The used bookstore I frequent acquired quite a lot of new photo books. I could have left the place with a wheelbarrow load, but I confined my purchases to three I had been looking for, and only spent $20 in the end.
Kodak Professional PhotoguideThis is one to watch out for. I bought this little vinyl-covered data book primarily for the circular calculator in the back which allows one to obtain the correct exposure value with long bellows extensions. I'm just about to put my Recomar 18 into service, and the calculator looks very convenient as I will use the camera primarily for close-up work.
. . What I only realized after getting the Photoguide home was that it is probably the finest example of graphic design in a technical manual that I have ever come across. There are many circular dials and tables for calculating depth of field, flash exposure, color balance and other photo functions; all of them are superlative examples of graphic design which contributes to a clear presentation of some complex aspects of the craft of photography. Even for someone with no interest in the field, however, the book is a real treat for the eyes. I suppose these were published in great numbers and probably don't have a huge value for collectors, but I still can't believe my good luck in finding this first edition for under five bucks.
Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of The Museum of Modern Art by John Szarkowski
This is a very fine photobook which shows a single picture from each of the chosen masters of photography along with a one-page commentary by the former photo curator at the MOMA. Many of the pictures will be very familiar to anyone, but their enjoyment and understanding is enhanced by the comments from Szarkowski who arguably had the greatest influence on our conception of photography as Art. Many of the author's comments from this book have been assimilated into the popular conscience so thoroughly that it is a surprise to discover that they came primarily from the work of one individual.
. . I've just gotten clear through all 100 photos, and I'm sure I'll go back many times to look at them all, and to consider Szarkowski's thoughts on their significance. At the same time, while a greatly admire the work, I have to admit that the book - published in 1973 - now seems rather dated and quaint. The last photographers mentioned are people like Arbus, Friedlander, and Uelsmann - heroes to be sure. But there is so much that has happened in photography since that time, and the world seems now to be so much bigger and more complicated. It does not seem a book like Szarkowski's could be done again in a rational way even though his covered 150 years and less than 35 have since elapsed.
Through Another Lens: My Years with Edward Weston by Charis Wilson and Wendy Madar
I've just started this book, so can't offer a real review. My first reaction on reading the authors' opening remarks is that it is a shame Charis waited so long into her life to produce the book. Had she done it when she still had the requisite energy to do a thorough job, it no doubt would have been more valuable. Nevertheless, what little I have seen promises some interesting insights into Weston and his work. The candid shots of the photographer along with some examples of his work I hadn't seen before are worth the price of admission.
