Photojournalism 1855 To The Present: Editor's Choice

by Reuel Golden (Editor)

Ever since Roger Fenton inaugurated the genre by photographing the Crimean War in 1855, the world's great photojournalists have used a variety of approaches to bear witness to their times. At one end of the photojournalistic spectrum are war photographers like Robert Capa and Larry Burrows, who capture the most extreme events of human existence as they happen; at the other are social documentarians like Lewis Hine and Sebasti+úo Salgado, who step back from the single dramatic incident to cover in depth such economic and cultural issues as labor and migration. By compiling 250 of the most memorable images from photojournalismGÇÖs 150-year history, Photojournalism 1855 to the EditorGÇÖs Choice provides a fascinating introduction to the entire range of the field.Author Reuel Golden, a noted authority on photojournalism, selected the fifty-four photographers featured in this book based on their critical reputations and historical importance. For each photographer, Golden provides a portfolio of representative imagesGÇömany reproduced at full-page sizeGÇöas well as a brief biography and an insightful critical commentary on his or her career.

In these commentaries and in his informative introduction, Golden discusses the particular challenges of photojournalism, such as the relationship between photographer and subject, and the moral ramifications of aestheticizing human suffering. Yet perhaps most importantly, his text also encourages the reader to look closer and discover how well the photographs speak for themselves. From Frank HurleyGÇÖs groundbreaking World War I battlefield shots to Mary Ellen MarkGÇÖs stark portraits of American poverty and James NachtweyGÇÖs haunting pictures of the September 11 attacks, the images in this book prove that even in our era of twenty-four-hour video-on demand, the still photograph remains as powerful as ever.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, History, Reference, Politics, Art

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

showcases 54 photographers with a brief bio/explanation of significance and 2-3 page spreads of some of their work with captions. reuel golden is london editor/writer/lecturer on all things photo. too bad he didn't spend more ink on explanations and the future of this as journalism seems to be a dying art form. i like martin parr, he now writes little essays with his photos/work

http://www.martinparr.com/blog/

[Miguel Pires-da-rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good choice of photographers and the same goes for the selected pictures. I kind of wish that a bit more effort was put into foreseeing what lies ahead in photojournalism.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I liked this one, but it could have been so much better. In each photographer overview, Golden mentioned specific photographs, but then they wouldn't be included in the book. I think the book would have been better with fewer photographers and more examples their photographs. Since the subtitle is "150 years...," it would have been nice if the photographers were shown in chronological order rather than alphabetical. Lastly, I got really annoyed with Golden telling me what I was supposed to be seeing in the captions for the pictures. Just tell me the event and let me make my own interpretation.

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book with a good selection of photographers. Definitely left me wanting more, so I will be looking into some of the essays and books mentioned in this one. If I had one criticism, I was definitely driven nuts by the font. I understand this is a book of photography, and words come secondary, but the font was just so small it was frustrating to read. A larger, lighter font instead of such a tiny, bold font would have still left the impression of minimal distraction from the photos but also been easier to read.

[Adnil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A photo can have such a remarkable power. The world is so enormous that there are so many corners that I haven't seen. Photography is the eyes to those invisible dark corners.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books where one has to be interested in the topic to appreciate. This book presents an excellent overview as expressed in the title, Photojournalism 1855 to the well actually publication date. It's informative, shows off a lot of excellent work, and different types of photojournalists while presenting a concise background on each one. I'm sure there are some pictures that anyone would recognize--the soldier wildly kissing the woman at the end of WWII, people walking in the murk following the collapse of the twin towers on 9/11, and the Depression era mother with her wrinkled brow looking pensively at the camera. It also shows many pictures I have not seen before. I'm sure it's impossible to be comprehensive--hence it's editor's choice. However, this collection is expressive of many different styles and topics. Although most are black and white, there are some color photographs as well as brief overviews of all. As a plus, it captures a lot of history. As part of my continuing interesting in photography, I consider this a must read.

[Miguel Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como no encontraba más libros de la Natgeo en las escasas librerías de mi ciudad en ése momento, me ví atraído por éste libro, me sorprendí por las historias contadas através del lente y el corto texto que salía, totalmente recomendado para quienes laboran en el periodismo.

[Dust Digital · Rating 4 out of 5]

An historical book doing what photography does best - capturing a moment in time.

[Pat Loughery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent overview of the history of photojournalism and classic examples from many of the greats in the field - some well known, some less so. It will be one I'll revisit often.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Need to take time to digest the great pictures. Made me think about my own photography and what themes I'd like to explore. Liked it more than expected