Photography and the Art of Chance

This is one of the best books on photography I have ever read!! It is an erudite historical study that is written ostensibly in defense of photography as art. I would like to add the following quote by Edgar Allen Poe to the author's discussions. In Poe's Poetic Principle (http://www.beforetheblog.com/favorites/favorites-best-trivia-party-chatter/), he states: "It is to be hoped that common-sense, in the time to come, will prefer deciding upon a work of art rather by the impression it makes, by the effect it produces, than by the time it took to produce the effect, or by the amount of 'sustained effort' which has been found necessary in effecting the impression."

An altogether original and wonderfully engaging treatment of a subject that's both timely (as photography becomes ever-more central to life) and timeless (as understanding what we see, and what it does and doesn't mean, is as important as it's always been). Certainly essential for students of art and art history, but relevant to (and likely to be enjoyed by) a broader audience interested in creativity, contingency, and the powerful place of photographic imagery in our lives.

I bought this book as a gift for my niece who is majoring in photography. I never heard from my niece about the book. I guess she didn't appreciate it. I decided to see the book at our public library. No wonder I didn't hear from my niece, it was like a text book. When I looked through the book, I I thought it would be boring for a young student. I learned a lesson from this, never buy a book unless you've looked through it at first!

No problem

A scholarly analysis of photography as art. Excellent Book!!!

Am very pleased with this book Many thanks John W