| Title | : | An Alternative History of Photography |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 3791387820 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9783791387826 |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | Published September 27, 2022 |
The real history of photography is a vast collection of inter-connected stories stretching from East Asia to West Africa, from New Zealand to Uzbekistan.
It parallels acknowledged greats with forgotten masters, and lesser-known works with regional champions. It is a complex interplay of fine art, scientific, anthropological, documentary, and amateur traditions forged by women and men alike.
Drawn from the extraordinary Solander Collection, this pioneering, alternative history of photography is based on principles of diversity and democracy, allowing famous works to be seen with fresh eyes, and giving more obscure works the platform they deserve.
Images by Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, Man Ray, Ansel Adams, and Edward Weston are seen alongside those of Helen Stuart and John Lindt, early, self- trained practitioners Lady Augusta Mostyn and Major Francis Greeley, and African studio photographers Sanlé Sory, Michel Kameni, and Malick Sidibé. It contains many rarities and “firsts” and spans photography’s early decades with linchpin works by Sir John Herschel, William Henry Fox Talbot, Hippolyte Bayard, and Julia Margaret Cameron.
Contemporary in outlook, visually captivating, and with contributions from leading curators and photo historians, this book will prove essential reading for those looking for an introduction to the field, as well as informed readers looking for more complete knowledge.
An Alternative History of Photography Reviews
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The author asks in the preface "What if... we could tell a history that foregrounded under-recognized figures?" This book does foreground under-recognized figures, though, with only a photo or two from each and little contextual background, it does not do any photographer (or movement, country, or group) any justice. The book also does not "tell a history": no thesis or point of view is asserted; the introduction merely presents a history of a few notable early books on the history of photography. The author is, of course, well aware of these issues; the preface ends with the declaration that "there are an infinite number of answers to the seemingly simple question: 'What is the history of photography?'". This book would have been more satisfying, though, if it presented a history of photography, or attended more in-depth to some of the under-recognized photographers. Perhaps a more descriptive title (such as "Photographs from the Solander Collection") would have made me more positively disposed to this book, which does have some nice photos in it, most from photographers of whom I was not aware.
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It's nice to see more representation from artists that have traditionally not been represented. Out of all the photo books I have, the majority of these artists have never been mentioned.
