The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography

The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography

by Michael R. Peres
Released June 2014
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781136101816

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Book description

Defining photography is impossible. Revealing it is another matter, and that's what The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography does,
with each turn of the page.

History: The technical origins and evolution of photography are half of the story. The other half consists of the ways that cultural forces have transformed photography into a constellation of practices more diverse than any other mode of representation. Photographers can tell a more in-depth story through a photo like Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother” than a journalist ever could with the written word alone.

Major themes and practitioners: Over 25 entries, many with supporting illustrations,
examine the figures, trends, and ideas that have contributed most heavily to the history and current state of photography.

Contemporary issues: The issues influencing photography today are more complex than at any other time in its history. Questions of ethics, desire, perception, digitization, and commercialization all vie for attention. Hear what the experts have to say about crucial
issues such as whether or not the images we take today will last the test of time, and if so, how?

When material is covered this skillfully, "concise” is no compromise. The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography is packed with useful information, compelling
ideas, and - best of all - pure pleasure.

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Contributors
  6. Photographers and Image Contributors
  7. About the Editors
  8. Acknowledgements
  9. Introduction
  10. History and Evolution of Photography
    1. Contemporary Thoughts on the History of Photography
    2. The Technical Evolution of Photography in the 19th Century
    3. Introduction to the Biographies of Selected Innovators of Photographic Technology
    4. Selected Photographs from the 19th Century
  11. Major Themes and Photographers of the 20th Century
    1. Photography in the 20th Century
    2. Photography, Fine Art Photography, and the Visual Arts: 1900–2001
    3. Photography and Society in the 20th Century
    4. Photography and Desire: Fashion, Glamour, and Pornography
    5. Photography Programs in the 20th Century Museums, Galleries, and Collections
    6. Photographic Higher Education in the United States
    7. Photographic Workshops: A Changing Educational Practice
    8. Magazines: The Photographers’ Press in the United States and Great Britain During the Transition Decade of the 1960s
    9. Histories, Theories, Criticism
    10. African Americans as Photographers and Photographic Subjects
    11. Biographies of Selected Photographers from the 20th Century
  12. Contemporary Issues
    1. A Different Set of Questions for a New Age
    2. Academic and Pedagogical Issues: The Impact of Digital Imaging on Photographic Education
    3. Ethical Photo journalism: Its Authenticity and Impact
    4. The Future of Publishing
    5. 100 Years from Now. . . .
    6. Perception, Evidence, Truth, and Seeing
    7. The Photo Marketplace and Contemporary Image Makers
    8. The Photographic Studio of the 21st Century
    9. Types of Studios
    10. Photographic Virtual Reality
    11. Potlatch, Auction, and the In-between: Digital Art and Digital Audiences
    12. The Pressure to Stay Current
    13. Science as Art
  13. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography
  • Author(s): Michael R. Peres
  • Release date: June 2014
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136101816