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Story of Photography (Paperback)

by Michael Langford (Author) "If only a scene could draw itself! ..." (more)

4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product details

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Focal Press; 2nd Revised edition edition (30 Jan 1998)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0240514831
ISBN-13: 978-0240514833
Product Dimensions: 24.6 x 18.9 x 1 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 616,734 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

This comprehensive guide shows how photography became possible: from the early experiments with light, to sophisticated camera equipment and the stunning work of famous contemporary photographers. Highly illustrated throughout in colour and black and white, the reader is taken on a fascinating photographic tour through history. Whether you are a student or dedicated enthusiast, this book will further your understanding of photography. Written as an introductory text, the book is divided into two main halves. The first half deals with the main technical developments and describes the groundbreaking work of inventors that eventually led to the capture and permanent storage of an image. Developments in camera technologies are also described - from portable camera obscuras to modern day compacts and sophisticated electronic systems. As the technical aspects of photography evolved, so too did its application. Photographers realised they could express a point of view, or use the medium as a language. For some this meant a romantic portrayal of a subject, whilst others documented the reality of situations, like war or poverty, or became obsessed with the visual appearance of subject shapes and forms. The second half of the book concentrates on what and why photographs were taken - showing how technique has become a means to an end, particularly in the hands of artists. The late Michael Langford FIIP, FRPS was the former Photography Course Director at the Royal College of Art, London. He acted as external assessor for several schools of photography, was past chairman of The Society for Photographic Education, and an advisor to national examination boards for photography. He also wrote hundreds of articles for British and American magazines and was the author of three other best-selling textbooks for Focal Press: "Basic Photography", "Advanced Photography" and "Starting Photography". You can improve your knowledge with this recommended, A-level and City and Guilds 9231 textbook. It includes a complete, visually stunning, overview with over 200 illustrations to inspire you! There are handy summaries at the end of each chapter for quick revision.

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If only a scene could draw itself! Read the first page

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4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A READABLE INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY, 12 Jan 2006

By	Leif Asbj�rnsen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In this book Michael Langford takes us through the history of photography from the time of the camera obscura to the post-modernist age. Part 1 of the book covers the technical evolution – from the danquerreotype, via the calotype, the “wet” and “dry” type to the roll film and the corresponding development of the camera. All chapters are richly illustrated with photographs by the main practitioners of the different processes. For those who are not particularly interested in the more technical aspects and their history, it is possible just to browse through the chapters in this part and concentrate on the summary following each chapter.

In Part 2 Langford introduces us to the subjects, styles and approaches to the photography – with a short biography about, and photos by, the main representatives of the different genres and periods. He introduces us to pictorialism, naturalism and other modernist movements. We learn to know about the boom in professional photography during the permissive 1960s and the post-modernist movement in the 70s and 80s – when photography achieved a status as fine art equal to painting and sculpture.

As to myself I found my favourites among the realists, and thanks to this book I now want to read more about photographers like Edward Weston and Ansel Adams - about the former’s exquisite stress on form and rhythm and the latter’s almost pantheistic visions of the American wilderness. Even if this book does not mention the development of the digital photography, it is a good introduction to the world of photography that may also give other readers than me an impetus to read more about the many aspects touched upon here.

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2 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite Useful, 23 Oct 2000

By	maho@kortelkorusu.com (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews

Imagine, I had to read hundreds of essays about history of photography and than I just saw this book which will be my cure to learn what they did for the levels of photography.

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