The Photobook: A History - Volume 2 (Hardcover)

~ Martin Parr (Author), Gerry Badger (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Much Anticipated Second Volume of the Story of Photography through the History of the Photobook; Compiled by Martin Parr and Gerry Badger

"The Photobook: A History, Volume I, by Martin Parr and Gerry Badger, is the most important contribution to the field since modern histories of photography began to appear in the early twentieth century. We can be sure that this book, and its forthcoming second volume, will lead the way to revitalization of thinking and publishing in the field. It dwarfs previous publications in both its scope and the information it provides." (Photo-Eye, December 2004)

More photobooks are being published now than ever. For most photographers, this format is the ideal vehicle to present their work and communicate their vision to a mass audience. While the history of photography is a well-established canon, much less critical attention has been devoted to this alternative history of the medium through the pages of the photobook

Following the critically acclaimed first volume, THE PHOTOBOOK: A HISTORY: VOLUME II, co-edited by Martin Parr and Gerry Badger, brings the most comprehensive illustrated history of the photobook fully up to date. Featuring over 200 photobooks, this lush survey offers a fresh approach to photographic history and is a celebration of the medium's diversity. Broadly thematic in structure, each chapter features an introductory easy followed by detailed discussion of the individual photobooks alongside images of the book covers and spreads.

While the first volume stressed the subjective nature of the history of the medium and how that history was molded by the influences of curators and historians, the second volume brings a new perspective from the viewpoint of the photographer and the editor. A secret web of influences and interconnections between photographers and photographic movements around the world is revealed producing a global network of ideas.

Spanning from Edouard Baldus's magnificent book for the Paris-Lyons Railway Company of 1861 to Stephen Shore's American Surfaces of 2005, the development of photography in its published form is the main focus. THE PHOTOBOOK: A HISTORY: VOLUME II is a chronicle of contemporary life, covering key artistic genres, including The American Photobook, The European Photobook, The Artist's Photobook and The Company Photobook.

Gerry Badger explains the narrative function this unique format provides, "The photobook has become a worldwide phenomenon as practitioners of all cultures look to photography as a means of understanding the world around them." The books that fill the pages of this magnificent volume have defined photography, telling us just as much about the history of the medium as the history of the world. THE PHOTOBOOK: A HISTORY: VOLUME II is an indispensable resource.

About the Author

Martin Parr bridges the divide between art and documentary photography. His studies of the idiosyncrasies of mass culture and consumerism around the world, his innovative imagery and his prolific output have placed him firmly at the forefront of contemporary art. A member of the international photo agency Magnum, Parr is an avid collector of photobooks and a world authority on the photobook. He lives in Bristol, England.

Gerry Badger is a photo historian and critic. He writes and lectures on photography regularly and has curated a number of exhibitions, including `The Photographer as Printmaker' for the Arts Council of Great Britain and `Through the Looking Glass: Post-war British Photography' for the Barbican Arts Centre, London. His published books include Collecting Photography (2003) and books on Eugène Atget and Chris Killip (published by Phaidon). He is currently completing a major book on the Berlin work of the American photographer John Gossage. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (October 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714844330
• ISBN-13: 978-0714844336
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 10.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,346 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Through the lens with print: part two, December 26, 2006

By	Robin Benson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As I wrote in my review of the first edition, both will surely become the standard reference about photobooks. This second one is mostly concerned with contemporary photography and the coverage is really impressive which raises an important point: both books regard their subject as a lively and energetic creative medium and not a dry academic one reflecting an elitist point-of-view.

Just over two hundred photobooks are considered in nine chapters and like book one each has a technical caption (publisher, size, pages, date etc) and an excellent analysis of the photos and the book. The coverage, as I mentioned is very comprehensive. There is a chapter devoted to books that are not commercially available (The Company Photobook) and the twenty-five covered include a high school yearbook, or chapter six: Looking at Photographs, where the theme is the picture editor as author with twenty-two books. Controversy is not avoided either, chapter eight looks at the work of the New Topographic photographers with their stark takes on blast furnaces, prisons and other potential visual failures of society.

This second book is the same design, with excellent printing and paper, as the first (and to my mind) has the same fault in that there are not enough spreads shown from all the books looked at despite plenty of white space on each page. This does seem an odd editorial oversight when the purpose of the book is to show pages from books full of photographs. The first book had a few examples of many pages from a particular book but I could only find one in this book: a 1957 Norfolk and Western brochure where seventeen pages are shown (out of eighteen) using Winston Link's wonderful train photos

Look through the 656 pages of these two books and you'll soon realise that Badger and Parr have achieved a remarkably lively study. Surely the photobook gold standard.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent sequel..., October 28, 2006

By	TomAssini (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews

Just where Volume 1 left off, Volume 2 takes off. Very thorough and well organized, be reminded this is not an all inclusive book of books. You may agree with some of the entries and you may also disagree, but, most important, you'll end up learning on new possible entries for your library as well as discarding considered ones.

All in all an exquisite reference book. Enjoy...T