From the first misty 'heliograph' taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1826 to the classic compositions of Cartier-Bresson and Alfred Steiglitz, to the striking postmodern strategies of Robert Mapplethorpe, Cindy Sherman and Victor Burgin, the history of photography is a record of dazzling and penetrating images. But photographs are also the most pervasive images of our time, infinite in their capacity to record and make moments significant, granting status to everything they touch. So how do we read a photograph? In a series of brilliant discussions of major themes and genres, Graham Clarke gives a clear and incisive account of the photograph's historical development, and elucidates the insights of the most interesting thinkers on the subject such as Roland Barthes and Susan Sontag. At the heart of the book is his ground-breaking examination of the main subject areas - landscape, the city, portraiture, the body, and reportage - and his detailed analysis of exemplary images in terms of their cultural and ideological contexts.
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About the Author
Graham Clarke, Reader in Literary and Image Studies at the University of Kent, Canterbury, serves on the advisory board of the journal, History of Photography. His recent publications include The Portrait in Photography and The American City: Literary & Cultural Perspectives.
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In a world dominated by visual images the photograph has become almost invisible. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
In a world dominated by visual images the photograph has become almost invisible. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read a lot of technical, 'how to' photography books; I've also read lots of books on composition and lighting. I am a very keen amateur photographer and I understand the techhnical bits, I was more interested in the meanings and interpretations of photographs. But I was always left wanting for a book that gave you just a little bit more than 'how to' ...
If you've ever felt the same way, there's a good chance that Clarke's book is the one that you are looking for. This could easily be used as a reference work for an undergrad degree (if not post-grad), yet it's always an easy read and interesting to pick up and browse a particular section, or just flick through the many interesting and high quality pictures. This last is something worth emphasising - this is a quality book on thick, quality paper and the picture reproduction is great.
It's just as scholarly as anything by Sontag or Barthes, but written in a much more accessible way:
"In a world dominated by visual images the photograph has become almost invisible. We take photographs, look at them endlessly, and carry them around with us so that their currency is pervasive. They are one of the most common of objects that change hands every day. And yet such a common status belies their underlying complexity and difficulty; for we are always left with the primary and shifting question: what precisely is a photograph?"
Just so you get an idea of what this book contains, the contents is as follows.
1. What is a photograph?
2. How do we read a photograph?
3. Photography and the nineteenth century
4. Landscape in photography
5. The city in photography
6. The portrait in photography
7. The body in photography
8. Documentary photography
9. The photograph as fine art
10. The photograph manipulated
11. The Cabinet of Infinite Curiosities
If you've ever felt the same way, there's a good chance that Clarke's book is the one that you are looking for. This could easily be used as a reference work for an undergrad degree (if not post-grad), yet it's always an easy read and interesting to pick up and browse a particular section, or just flick through the many interesting and high quality pictures. This last is something worth emphasising - this is a quality book on thick, quality paper and the picture reproduction is great.
It's just as scholarly as anything by Sontag or Barthes, but written in a much more accessible way:
"In a world dominated by visual images the photograph has become almost invisible. We take photographs, look at them endlessly, and carry them around with us so that their currency is pervasive. They are one of the most common of objects that change hands every day. And yet such a common status belies their underlying complexity and difficulty; for we are always left with the primary and shifting question: what precisely is a photograph?"
Just so you get an idea of what this book contains, the contents is as follows.
1. What is a photograph?
2. How do we read a photograph?
3. Photography and the nineteenth century
4. Landscape in photography
5. The city in photography
6. The portrait in photography
7. The body in photography
8. Documentary photography
9. The photograph as fine art
10. The photograph manipulated
11. The Cabinet of Infinite Curiosities
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By brainleek007
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've used this relatively small book now for two years as an aid to study and it's been invaluable.
This book is not a guide on how to take photographs but an academic and theoretical look at how photographs work and what they can mean to us, and how these meanings come about. When I started reading this book I had no clue about art at all (still don't ;) )and this book definitely requires a certain level of knowledge around the subjects and debates to get the full gist of what's going on. However, that's not to say it's inaccessible and if anything the book did double duty for me because it highlighted my areas of ignorance.
