On Photographs by David Campany


On Photographs
Title : On Photographs
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0262044242
ISBN-10 : 9780262044240
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 272
Publication : Published October 13, 2020

An exploration of photography in 120 photographs.In On Photographs, curator and writer David Campany presents an exploration of photography in 120 photographs. Proceeding not by chronology or genre or photographer, Campany's eclectic selection unfolds according to its own logic. We see work by Henri Cartier-Bresson, William Eggleston, Helen Levitt, Garry Winogrand, Yves Louise Lawler, Andreas Gursky, and Rineke Dijkstra. There is fashion photography by William Klein, one of Vivian Maier's contact sheets, and a carefully staged scene by Gregory Crewdson, as well as images culled from magazines and advertisements. Each of the 120 photographs is accompanied by Campany's lucid and incisive commentary, considering the history of that image and its creator, interpreting its content and meaning, and connecting and contextualizing it with visual culture. Image by image, we absorb and appreciate Campany's complex yet playful take on photography and its history.

The title, On Photographs, alludes to Susan Sontag's influential and groundbreaking On Photography. As an undergraduate, Campany met Sontag and questioned her assessment of photography without including specific photographs. Sontag suggested that someday Campany could write his own book on the subject, titled On Photographs. Now he has.

On Photographs Reviews

  • Ryan Judd

    Definitely has expanded my understanding of photography as an art form.

  • Julian Schulz

    Thanks to David for his continued work. Always a great read.

  • Pennyeach Collective

    He always writes so well about photography - and about photographs.

  • Ishak

    "Photographs confuse as much as fascinate, conceal as much as reveal, distract as much as compel. They are unpredictable communicators."
    I think Campany has done a really great job explaining his thoughts on each photos that was featured in this book, interpreting every image, connecting and contextualizing it within visual culture. The explanation is short yet meaningful, intriguing and really makes you want to think about what's the meaning of every photos that was taken.
    This definitely the best book that I bought in 2021, if you're interested in photography, this book is definitely a must read.