The Real and the True: The Digital Photography of Pedro Meyer [Paperback]

Pedro Meyer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321269136 | ISBN-13: 978-0321269133 | Publication Date: August 18, 2005

This fascinating, full-color volume brings together Meyer's photographs and his essays from ZoneZero, the international photography Web site he founded, along with other experts' commentary on his work. In one section, Meyer deconstructs some of his vivid, magical realist-style works, taking the reader inside his creative process. Students and admirers of Meyer's work, those interested in documentary photography or contemporary Mexico, and anyone interested in the timely intellectual questions he raises will be drawn to this engaging and beautiful book. Internationally regarded photographer Pedro Meyer began his career as a journalist and documentary photographer, and in many ways that is still his primary form of expression, although his work often crosses what others perceive as boundaries between truth and fiction. Meyer contends that photographers have always manipulated the truth to elicit certain responses. Sometimes, of course, the intent is to deceive, whether digitally through software programs like Photoshop, or by simply positioning the camera in a certain way to include or exclude parts of the picture, or in the darkroom, adjusting the lighting or cropping people in or out of a shot. At other times, Meyer argues, a transformed image can present a more profound truth than could be captured in a single exposure, just as fiction sometimes conveys more truth than simple reportage. The task for viewers says Meyer, is to question why and how images are made, and in the process uncover the real truth in those images.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Veteran photographer Pedro Meyer has had 125 exhibitions, published three highly acclaimed books, and produced several seminal CD-ROMs during his 40-year career. He is the curator and creator of the highly regarded ZoneZero Web site, a community and gallery for photographers from around the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: New Riders Press (August 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321269136
• ISBN-13: 978-0321269133
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,037,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, September 5, 2005

By 

L. M. Jacobs (Cordova, Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Real and the True: The Digital Photography of Pedro Meyer (Paperback)

This book was not what I expected, from the cover forward. The cover image shown on amazon is not the actual cover of the book. There are a few outstanding photos intermingled with some great photos and some mediocre photos. The layout and design of this book could have greatly enhanced the content. The format is too small for the number of photos, giving it a cluttered appeance and overwhelming feel when reading. I was not looking for a "pretty" coffee table book, but I was looking for something visually stunning, informative, and inspiring to my own work.