The information is presented in a series of essays which highlight the photograph's relationship with various subjects, some analogous to genres, be it The City, Portraits, Art etc. Each essay is a very well informed and well considered look at how photographs function in those genres by bringing to the fore the main debates.
Illustrations are present throughout; there are not hundreds but the ones there are are commented on insightfully and with full relevance to the rest of the text.
As my knowledge grows in other areas grows I've found myself returning to this book over and over and re-reading chapters where relevant. I've always been able to further enhance my understanding by returning to this book. Every time I read a chapter another piece of the the overall puzzle falls into place or a perspective I've forgotten is mentioned thus giving a different interpretation on the area I'm researching.
All in all a very informative book full of useful information without being too dry.
This book is not a guide on how to take photographs but an academic and theoretical look at how photographs work and what they can mean to us, and how these meanings come about. When I started reading this book I had no clue about art at all (still don't ;) )and this book definitely requires a certain level of knowledge around the subjects and debates to get the full gist of what's going on. However, that's not to say it's inaccessible and if anything the book did double duty for me because it highlighted my areas of ignorance.
The information is presented in a series of essays which highlight the photograph's relationship with various subjects, some analogous to genres, be it The City, Portraits, Art etc. Each essay is a very well informed and well considered look at how photographs function in those genres by bringing to the fore the main debates.
Illustrations are present throughout; there are not hundreds but the ones there are are commented on insightfully and with full relevance to the rest of the text.
As my knowledge grows in other areas grows I've found myself returning to this book over and over and re-reading chapters where relevant. I've always been able to further enhance my understanding by returning to this book. Every time I read a chapter another piece of the the overall puzzle falls into place or a perspective I've forgotten is mentioned thus giving a different interpretation on the area I'm researching.
All in all a very informative book full of useful information without being too dry.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As the title says really; this book is essential reading for Photography students at any level, or for those whose are looking to expand & investigate further their photographic practice. Covering photgraphy from it's inception to modern contemporary practitioners, Clarke dissects the medium & clearly explains the concepts, intention & methodologies using masters of the art, including Barthes, Sontag,as well as coving all the genres. A must read !!!
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3.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
The photograph: A visual and cultural history.
This is really helpful for photography students needing a overview of the history of photography and a background to noted photographers work and its cultural background.
Published 17 months ago by Vicky Williams
4.0 out of 5 stars
An essential guide for students and lecturers.
For those who have a deeper interest in the medium of photography Graham Clarke's book is a great place to start. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2011 by Mr. N. E. Brewer
1.0 out of 5 stars
Over-rated
Typical of the pseudo-art crowd, this book is long-winded and the points which are made are obvious in the extreme. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2010 by Darryl Godfrey
3.0 out of 5 stars
Learn to enjoy photography
Enjoying a photograph is not a purely esthetic matter -knowing the photo story, knowing the life course ot the author is being able to go deeper into what it tells. Read more
Published on 18 May 2010 by Eng A. Siza Vieira
1.0 out of 5 stars
toiletworthy
16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
Toiletworthy, June 16, 2001
By A Customer
I've read scores of books about photo history and criticism but... Read more
Toiletworthy, June 16, 2001
By A Customer
I've read scores of books about photo history and criticism but... Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by C.Amari
2.0 out of 5 stars
A disappointing account of the history of the photograph
After thoroughly enjoying EH Gombrich's The Story of Art, I was hoping that this book might do the same for the history of the photograph. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2009 by M. Trigg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly reccomended!!
This is such a useful book. Full of information of different types of photography such as portrait, landscape, the body, the city etc etc. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2008 by A. Luker
5.0 out of 5 stars
An ideal approach...
I used this book as part of a photography module on my degree and found it a very useful and clear cut. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2005 by MR S S BHACHU
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clarkes accessable masterpiece!
Graham Clarke has given the kind of theoratical advice which will help any Photography student through the hard times a marvelous read which is easy to follow and explains the... Read more
Published on 10 May 2000 by zekesnot@hotmail.com
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