How to Read a Photograph: Lessons from Master Photographers Paperback – January 1, 2009

I'm not sure what to make of this book. I guess because I devoured it, cover to cover, I have to first say that it was worth the investment, and it will stay in my library. Whether it taught me "How to Read a Photograph" is another issue. Reading the Zen of Bicycle Maintenance didn't help me ride up hills faster, either, although I did discover how to make it easier!In "How to Read a Photograph" I found some really interesting reading about more than 100 photographers, from the first few, to contemporary photographers. The well printed images, together with their details, and the author's thoughts on what transpired at the time the film was exposed gave me a nice insight. As for Ian Jeffrey's selection of 'masters' and their images, it was a fair cross section, I think. No doubt some reader will wish another photographer was mentioned in it. But choosing the best list of 'masters' is pretty much a no win situation for any author. In summary, as a 'photography history' buff, I'd say this is a good buy, and most shutterbugs will be happy with the contents. And I believe every reader will learn something. And did I mention, just buying it to look at the many photographs in this well printed book is alone worth the cover price.

Much of what is written sounds like garbage that one would toss around if one were desperate for filling in pages.

"People who write about photographs write about photographs for people who write about photographs." Helmut Newton.Nobody ever gets Winnogrand correct when they write about his stuff? This is the second book that missed what he was doing. The interpretation on page 314 for the photo on page 315 is off. Give me satisfaction to know this but I ain't gonna write about it. see for yourself. Book has a nice tactile feel to it all, good weight, balances well in the hand and can be thrown about without injury to the corners and spine.

Some times you go to the garage to get the wench but you walk out with the vacuum cleaner. They'er both useful but the journey is confusing.

great book, not what I expected as its more descriptive of the photographer vs deconstructing the photograph itself.

With a good condition.

The photos are all lovely, although I expected... more, somehow. Not more photos, but more depth, more information, more explanation. It's as if someone wrote a book called, "How To Read a Book," and the answer was "Run your eyes over the words and gain meaning from them." I am always looking for better critique of photos - notes on how the light interplays, perhaps how a photograph works within an artist's body of work, what was being spoken by the subjects and artist, etc. I didn't find this here.The photos are in some cases interesting, and perhaps inspirational for a photographer, but I didn't just want a lot pf pictures. I feel like the title mislead my expectations.

Had to get this book for school, turns out the history of photography IS really important!

The idea of the book is good, show some pictures and give a hint of why was made in that way.The reality is that there are only interpretations and not much insides from the authors.Nice book, worth to read, but still a delusion compared to what I expected.