The Photographers Eye, available again after some years out of print, offers a guide to the mediums visual language through works by such early masters as Atget, Cartier-Bresson, Evans, Strand and Weston. In this re-issue, 172 illustrations reveal the extraordinary range of the photograph from the early days of the mediums development to the mid-1960s. They are accompanied by an essay from Szarkowski, one of the most influential photography curators and critics of our time.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. J. Dix
Format:Paperback
Szarkowski was not a great photographer but he was a renowned curator, and this book reflects the content of an exhibition which was a genuine watershed in the history of photography. I didn't realise until I had had it for a while just how seminal both it and the exhibition were, but put simply, Szarkowski consolidated the view that photography is a democratic medium that does not rely on the efforts of the best. A great picture can come from anywhere and many of the pictures in this collection are from unknown photographers. Pictures speak for themselves and an accidentally brilliant picture can have as resonant a voice as one taken by a Cartier-Bresson, an Atget, a Brandt or anyone else. True, these great photographers made a habit of systematically tuning their perception to capture the "decisive moment", or the composition that told a story in a single image; but that did not give them, their forbears or their successors a monopoly of pictorial virtue. This is a lovely collection, briefly and brilliantly annotated. I would say that anyone who seriously wants to study the history of photography should own this book. And anyone who loves intriguing pictures too.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Digby1948
Format:Paperback
Szarkowski was one of the leading lights in promoting photography as an art, and this book records his rationale and thinking about the process of making a photographic image. He explains the reaction of painters and other artists to the use of the camera to capture images, and the rigidity (in those days) of the process in reflecting what was in front of the camera as opposed to what was in the artists mind. The advent of digital photography has changed this rigidity and allows far more artistic freedom, but it's interesting to read about the perceived rationale behind picture composition in the first half of the twentieth century.
What really surprised and pleased me is the quality of the printing for such an inexpensive book. This book is a must buy for anyone interested in the history of photography and its acceptance as an art form.
What really surprised and pleased me is the quality of the printing for such an inexpensive book. This book is a must buy for anyone interested in the history of photography and its acceptance as an art form.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was aware of this book's reputation for a while and finally got round to buying it recently. I have to say it lives up to its reputation; it is a real masterpiece.
First of all let's talk about the physical book itself. The size is just perfet; I recently had a photography book where the pictures were postcard size- which just isn't big enough. Praise to the binding that makes the book lie very comfortable in the hand and allows you to concentrate on the images.
So the images. I looked at the cover image, then the first one in the book itself and knew I would like this book. The photos are real gems: some of them are beautiful, some surprising, some real inspirations for any hobby photographer. All of them are outstanding examples of good photography.
This is a book that you will pick up many times and that will not accumulate dust in the shelf. I can only recommend it with the highest praise!
First of all let's talk about the physical book itself. The size is just perfet; I recently had a photography book where the pictures were postcard size- which just isn't big enough. Praise to the binding that makes the book lie very comfortable in the hand and allows you to concentrate on the images.
So the images. I looked at the cover image, then the first one in the book itself and knew I would like this book. The photos are real gems: some of them are beautiful, some surprising, some real inspirations for any hobby photographer. All of them are outstanding examples of good photography.
This is a book that you will pick up many times and that will not accumulate dust in the shelf. I can only recommend it with the highest praise!
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
For a photography student
Very happy with the service which allowed enough time for my daughter to have looked it over before her (successful) course interview.
Published 2 days ago by Anne Liddell
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic photo book
This well produced book has been viewed for some years as one of the classics of photo literature. Great images well chosen to illustrate the points being made. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Gareth Williams
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just another photography book
This I found rather banal. It is not an easy subject to write about but the material is commonplace and I felt the discussion did not bring any really inovative interpretation, nor... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Dr Ricardo Davidson
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lot to learn here
As the back cover says, the book is an investigation of what photographs look like, and of why they look that way. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jose Ángel Dianes
3.0 out of 5 stars
One person's view on what makes a good image
This is the reprint edition of a book written some years ago.
The book primarily relates to the artistic, rather than the technical, aspects of photography and the... Read more
The book primarily relates to the artistic, rather than the technical, aspects of photography and the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Claptonian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful introduction into classic photography
I did not have particular expectations on this book, I chose it because I like John Szarkowski. It is an extremely interesting review of late 19th century and early 20th century... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Luca Alessandro Remotti
5.0 out of 5 stars
Having a camera is not sufficient - one needs an eye
Bought for my son, a designer/photographer, as a Christmas present, my purpose was to give him an inspirational book which would increase his knowledge of ways in which photography... Read more
Published 20 months ago by RR Waller
3.0 out of 5 stars
I expected more
Very nice book, with plenty of photos rather than text.
A good introduction but I expected more out of it.
After all a fine book you can live without. Read more
A good introduction but I expected more out of it.
After all a fine book you can live without. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2011 by Saccheri Paolo
2.0 out of 5 stars
An odd assortment of photos, of varying quality - all most...
I don't know what, exactly, I expected from this book, but I certainly didn't think that it warranted the rave reviews that it got here. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2010 by Fender32
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable but too short
I enjoyed this book, but found it a little superficial, and would have preferred to see more photos to illustrate the 5 headings. Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2010 by Cookie
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