. Should be required reading in every art school that teaches photography. Not for advanced theorists-it's an introduction to photo theory and crit-but it's a good one!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's a classical collection helpful not only to the people who are associated with world of photography but also to the social science and visual anthropology.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Journal Review
Book is outdated by 10 years. Focus is primarily for social causes and the like. Spot news etc. Good entry level book for those wanting to work at a TV station. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Photo Enthusiast
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great essays.
Just happened to have this collection of essays when I needed source material for an essay I was writing. Highly informative.
Published on April 25, 2010 by Vic Setterholm
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