Before I go further, I would like to explain why I bought this book.  As I seek to take better pictures, I thought it would be worthwhile to learn about the photographers that preceded me.  What made their work stand out?  What traits did the photographers who have survived time have in common?

In a sense, I am looking for inspiration and ideas on forming my own creative style.  There is a saying that one cannot write without reading.  I feel that the same is true about photography.  You can’t take good pictures without examining others’ pictures.

I saw this book on sale in a local used book store and decided to try it out.  Although only 775 pages, each page is huge and as a standard version book would probably be around 2000 pages.  The book is roughly chronological, starting with the techniques preceding photography and the invention of photography itself.

Each chapter in the book is devoted to a particular theme through a specific slice of time.  Therefore, while it slowly progresses from one period to another, you go backwards and forwards quite a bit.  I find the topic specific chapters helpful and much more cohesive than something strictly chronological.  The book covers a vast number of techniques, such as architectural photography, fine art, portraits, history, and even the now forgotten stereo images.

The discussion is more historical than critique, however it does go into detail on why a particular photographer’s work was extraordinary.  From reading the historical perspectives, I find it amazing what the first photographers went through.  Even the old medium format camera my grandfather used during World War II seems a technical marvel compared to what was used during the American Civil War.

The copy that I have is an English translation of the original French.  Because the book was written in French, it focuses more heavily on French photographers.  After the French photographers are covered, it often moves to the English, then has a few blurbs about American and other European photographers.  More recent photographers are covered more evenly.  Still, I do not feel short changed at all due to the stronger emphasis on French photographers.  The truth is a large proportion of the early great photographers were French.

The pictures in the book are outstanding and give a strong impression of the type of photography and skills of the photographers of the day. In particular, so far I have found the works of Julia Margaret Cameron, Delmaet and Durandelle, Gustave le Gray, and Hippolyte Bayard incredible.  The only qualm I have is the book occasionally goes into detail about how fantastic a particular work is, then doesn’t include the photo!

I unfortunately cannot compare this book to other histories of photography as I have not read any others, but I do have to say that this is one of the most interesting photography books I have read.  This book won’t teach you any new techniques, but its power to inspire and reflect is among the best you will find.

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