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Description
Winner of the National Book Critics' Circle Award for Criticism. One of the most highly regarded books of its kind, Susan Sontag's On Photography first appeared in 1977 and is described by its author as "a progress of essays about the meaning and career of photographs." It begins with the famous "In Plato's Cave"essay, then offers five other prose meditations on this topic, and concludes with a fascinating and far-reaching "Brief Anthology of Quotations." Read more
Publisher : Picador
Publication date : August 25, 2001
Edition : First Edition
Language : English
Print length : 224 pages
ISBN-10 : 3
ISBN-13 : 93
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 5.4 x 0.55 x 8.2 inches
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Saturday, Jan 17
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Top Amazon Reviews
The iconic book of Susan Sontag. Worth reading it!
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2025 by Eszter Turbeky
Great book, came in perfect condition!
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2025 by justin
To be fully honest I lost this book and didn't finish it completely But I do have it in mind to finish it. this book was very inspiring. It's one every photographer should own and since I'm a comic and concept art I say any type of artist should read it. In fact I think thats how I found this book a top ten book artist should read kinda thing. and I see why. It's not about technique it's more about inspirational quotes to keep you interested in inspired about going out and taking photos. theres books like this for painters and artist. Art and fear and the Art Spirt. but this one is more specific for photography. and I't really illustrated the commonalities we go through and its comforting to find some who thinks the way we do. in a way we can't even with or closest family and friends unless they are also very into this life of taking photos. It's an easy read. I kept in the car and reached for it on longer trips. which might be how I lost it. But it's broken up into chapters and essays in a way you can read it casually and keep in on a coffee table or something. it's like a chicken soup for photographer. If your looking for techniques and taking better photos this isn't a book for you. not yet. I really enjoyed and it was worth it for real. as a artist it's hard for me something to find the time and motivation to go out and take photos unless I'm traveling. but this has given me the kicking the back side I needed.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2017 by Willie jimenez
This should be a must read for any photographer whose mind seeks to go beyond the technical aspects of photography. When I read it, many of her comments were aimed at those "snapshot prints" that ended up in photo albums, thus lacked impact for me as digital photography was then my new medium. Now, with the the iPhone or equivalent running amuck, and the age of "selfies", which I would rename "narcisstics" for the "me, me, me" crowd, it regains impact. Yes, the medium is the message. I didn't like much of what she said as she was your typical leftist intellectual. The truth is she really had something to say about the meaning and content of photography. This alone puts her in a class probably by herself. I love photography and have been taking pictures since 1959. I don't know of one other book that even comes close to dealing with the real impact of photography. It is not a book for the "sheeple". If you are serious about photography - read it! It should make you angry, and challenge your beliefs. We all need more of that. I'm re-reading it now for about the tenth time. Every time I read it I get something new and challenging from it. You can't say that about many books today.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2014 by Thomas B. Roach
S.S offers an in-depth and original analysis of what she considers to be the most important photographers from the beginnings of photography until the mid-late 70s. She questions the validity of the pretentious claims made by photographers, the relation the medium shares with the world as we know it, it's effect of creating a visual catalog, she also offers a response to the long expired debate on whether or not photography is an art. S.S proves to be an expert on photography by offering analysis which offers well-documented contextual information on photographers such as Diane Arbus, Richard Avdon, L.Hine, E.Weston, E.Steichen etc... "On Photography" is considered by many specialists to be a work of reference in regards to criticism and philosophy on photography, and after reading it I can understand why. "On Photography" is a great tool for understanding the evolution of photography from its beginnings throughout the 20th century and for seeing the camera for what it is- nothing more, nothing less. I would recommend it to art critics, anyone who is passionate about photography or interested in the history of photography, photography as an art form and its limits.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2013 by Marwan
Had to buy and read this for a class. It was alright. The beginning was hard to get through, though. It was like wading through waste deep mud made up of unnecessarily complicated academic lingo paired with some of the most melodramatic opinions about photography that I've ever read. I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but all literature is important to some degree.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2025 by Nick McPherson
This got me thinking about photography in a way I never have. Now I have a strong understanding of what the medium is, and a better grasp of what to do to make my work stand out. Ms. Sontag is an intellectual without peer, her choice of words so eclectic yet perfect in expressing her deep understanding of this field. It's a pleasure to sink ones mind into her words, revel in her clarifications, soak up her insights and intelligence. This book is a classic for a reason. If you're a photographer trying to get a greater grasp of what it takes to be grand or noticed in this business, you will walk away with a deeper understanding of this world and its history. A terrific asset to any photographer gravitating towards the arts.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2015 by The Z Man
As everything she wrote, Susan Sontag's book on photography is brilliant. It is a set of essays on the "philosophy" of picture-taking and the meaning of photography in the modern (ca. 1970) world. Anyone interested in the social roles of photography will find this book fascinating and thought-provoking. I originally read it when it first came out and was immensely impressed and a second reading showed it to be as impressive now as then, even though the technology and use of photography has changed a good deal.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018 by rapadgug