Customer Reviews

Images of Woman

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Please allow me to state that I have been a professional photographer
of women since 1975. This background does affect my review of
this book. My review is of the first edition published in 1976.

Images of Woman contains approximately ninety-six pages. None
of the pages are numbered. There are four chapter headings with
five to eight pages of text each. The chapters are:

The Sensuous Nude
Light Enhancement
Film Tones the Mood
Fluidity in Form

There is an Introduction that is two pages in length. There are
approximately fifty-five images in the book with all except five
being in color. Nearly all of the photographs contain nudity. Most
of the images are one per page but several are double-truck.

I acquired this book in the late 1970s soon after it was published.
I paid the original retail listed price of $16.95. It was interesting
to see how another photographer approached photographing female
nudes. That subject is what I've specialized in since the 1970s.

In his book Mr. Farber draws his inspiration from painting, primarily
the Impressionist Movement where a subject is often rendered in a soft, hazy
style. His use of film can also impart a grainy texture to the image. This
approach to photography is in direct contrast to the Group f/64 method that
advocated sharpness of detail.

The text provides information on some of the techniques for the
photographer who wishes to emulate Mr. Farber's style. Since Images
of Woman was published in 1976 all of the information is related to
film usage. I find the book's photographs pleasing to the eye but caution
to add that in my own photography I have been known to sometimes
utilize a diffused, dreamy atmospheric style when creating photographs
of women. And I know from experience that not everyone is
enamored with such a romantic approach to photography.

Mr. Farber's photographs are produced in nature, in studio, and in
interior settings. There are no elaborate productions and indeed
the seeming simplicity of his work may lead many to believe that
they too can achieve similar results.

If one does not appreciate a soft-focus approach to photography
this book of images will likely disappoint - and perhaps infuriate.
The women in the book are all lovely and are almost always
rendered in a gentle, misty style. Their nudity is natural.

In the 1970s I enjoyed having this book in my collection of photography
books. I have always considered it a coffee table type book of pictures as
I did not specifically want any technical or instructional assistance when I
purchased the book. But, as I stated, there is information in the book that
can assist those who wish to try this style of photography. I can
recommend Images of Woman to anyone who admires women rendered
in a painterly style reminiscent of the Impressionist Movement.

Jack Wegener
Savannah, GA

I guess I'm not the fuzzy photo kind of guy. I know this was the in thing twenty years ago, but I prefer clearer pictures.