American Photography: A Century of Images

American Photography: A Century of Images, by Vicki Goldberg and Robert Silverman, is a concise history of the development of photography, both technically and conceptually, from the beginning of the 20th century to the end of it. The book combines reproductions of significant photographic works with large amounts of relevant text, as well as a time-line. Most of the photographs chosen to represent each era are recognizable, even to those unfamiliar with photography and its history. This is true up until the very end of the book, where the compilers/authors dropped the ball representing the photography of the 90s. Not to undermine the value of their choices, but in a book that contains some of photographic history's most amazing and beautiful photographs, including a photo of a wall calendar ("artist unknown"), and a random photo of a baby ("the digital revolution") seems a little mundane. While the majority of the images used in the book are stunning, many are not reproduced large enough to be fully appreciated. At first glance, this would appear to be a coffee-table book, something to be picked up and flipped through, providing immediate visual gratification. However, the sheer amount of text on each page makes that unlikely. The lay-out draws you to the text, and you end up learning something about the photos, whether you want to or not. Again, the authors nicely combine the historical context of each photo with relevant technical developments. There is not a lot of information included about the majority of photographers, understandable given the size of the book and the time period covers. If a reader is looking to learn a great deal about a certain photographer, a certain photo, or a certain technical advancement, this book probably won't be of much use. But for those who want a brief overview accompanied by attractive visuals, or those who already possess some background knowledge of photography, American Photography will be a relaxing, enjoyable read.

This has to be my favorite of all the century photo books that came out. The images cover a wide range of subject and intrest, with very few graffic images of wars or violence. It is a wonderful addition to my coffee table!

"american photography: a century of images" By Vicki Goldberg and Robert Silberman 1999 A companion to the major PBS series Publisher: Chronicle Books 232 pagesamerican photography: a century of imagesIf you only have one book about photography in your home library, this should be the book. Marilyn Dalrymple, reviewerThis is a truly beautiful, fascinating and informational volume. "American photography: a century of images," traces the history of photography from 1900 to 1999. It is not just the mundane, "cameras were invented--color film made its debut in . . . , or Steichen, Adams Avedon were known for . . . ," however. A blurb from the book's cover notes, "New York Times photography critic Vicki Goldberg and art historian Robert Silberman, senior consultants to the PBS series, show how profoundly photography has helped shape the life of our nation, examining it in the realms of home life, advertising, science, news, propaganda, fashion, and celebrity stardom.""One of photography's great gifts has always been to make possible many kinds of vicarious experience," says the introduction to an article about National Geographic magazine. Photography brought foreign peoples and foreign places into our homes. On the other hand, "Even our worst faults were put before the world's eyes by our photographers because of the extent of our media industry and the openess of our press," say Goldberg and Silberman. These two examples illustrate the awesome power photography possesses.The first use of halftone screens and the regular publication of photographs in magazines and newspapers (1897, The New York Tribune); the first American photo magazine (Life); the first horrific photographs of war. The image that showed the stars so clearly that the first catalogue of stellar positions based on photographic measurements appeared in 1885; images that proved scientific theories and made social reform possible. Photographs that showed the world how evil the family of man can be. Images that portray the wonder and beauty of our world. All are illustrated and discussed in this one volume.Well written, compelling, and beautifully illustrated, this book is well worth the price.Marilyn Dalrymple

"...the photography critic Vicki Goldberg and the art historian Robert Silberman have neatly divided the century into three chronological parts and written 30 brief essays, each focusing on notable aspects, from a photographic point of view, of a particular period. From the authors' vantage point, it certainly seems as though the first two-thirds of the century are when the innovation, energy, passion and commitment are, and the last period is more analytical and self-referential -- rather like life itself. There is a photogoraph for each year of the century, plus others to illustrate chosen themes like war photography or the rise of the news agencies. Goldberg (who also writes about photography for The Times) and Silberman have succeeded in bringing a semblance of order to the past century of photography and have given a lively and informative overview of its many facets."