In his last book, YOGA FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO DO IT, Geoff Dyer confessed that not only did he not take pictures in the course of his travels but that he did not own a camera. With characteristic perversity - and trademark originality - THE ONGOING MOMENT is Dyer's unique and idiosyncratic history of photography. Seeking to identify their signature styles Dyer looks at the ways that canonical figures such as Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Walker Evans, Kertesz, Dorothea Lange, Diane Arbus and William Eggleston have photographed the same scenes and objects (benches, hats, hands, roads). In doing so Dyer constructs a narrative in which those photographers - many of whom never met in their lives - constantly come into contact with each other. Great photographs change the way we see the world; THE ONGOING MOMENT changes the way we look at both. It is the most ambitious example to date of a form of writing that Dyer has made his own: the non-fiction work of art.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
'Contains intriguing insights and his elegant prose is a pleasure'
-- Sunday Telegraph
'Enjoy a witty, incisive lesson in how to rescue cultural criticism from shuttered academia' -- Boyd Tonkin, Independent
'Photographs are vivified and become catalysts for philosophical discussion . . . As readable as a novel but densely informative' -- Observer
-- Sunday Telegraph
'Enjoy a witty, incisive lesson in how to rescue cultural criticism from shuttered academia' -- Boyd Tonkin, Independent
'Photographs are vivified and become catalysts for philosophical discussion . . . As readable as a novel but densely informative' -- Observer
About the Author
Geoff Dyer is the author of three novels, a critical study of John Berger, and four genre-defying 'non-fiction' books. BUT BEAUTIFUL won the Somerset Maugham prize and OUT OF SHEER RAGE was shortlised for the National Book Critics Circle Award in the States.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This isn't a book just for photographers. It's basically about enthusiasm and a writers excitement in photography. This enthusiasm is infectious and makes the book a real page-turner, which should inspire people to look differently at photographs. This is a partial study of photography, mostly 20th century American, it's Dyers personal journey through photography not a history or textbook. It should however be required reading on A Level Photography, just as "Way of Seeing" by Berger was on Art courses. I'd recommend this as a perfect Xmas present.
The only minus points are the reproductions and the lack of them. 93 photos are illustrated in the book, but mostly small and some missing due to over zealous copyright control (Robert Frank for instance, is very strict with others using his images. His exclusion from "Bystander: A History of Street Photography" was very noticeable and seems rather prissy. Frank does have a couple of photos in Dyers book. Frank has recently had definitive books published by Steidl). The American "Vintage" publication I presume deals with the images better due to it's larger size. I'd buy a reprint with proper reproductions for £30 (hint to publishers).
The only minus points are the reproductions and the lack of them. 93 photos are illustrated in the book, but mostly small and some missing due to over zealous copyright control (Robert Frank for instance, is very strict with others using his images. His exclusion from "Bystander: A History of Street Photography" was very noticeable and seems rather prissy. Frank does have a couple of photos in Dyers book. Frank has recently had definitive books published by Steidl). The American "Vintage" publication I presume deals with the images better due to it's larger size. I'd buy a reprint with proper reproductions for £30 (hint to publishers).
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Nick
Format:Paperback
I knew next to nothing about American photography before I started this but wanted to know, and see, a lot more of it by the end. The book's full of philosophy, language, sex, ego and rivalry - there are some great characters and stories!- , as well as photographed fences, hats, backs, nude lovers, petrol pumps, drive-ins, roads etc etc. It's pretty lateral in its wanderings (and wonderings), surprisingly academic in parts, and insistently interesting throughout.
By Clara
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I made a deliberate decision to avoid Geoff Dyer's books after being given a copy of his Yoga........., it didn't do justice to the recycled newspapers used to produce it.
However, I bought a copy of Vivian Maier - Street Photographer (wonderful) where Dyer has written a masterly introduction. So, long on my wish list, I purchased a copy of The Ongoing Moment - good call they say in the beer ads. It's gossipy about icons of photography (Stieglitz and Mrs Strand) and written with Dyer's trademark smart-a**** style. I have learnt a great deal about 'reading' an image now I understand Stieglitz's intention when producing his Equivalents.
Much of what is good about this book has been covered elsewhere and there is no need for repetition. Thoroughly recommended, loses a star simply because the book itself is poorly produced with less than average print quality of both text and images, the latter are also too small to see some of the detail Dyer describes.
The positives outweigh the small 'negatives' if you will excuse the pun.
However, I bought a copy of Vivian Maier - Street Photographer (wonderful) where Dyer has written a masterly introduction. So, long on my wish list, I purchased a copy of The Ongoing Moment - good call they say in the beer ads. It's gossipy about icons of photography (Stieglitz and Mrs Strand) and written with Dyer's trademark smart-a**** style. I have learnt a great deal about 'reading' an image now I understand Stieglitz's intention when producing his Equivalents.
Much of what is good about this book has been covered elsewhere and there is no need for repetition. Thoroughly recommended, loses a star simply because the book itself is poorly produced with less than average print quality of both text and images, the latter are also too small to see some of the detail Dyer describes.
The positives outweigh the small 'negatives' if you will excuse the pun.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 17 reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Long Gone Moment
There are several things to like about this book; the Geoff Dyer wit and irreverence, the tidbits of gossip and err, well his love of photography. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Cake
2.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging for a time, then just plain silly
Perhaps this book isn't meant to be read straight through, because it is difficult to follow. The author states this himself, mentioning to readers that the point he is making will... Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2009 by Mr. R. J. MacRae
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ongoing enjoyment
Excellent and insightful discussion of American photography. Dyer brakes the routine (Yawn) of historical chronological discussion of photographers and their photos, for a theme... Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2009 by Mr. A. Lennon
5.0 out of 5 stars
The decisive moment,...the ongoing moment - explored
Dyer takes Cartier-Bresson's famous mantra and with enthusiasm explores that ongoing moment which makes photographers click...
Published on 18 Sep 2007 by pingpong
5.0 out of 5 stars
Photography for those who can be bothered to do it
To inspire me to again pick up my camera and to look at my own photographic output, I can't but not love this book.
Is there a subject Geoff can't write beautifully about? Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2006
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
