770. Books on photography

Further Reading:

The Abungus Lamu: Kenya’s Enchanted Island, 2009.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lamu, an island off the northern coast of Kenya, is featured in this book of 300 specially-commissioned photographs. The collection provides glimpses into the island’s architecture, interiors, crafts, traditions, and people.

Vicki Goldberg The Power of Photography: How Photographs Changed Our Lives, 1993.

Vicki Goldberg analyzes historical photographs for their impacts on society. Her research and interpretations make the book valuable for anyone interested in communication.

Al Miner Ori Gersht: History Repeating, 2012.

Israeli-born photographer Ori Gerst is known for his artistic renderings of beauty after horror. From sunlight on buildings ravaged by war in Sarajevo to the nuclear fallout in Fukushima, his photos and video art evokes a sense of spiritual renewal in the wake of destruction and suffering.

Gordon Parks A Choice of Weapons, 2010.

At age 16, African American photographer Gordon Parks (1912-2006) left Kansas after his mother’s death to live independently in St. Paul, Minnesota. He educated himself and leveraged his mother’s legacy of love, dignity, and hard work to survive. He became the first African American to work for Life magazine and was the first to write, direct, and score a Hollywood film. His autobiography, first published in 1966, was republished in 2010.

Susan Sontag On Photography, 1973.

In six essays, human rights activist Susan Sontag explores photography’s effects on our experiences and interpretations of reality.

Edward Steichen Steichen: A Life in Photography, 1963.

Fashion and society photography pioneer Edward Steichen tells of his contributions to Camera Work and other magazines from 1903-1917. He also covers his later work for Vogue and Vanity Fair. From 1923-1938, he was the best-known and highest-paid photographer in the world. In this autobiography, he describes how he went on to film a World War II documentary, The Fighting Lady and served as director of the Museum of Modern Art (the MoMA) until 1962.

For more information on the Further Reading section, see Further Reading: Start Here.