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W. Eugene Smith: Shadow and Substance - The Life and Work of an American Photographer
The life of the photojournalist and his camera and what he did to inspire credence and honor in the art of photography
- GenresPhotographyBiography
638 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 16, 2014
This book tells us how this great artist, shaped by tragic family history, wounded physically and mentally by war, brutally attacked--his cameras destroyed--tryng to tell the story of voiceless victims, deformed by the mercury poisioning created by one corporation, had to continuously fight the corporate management, at LIFE magazine, for the creative freedom to show the world HIS unique photo-stories of the human condition.
Smith's stunning B&W images, masterfully illuminated with, directional, natural light, giving his images strong shadows on his subjects and often deep dark vignettes, were hand printed by Smith like gothic paintings.
His dramatic prints evoke the tenebrism of the baroque master painter Caravaggio--see "The Calling of Saint Matthew".
The influence of Smith's work, more than any other photographer, is why I shifted my professional photography from things to people. That influence is also why I only use natural light when outside or when inside, window light, much like the Dutch painter Vermeer did 300 years ago.
This style of photography is fast disappearing in this digital age. I urge serious photographers to study Smith's images and read this story of an artist whose passion would permit no compromises to his vision.
Jerry W. Venz
Smith's stunning B&W images, masterfully illuminated with, directional, natural light, giving his images strong shadows on his subjects and often deep dark vignettes, were hand printed by Smith like gothic paintings.
His dramatic prints evoke the tenebrism of the baroque master painter Caravaggio--see "The Calling of Saint Matthew".
The influence of Smith's work, more than any other photographer, is why I shifted my professional photography from things to people. That influence is also why I only use natural light when outside or when inside, window light, much like the Dutch painter Vermeer did 300 years ago.
This style of photography is fast disappearing in this digital age. I urge serious photographers to study Smith's images and read this story of an artist whose passion would permit no compromises to his vision.
Jerry W. Venz
February 3, 2020
A well done biography that I really enjoyed!
May 10, 2026
A brilliant photographer! A very troubled person, a momma's boy, an alcoholic drug addict, womanizer, who just couldn't get out of his own way!
January 22, 2017
Acerca de su famosa fotografía The Walk to Paradise Garden, la primera realizada en 1946 después de una larga y dolorosa recuperación tras el accidente al pisar una mina, Smith escribía:
"There must be a realization that photography is the best liar among us, abetted by the belief that photography shows it as it is. My people have always been those people trapped in a corner. They are my passion. This is why two kids walking into the light can be my signature photograph... I can come to them with a voice they don not possess." (W.E.S.)
En esta biografía, tras una década de investigación y mas de 300 entrevistas con la familia y amigos de Smith, Jim Hughes nos sumerge en las "shadow and substance" de este genio de la fotografía.
"There must be a realization that photography is the best liar among us, abetted by the belief that photography shows it as it is. My people have always been those people trapped in a corner. They are my passion. This is why two kids walking into the light can be my signature photograph... I can come to them with a voice they don not possess." (W.E.S.)
En esta biografía, tras una década de investigación y mas de 300 entrevistas con la familia y amigos de Smith, Jim Hughes nos sumerge en las "shadow and substance" de este genio de la fotografía.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews