"The photographer’s vision convinces us to the degree that the photographer hides his hand."

"To quote out of context is the essence of the photographer’s craft."

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A great book and a great historical document, which basically changed - thanks to Szarskowski open mind - the perception of photography in the second half of XX century. Very good edition with superb duotone printed images. ( )

This is a reprint of John Szarkowski’s book about the unique characteristics of this medium and what makes a photograph what it is. Szarkowski was the Director of Photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York for thirty years and his chosen images, all black and white, are taken from a show done in 1964.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect is that he takes the adage of “show not tell” literally: each point he wants to make has just a few sentences of text but pages of photographs that he thinks illustrate his concept in some manner or another. So, on the subject of Time he might offer you everything from a Mathew Brady iconic Civil War image emblematic of a specific period, to a Harry Callahan multiple exposure conveying the bustle of Detroit, to a Robert Doisneau pair evoking things lost and forgotten.

It’s a collection that makes you think about what you’re looking at as well as allowing you to enjoy the works a wildly diverse group of photographers ranging from the famous to the unknown. ( )

An essential grounding in the basics of the nature of the straight photographic image.