Life: The Platinum Anniversary Collection: 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography [Hardcover]

Editors of Life (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2007

For seven decades, "Life" has been thrilling the world with its unrivalled presentation of the very best photography to be found. Here, the editors have assembled the creme de la creme from the magazine's vast collection of images. Because "Life" has always dealt with matters of every sort, the entire spectrum of society is represented in these pages. One after another, there are unforgettable photos from Hollywood's greatest stars, from the wonders of small-town America, from the terrible wars, as well as from the zestful years of childhood. "Life" has always represented the apex in photojournalism and its roster of great photographers is unequalled.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The brainchild of Henry Luce, owner of Time and Fortune, Life magazine was formed in 1936 and quickly became one of the most influential publications of the 20th century. Its original mandate, in the words of Luce, was "to see life; to see the world; to eyewitness great events," and as such it brought extraordinary images from around the world into American households. This collection, a 70-year retrospective, presents a history in photos, highlighting the most famous, moving and beautiful pictures from the magazine, including classics by Alfred Eisenstaedt, Dorothea Lange, Margaret Bourke-White, and Irving Penn. Divided into sections covering the presidency, Hollywood, war, science and nature, culture, sport and "fun," this volume packs in a huge assortment of subjects and emotions. Of particular interest is the chapter of "Photo Essays," a pioneering Life feature that revolutionized the field of photojournalism, capturing stories through image sequences and small blurbs; included are provocative stories such as the plight of German refugees in 1945, Heroin use in the '60s and Larry Burrows' intimate portrait of the Vietnam war, which has been called "the greatest photo essay ever made." In honor of its legacy, the Platinum Anniversary Collection closes with a short annex of every magazine cover from the magazine's long, illustrious life.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Photojournalism probably wouldn't have exploded into public consciousness as it did had Henry Luce not given Time and Fortune a sibling, the pictorial weekly Life. The November 23, 1936, first issue contained a sterling example (well sampled herein) by Margaret Bourke-White of what would become a Life staple, the photo-essay. The magazine really caught on when World War II began. At its 1940s-early 1960s acme, Life may have been read by one-third of all American households; the distinction of its photos ensured that many more would see its wares reproduced in books, exhibitions, and other media. This survey cherry-picks Life's seven decades for chapters on the presidency, the photo-essay, Hollywood, war, science and nature, sports, "Our Culture, Our World," and people having fun. If many of the photographers' names are famous, several of the pictures are so well known that they have become icons of their times and events, such as "The Picture" (sailor kisses girl in Times Square on V-J Day). No matter how many times they are repackaged--indispensable images. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Life (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933405171
• ISBN-13: 978-1933405179
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 1.1 x 13.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Photojournalism
  • #35 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Should have been better, December 1, 2006

By 

Mckinley0930 "mckinley0930" (Omaha NE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life: The Platinum Anniversary Collection: 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography (Hardcover)

For 70 years Life has been reknown for their fantastic photography. I own many of their original magazines and many of their "Coffee Table" books.
Quite frankly, for a 70 year span, I feel that this book should have been at least twice as thick as it is. I would have paid double to have more of their fantastic photos all in one book.
I know it is my opinion, but I cannot believe that they left out the picture of the baby grasping the doctors finger during an in utero surgery. To me, THAT is the most remarkable photo I've ever seen.
In closing; A good book that immediately needs a 2nd or even a 3rd volume.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be a part of the Photography and History collections of every academic and community library, November 4, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life: The Platinum Anniversary Collection: 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography (Hardcover)

Featuring an informative introduction by Robert Sullivan, "Life: 70 Years Of Extaordinary Photography - Platinum Anniversary Collection" showcases a comprehensive and representative series of photo essays and prized historical images, including a section presented every Life magazine cover published over seven decades. This 304-page, full-illustrated history is enhanced for contemporary readers with more than 300 amazing photographs and provides us with a kind of guided tour through seventy years of history ranging from domestic issues to foreign affairs. Here are our cultural and political leaders, along with ordinary men and women caught up in extraordinary events. Imaged features of personalities drawn from sports, movies, and everyday life, this extraordinary book is a true memorial celebration and tribute to one of America's most popular and influential magazines of its day. Simply stated, "Life: 70 Years Of Extaordinary Photography - Platinum Anniversary Collection" should be a part of the Photography and History collections of every academic and community library in the country.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of great pictures, October 19, 2006

By 

Robin Stears - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life: The Platinum Anniversary Collection: 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography (Hardcover)

Nearly every photograph in this book evoked a memory, whether good or bad. Some were disturbing, as they were meant to be, but many were uplifting. And it was neat to see how the cover art had changed over the years, and how Life's priorities have shifted.