The Photographic Essay: William Albert Allard

In my mind this book is still the definitive work of what documentary photography is and should be about. It had been the most influential and inspiring book in my development as a photographer, and while there are larger tomes and more glamorous volumes of photography, this one is personal, informative and most of all, all about the images - each one stands alone as a work of art, yet exhibiting the power and added value of being part of a group of images that tell the story provocatively, evocatively and memorably. If you want a photo book for your own pleasure, this is it. If you want one merely to set on the coffee table to impress your art friends, maybe you should look elsewhere....

The great thing about this photo book is that Allard provides you with a continous dialogue along with the photos about how he got the shots, what was going on, etc. As an amateur photographer, I was extremely inspired by "The Photographic Essay" to continue my photographic exploits with renewed vigor. The pages of "The Photographic Essay" come alive with photos from Mississippi, the Basques, Out West, Oaxaca, Mexico, Peru, and Australia. Allard focuses on human emotion and tends to go for photos that other photographers wouldn't attempt--ones where lighting conditions are poor and in situations that others wouldn't get into like Allard does. The result is a rich, vibrant, honest mood. I would recommend this book to anybody interested in photography, National Geographic magazine, or cultural studies.