Photography book review thread - THREE reviews now added.

[posiview]

Had a look and can't find one.

I'm reading a book at the moment which is the best I have ever read. I thought I'd write a short review on why I like it.

I'll do it tonight.

I'd like it to be a pleasant affair, after all the review (or reviews if more join in) will personal thoughts on books so there will be no right or wrong, just personal opinions, thoughts and insights.

The reviews don't have to be all positive, include any critique if you want to. It can be a technical book, such as a 'Guide to Using the D4s', a biography or a genre book, for example

Anyway, join in if you want

Cheers?

 

[Deleted member 59779]

Great idea. Look forward to reading it.

 

[posiview]

The Americans by Robert Frank

I first saw The Americans while watching Ted Forbes (The Art of Photography) on YouTube a few years ago.

I feel I needed to watch this to fully understand the book. I've watched several others since.

The introduction is written by Jack Kerouac, who I believe isn't a photographer. His introduction seems to incorporate the photographs into a story with the penultimate paragraph stating, 'To Robert Frank, I now give you this message: You Got Eyes. I concur.

The book is stunning, in my opinion. Some of the photographs took me while to understand and some I still don't understand - I'm OK with that.

The book wasn't well received when first publicised, many of the photographs don't paint a pretty picture of America.

One thing I suspect I would have missed is how many of the photographs work together.

The Charity Ball - New York City shows a well dressed couple in an opulent restaurant and on the following page you have Cafeteria- San Francisco that shows a man on his own eating a meal looking very thoughtful.

Chicago shows a close up of a car that has two stickers on 'Christ came to save us' and 'Christ died for our sins', on the following page 'Public park - Ann Arbour, Michigan, shows couples 'sinning'.

Of the single photographs, Yale Commencement - New Haven Green, New Haven, Connecticut is a favourite. It shows recent graduates (I think) filing past an elderly gentleman who appears lost in though. Perhaps reminiscing about his time there.

Jehovah's Witness - Los Angeles with pamphlet in his hand, behind him on the wall/brickwork is a cross. On the street, I simply would not have seen this.

Navy Recruitment Station, Post Office - Butte, Montana, where all you see of the recruitment sergeant is his feet.

My favourite, though, has to be the cover. Trolly - New Orleans. It shows a segregated Trolly (similar to a tram), There are three main windows and in the left hand window is a very dour white women who looks in distain at the photographer. However, it's the black man in the second from right window that almost haunts me. He is leaning on the window with his hand hanging out and his face is so pained. He seems to be saying, 'Help me, please help me!'.

These are a few of many example that stood out for me.

All these photographs can be found via Google.

It really is a fascinating, well presented book with some very poignant photographs.

If you get a chance read it, better still buy it.

Thanks for reading.

Regards.

 

[The W]

Two text for those interested in nature:

The Handbook of Bird Photography by Markus Varesvuo, Jari Peltomaki and Bence Mate. No book is ever going to completely comprehensive, but this does a pretty good job of covering most the bases when it comes to achieving professional level bird photography. It's certainly a step above the advice often found in magazine's attempts at 'how to photograph birds' articles.

Photographing Birds by Mark Sisson. Compared to the above, this is a much slimmer work and is much more of an introductory text. If you have a desire to throw yourself in to the art of wildlife photography and want to become world class, THOBP is the more useful book, but for somebody who want to improve the stuff they come back from the park with, PB is perhaps a better starting point.