ThinkingPhotography

InThinkingPhotography,DianeAsséoGrilichesdrawsuponherknowledgeasanexperiencedphotographertogivereadersanopportunitytolearnandenjoywhatcanbeaccomplishedwithacamera.Inanagewheneveryoneusesacamera,thebookoffersathoughtfulapproachtousingitwell.Inherintroduction,theauthordiscussesthegiftofsciencetothisart,herparticularloveoftheblack-and-white-image,thevariedattitudesofgreatphotographersrevealedinaselectionoflivelyquotationsandthefascinatinghistoryofphotographyleadinguptotodayspixilatedrevolution.Theheartofthebookisacollectionof130photographsmadebytheauthoroveraperiodofthirtyyears,selectedandannotatedtoilluminatethemanyaspectsoftheartform.Everyimageisaccompaniedbyaconcisetextdelvingintotheissuesraisedbythatphotograph.Insomecases,thesearetechnical,involvingcomposition,exposure,shutterspeed,focallengths,lighting,depthoffield,andcontrast.Withsometheauthormayrevealsecretsofthetradeingoingaboutherworktoachieveaparticulareffectortoovercomeaproblem.Inotherimages,thediscussionsrevolvearoundelusivebutimportantissuessuchasethics,responsibility,andtheinterpersonalrelationsbetweenphotographerandsubject.AfascinatingandunusualpartofthebookinvolvesthirtyimagesmadewithalternativeprocesseswithwhichGrilicheshasexperimented.Severalofthesedatefromthetimeoftheearlyinventionsofphotographyplatinum,albumen,salt,cyanotype,andVanDykeprints.Otheralternativephotographicimagesincludemorden?age,photograms,polarisation,infrared,collage,andhandpainting.Thesewerechosentoillustratetheirdifferentaestheticeffects.