10 Must Reads: History of Photography

"These original texts describe key aspects of both the technical and artistic sides of photography... this book will be a useful resource for students and scholars alike."

Dr Michael Pritchard, Chief Executive, The Royal Photographic Society.

10 Must Reads: History of Photography From Original Sources is not just another book on the history of photography. Based entirely on original sources of the time, it reflects the energy, excitement and passion which the invention and development of photography evoked in its most innovative and experimental period during the years 1840-1900.

At the outset, Henry Fox Talbot diffidently introduces photography to the world in his "little work now presented to the public". While just 45 years later photographer P H Emerson launches his polemic arguing that photography is an art form in its own right.

These texts take us on a fascinating journey into the studios of some of the leading nineteenth-century European photographers. They confront us with examples of - and the thinking behind - some of the earliest examples of street photography; and underscore the sheer complexity and difficulty of taking and making photographs at the time.

And along the way we are treated to fascinating, unique descriptions of the workings of photographic studios of the period - from the largest, most successful commercial operations, to specialist studios in such places as museums and prisons.

In over 200 pages, with over 20 colour and mono illustrations, this book includes:

ONE
Brief Historical Sketch of the Invention of the Art 
Henry Fox-Talbot
From The Pencil of Nature (1844)

TWO
A Brief History of the Art 
Henry H Snelling
From The History and Practice of the Art of Photography; or, The Production of Pictures Through the Agency of Light (1849)

THREE
The Studio and Apparatus 
Gaston Tissandier
From A History and Handbook of Photography, edited and translated by John Thomson (1876)

FOUR
Theory and Practice 
Gaston Tissandier
From A History and Handbook of Photography, edited and translated by John Thomson (1876)

FIVE
Enlargement of Proofs 
Gaston Tissandier
From A History and Handbook of Photography, edited and translated by John Thomson (1876)

SIX
Preface to Street Life in London 
London Nomades 
The Crawlers 
Hookey Alf 
John Thomson and Adolphe Smith
From Street Life in London (1877-78)

SEVEN
Captain Abney at South Kensington Museum 
Millbank Prison 
H P Robinson at Tunbridge Wells 
James Valentine and Sons at Dundee 
T & R Allen at Glasgow 
M. Nadar in the Rue d’Anjou St Honoré 
H Baden Pritchard
From The Photographic Studios of Europe (1882)

EIGHT
Naturalistic Photography and Art 
Science and Art 
Art is a Language 
P H Emerson
From Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art (1889)

NINE
The Death of Naturalistic Photography 
P H Emerson
From The Death of Naturalistic Photography (1891)

TEN
Epitaph: In Memory of Naturalistic Photography 
P H Emerson
From The Death of Naturalistic Photography (1891)

Dr Michael Pritchard, Chief Executive, The Royal Photographic Society:
These selected texts describe key aspects of both the technical and artistic sides of photography. The use of original sources is essential to researching, writing and understanding photographic history and this book will be a useful resource for students and scholars alike. 

10 Must Reads: History of Photography From Original Sources
Pages
208 
Illustrations 21
Size 216 x 140 mm
Publication 7 November 2016
Editions £29 [paperback] | 
£19 [eBook]

ISBN 978-1-910144-82-4 [paperback]

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