History of Photography

Last year, I took a local course on the History of Photography. I found the subject matter very interesting, and enjoyed learning more about the context and role that photography played in our country’s history. I’m going to list a few of the books right now, and will hopefully add some summaries later this month or next.

• Luke Swank, Modernist Photographer — Howard Bossen
• A World History of Photography
• American Photography and the American Dream (Cultural Studies of the United States) — James Guimond
• Documentary Expression and Thirties America — William Stott
• Let Us Now Praise Famous Men — James Agee & Evan Walker
• Photography and Politics in America: From the New Deal into the Cold War — Lili Corbus Benzer

Learning about our profession is important — and even though some of these texts are more oriented towards the photojournalist, I would consider the texts relevant and interesting to photographers in any specialty.

Studio & Specialty

I’ve got a few studio & specialty books in my “reference library” — and I’ve been meaning to post summaries of them! At the very least, I can give you a short list of them so that you have somewhere to start.

• Secrets of Studio Still Life Photography — Gary Perweiler
• Photographing In The Studio: Tools and Techniques for Creative Expression — Gary Kolb and Daniel Overturf

Additionally, I’ve a few books that are more like “coffeetable” books.  If you’re looking for inspiration, or are thinking of creating your own gallery-style collection of images, these texts may provide you with some starting points and ideas.

• Works of Love Are Works of Peace: Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity — Michael Collopy and Mother Teresa
• Cape Light: Color Photographs — Joel Meyerowitz

What are YOUR Favorite Photography Books?

One of the amazing things about books is how much our preferences can vary, from person to person. While it’s true that there’s not “one-size-fits-all” mentality for learning — or reading, having some knowledge of how you learn can help you to get the most out of any book.

For example, I love seeing diagrams and images, especially when it relates to visual topics like photography. If you know that diagrams will make the most sense, why not seek out books that have diagrams? Maybe you prefer books that are written from a first-person standpoint…and enjoy learning from others’ experiences. That’s fine too! The key thing is to remember that even though you learn best by studying a particular way, it is beneficial to broaden your horizons. Don’t just stick with a format because it’s familiar — try something out of the ordinary because it’s new!

I love to give (and receive!) book recommendations. As always, I hope that you’ve found these photography book reviews to be informative and helpful in your search for knowledge. If you have some favorite books that have been helpful or informative, post a comment! I’m glad to be able to share with you as I continue my learning process too!