Since its first publication in 1937, this lucid and scholarly chronicle of the history of photography has been hailed as the classic work on the subject. No other book and no other author have managed to relate the aesthetic evolution of the art of photography to its technical innovations with such an absorbing combination of clarity, scholarship and enthusiasm. Through more than 300 works by such master photographers as William Henry Fox Talbot, Timothy O'Sullivan, Julia Margaret Cameron, Eugene Atget, Peter Henry Emerson, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Man Ray, Edward Weston, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Ansel Adams, Brassai, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Harry Callahan, Minor White, Robert Frank and Diane Arbus, author Beaumont Newhall presents a fascinating, comprehensive study of the significant trends and developments in the medium since the first photographs were made in 1839. New selections added to the fifth edition include photographs made in color, from hand-tinted daguerreotypes of 1850 to turn-of-the-century autochromes by Edward Steichen, to works by contemporary masters such as Eliot Porter, Ernst Haas, William Eggleston, Stephen Shore and Joel Meyerowitz.Beaumont Newhall (1908-1993) was an influential curator, art historian, writer and photographer. In 1935 he became the Librarian at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. In 1940, he became the first Director of MoMA's Photography Department. He served as Curator of the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House from 1948 to 1958, then as its Director from 1958 to 1971. While at the Eastman House, Newhall was responsible for amassing one of the greatest photographic collections in the world.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By tootsdonovan
Format:Paperback
As a student, I was forced to buy this book during my 2 year tenure at photography school. It remains one of the most comprehensive, detailed and well written references on the history of photography. History books can be a little "dry" to read but this one is exceptionally well written and covers a vast amount of ground in an admirable fashion.
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By Ajean Veasse
Format:Paperback
If you're even remotely interested in photography and its development, this book is a wonderful way to learn about it. It details the emergence of all the important photographic processes with just enough technical detail to be interesting and not so much as to be overwhelming. There are many pictures in it that provide examples and show how images changed over the years. It also includes the personal aspects of this history and how photography has affected our culture. The writing is smooth and easy to read. In short, I highly recommend it; you won't be disappointed.
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The many photos reproduced are interesting and sometime beautiful, but the first thing to do is to read the story, which covers the first hundred years of photography (1850 - 1950.)
The first time I read this book I was very surprised about the many different ways different peoples believed photography should be used and not used, how many different solutions were suggested and used to make artworks (or not) using a camera.
Many years later we are still influenced by their ideas and works without actually knowing them in most cases and the new possibilities that digital photography bring to us make some old questions very interesting ones.
The first time I read this book I was very surprised about the many different ways different peoples believed photography should be used and not used, how many different solutions were suggested and used to make artworks (or not) using a camera.
Many years later we are still influenced by their ideas and works without actually knowing them in most cases and the new possibilities that digital photography bring to us make some old questions very interesting ones.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
This is a great book for research in any field of endeavor, or for simply sitting back and looking at how they lived in the Good old days.
Published 11 days ago by J. Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars
A enjoyable book for anyone that likes to know how things came to be
The book is well written and has many great photographs taken from the early days of photography up to the end of the 20th century. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Charles Holt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome book.
Definitely a keeper in any photographers lit collection. Fabulous recount of the history of photography. Will have this book for a very long time!
Published 1 month ago by Aslyn
5.0 out of 5 stars
The "Bible" for the Photo-Historian
Aside from the fact that I knew Beaumont, and took several courses from him, it is the consensus among Photo-Historians that this book is a must reference book.
Published 2 months ago by Dragoslav T. Marcovich
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent Introduction and Overview
This is a good beginning to understanding the ways in which phnotography evolved since it's invention in the mid 19th century. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Picasso
5.0 out of 5 stars
The History of Photography
The first edition of this book was in 1937, ninety-eight years after the birth of photography. This edition is the 5th and last, published in 1982. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Sam Adams
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book Condition
The book arrived on the schedule promised and was in the condition described in its listing.
The book itself is a very comprehensive treatment of the History of Photography... Read more
The book itself is a very comprehensive treatment of the History of Photography... Read more
Published on October 9, 2010 by Boppin Bobby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very informative
For those interested in history, this is a very good book. A good read, covering many types of photography through the years. Not a bit dry.
Published on October 24, 2009 by Shatzi Crabtree
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy Learning
I bought this book for a college class and I intend on keeping it forever. The amount of information is great. Lots of examples of great photography. Read more
Published on January 25, 2009 by Emily Dingee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book - Pleasure to read
This could have been dry subject matter, but it was both interesting and useful. As an avid designer that dabbles in photography, I found this to be a great book.
Published on September 11, 2007 by Russ Holland
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