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Life Library of Photography
Great Photographers
Time Life Books Life Library of Photography
- GenresPhotographyHistory
246 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 11, 2019
Superb overview of the different photographers from the first photographs to the middle of the twentieth century.
June 29, 2020
In a way, this Time-Life Magazine compilation of photographs of “68 great photographers (the photographers are all Western. Did non-Westerners not do photography?) is a history of photography, 1840-1960, from the perspective of both technology and as a visual medium. Part of the narrative that goes along with these pictures discusses the various schools of thought – realism, romanticism, documentation, social relevance, art. The striking part of the discussion was the strong opinion about what photography should and should not be.
The narrative accompanying each photographer’s work focused on technique and style, but I didn’t find the content interesting. The editors often effuse with unbearable commentary on the significance of the picture. They see things with zero appeal or things that might not be there at all. In one picture titled “Black Sun,” the sun high in the sky turns up black due to a cold, sluggish shutter. It looks like a smudge mark. This symbolized a lot for the editors, but the real beauty of this picture is the snow fence, perfectly aligned but barely seen with the barn and silos behind. This the editors said nothing about. In another photo, a boy stands next to two doors – with two white knobs leaping out against the dark wood, with an unnoted and subtly placed door stop underneath one of them. It’s nice composition but then the editors write that this picture “prompts visual questions that create emotional tensions within the viewer?” Regarding the open door, the questions are: “Why is the door at the left open? Where does it lead?.” But the question might be, “Really?”
The most interesting part of the editors commentary was on those photographers who developed their pictures as they captured them with the camera – there’s no retouching or cropping (Weston) or just no cropping (Cartier-Bresson). But doesn’t-post picture taking manipulation extend what is there in taking the photograph to begin with – playing with the light, aperture setting framing the picture through the viewfinder, etc.?
The editors discuss the criteria for a great photographer in their brief introduction. Boiled down, it is intent, skills and consistency. Content is missing. What is it about a picture that makes it worth displaying – composition that pleases the eye, that capture the unusual or the usual in an unusual way. This is where this collection falls flat. I suppose “intent” gets at this question, but, as noted above, there are problems with that.
The narrative accompanying each photographer’s work focused on technique and style, but I didn’t find the content interesting. The editors often effuse with unbearable commentary on the significance of the picture. They see things with zero appeal or things that might not be there at all. In one picture titled “Black Sun,” the sun high in the sky turns up black due to a cold, sluggish shutter. It looks like a smudge mark. This symbolized a lot for the editors, but the real beauty of this picture is the snow fence, perfectly aligned but barely seen with the barn and silos behind. This the editors said nothing about. In another photo, a boy stands next to two doors – with two white knobs leaping out against the dark wood, with an unnoted and subtly placed door stop underneath one of them. It’s nice composition but then the editors write that this picture “prompts visual questions that create emotional tensions within the viewer?” Regarding the open door, the questions are: “Why is the door at the left open? Where does it lead?.” But the question might be, “Really?”
The most interesting part of the editors commentary was on those photographers who developed their pictures as they captured them with the camera – there’s no retouching or cropping (Weston) or just no cropping (Cartier-Bresson). But doesn’t-post picture taking manipulation extend what is there in taking the photograph to begin with – playing with the light, aperture setting framing the picture through the viewfinder, etc.?
The editors discuss the criteria for a great photographer in their brief introduction. Boiled down, it is intent, skills and consistency. Content is missing. What is it about a picture that makes it worth displaying – composition that pleases the eye, that capture the unusual or the usual in an unusual way. This is where this collection falls flat. I suppose “intent” gets at this question, but, as noted above, there are problems with that.
March 14, 2025
This will likely be hard to find since it is one volume from an old Life Library of Photography series (I found a few volumes from the series at a used book sale). This is an excellent overview of important photographers from 1840-1960, organized into 20-year periods. Each photographer gets a brief, informative overview of their work along with a few photos. The photos are not the most famous ones that are available everywhere, but are illustrative of the photographer's work. Although organized chronologically, the writing throughout the book is also thematically coherent A similar book covering photographers from 1960 to the present would be very welcome.
October 7, 2021
This was fascinating to see how famous photographers throughout the history of photography are considered great and what makes their photographs great. I was disappointed that there weren't more female photographers, but considering that this revised edition was done in the 80's it's not surprising.
January 21, 2013
Published in 1971, this series is a comprehensive overview of many aspects of photography. Only the titles specific to equipment; The Camera; Light and Film; and The Print are a bit outdated, but not completely for the same principles still apply such as shutter speed, depth of field, etc. By far, a great series for any would be serious photographer even today.
March 15, 2009
apparently there must be several of these books. the one i am reading is titled "great Photographers 1840-1960" can't seem to find it here or on amazon, but swear to god it exists!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews