Customer Reviews

Portraits and Figures: Developing Style in Creative Photography

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is probably my all-time favorite photography book, and I'll explain why:

1) The images are outstanding, both technically and creatively. I have never tired of looking at this book -- how many books can you say that about? If you love B&W, you simply must have this book. It has images from contemporary photographers like Eammon McCabe and Andreas Zacharatos, as well greats like Bert Hardy.

2) The book is beautifully printed. I love the square format and heavy stock pages - it will last a long time.

3) Each full-page image is accompanied by a paragraph or more description and statement by the actual photographer, explaining the intent, technique, difficulties, etc. These statements by the photographers are extremely interesting and educational. I have probably read these pages at least two dozen times for each image. The technical details of each image are one of the main reasons I first bought this book (includes type of camera, format, f-stop, exposure, and film).

4) All the images and text add to your understanding of how these images were made, and gives you new ideas and inspriation to try new techniques. I disagree with the other reviewer that the text is too small: it is small, but in my view the layout of this book is outstanding, and very effective.

5) This book has opened my eyes to see the potential and diversity of what is called "portrait" photography! You won't regret owning this book.

This book by Terry Hope features the work 19 photographers, mostly British, with some very impressive credentials. There are some marvelous images here, and some not so great. The images are very heavily weighted toward low-key portraits, meaning many are very dark with heavy or black shadows. Portraiture here also is loosely interpreted as there are actually very few shots that one would consider formal studio portraits or posed shots. One would wish for more balance. There are very few images of women and several of those who do appear are given rather shabby treatment. I won't delve too much into this, except to say bar maids and ..., and that's almost it for women. Each photo is accompanied by text where the photographer's approach to the photo is explained and other information included. Hope does not seem to care too much whether you read this or not, because the type is so small the reader really has to struggle to read it. There is no reason for this as there is plenty of white space on the page to enlarge the type. Pity the poor reader. There is some very good information, here, however, if one can strain his eyes to read it. Larger type would have gotten this book four stars.

This is an interesting picture book for B+W photographers, particularly those interested in alternative development techniques and materials. Each picture has a paragraph or two from the photographer with, by my count, 19 photographers represented across roughly 51 photographs. Accompanying tiny print from the book's author provides technique tips and pointers. The stunning photographs run the gamut between grainy and non-grainy and different forms of toning. The book doesn't include any images created from digital capture. It's interesting and sometimes inspiring but you need to be specifically looking for examples based on different B+W papers and chemicals for development in order to get much out of it as far as technical know-how is concerned.