Mestres da Fotografia: Técnicas Criativas de 100 Grandes Fotógrafos

by Paul Lowe

Arnold Newman, a prolific, innovative, and acclaimed portrait photographer of the 20th century, gained widespread recognition through prominent magazine features, solo exhibitions, and inclusion in esteemed global photography collections. This seminal publication, the first posthumous monograph (post-2006), showcases over 200 of Newman's iconic images, including many never-before-seen in book form. It features brief biographies of his subjects, spanning painters, writers, musicians, business leaders, and more, such as Truman Capote, Marc Chagall, Marilyn Monroe, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol. The book presents individual and group portraits, abstracts, landscapes, architectural details, and cityscapes. Essays by William A. Ewing, Arthur Ollman, and David Coleman provide insight into Newman's evolving career and notable commissions.

Genres: Photography, Art

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Paul Lowe was a British photographer, educator, writer and critic. He was awarded the Royal Photographic Society's Vic Odden Award in 1999.

Reviews

[Olga Tsyba · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good one, though some might argue selection of photographers and photos, it is still super interesting for those who are seriously into photography.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting canter through 100 photographic 'masterpieces' split across 10 categories (e.g. places, things, ideas, stories, documents). Each section is chronological, containing images from the 1800s through to the early 2000s.

The book definitely improved my knowledge of notable photographers and also gave good insight into their thought processes. There were a few themes that came through for me. One is the idea that good photography involves the "art of observation" and "finding something interesting in an ordinary place" (Elliott Erwitt). It's about how you frame the world around you in a way that conveys a deeper meaning. Another theme was how gear is only a means to an end - that end being the ability to tell a great story. Also on this theme, the idea that photographers should know their equipment inside out and push it to its limits.

Some stand out bits for me included: Francis Frith and how he sold his grocery business to fund his travels around the world to take photos; how early photographers battled impressively against heavy equipment and the wet collodion process; John Davies' images of post-industrial Britain; Tony Ray-Jones' philosophy of taking photos of events that take longer to read than they do to happen; how Dougie Wallace uses flash to 'provoke' a situation and work with his street subjects rather than melt into the background; and finally Erich Salomon and the lengths he went to to sneak his camera into high society events, concealing his lens in a bowler hat or bagpipes!

[Ypatios Varelas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful for beginners in the art of photography. Presents many well-known photographers with a brief bio, one of their photos with some comments and "creative tips and techniques" related to the specific photographer. Sadly, not all pictures are good or interesting. And many times, the author struggles to make a photo interesting with an enhanced description, which often fails to do so. But one can also find a lot of helpful information.

[Jantine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and diverse, though wholly focused on Western photographers.