By Mike Weaver & Daniel Wolf

This is THE photographic history book. The detailed essays that summarise each era of fine art photography provide needed breaks throughout this large collection of beautifully printed, silvery images. The size of this book is one of its greatest assets; it allows for the photograph to become a details 8x10 contact size on each page and smaller, more intimate images to quietly sit next to the informative caption of each series of work.

I am always drawn to chronology, and of course typological layouts. The sequencing of this book has been carefully thought through to provide and informative history of the photographic practise aswell as working as a photobook in its own right. These photographs of ‘Samurai with sword c. 1860’ and ‘Prince Kung c. 1871-72’ are perfect examples of both sequencial beauty and an artifact of society. At more than 100 years old these images give us a small yet hugley important insight into the culture, fashion and enviroment of 19th century Japan.

I could of chosen a number of images from the 3 double page spreads containing August Sander’s ‘Citizens of the 20th century’ and since seeing this picture in a retrospective exhibtion at Cardiff Museum it has remained in my desert island pictures alongside many other fantastic portrait and fine art photographers. It is the eerie atmosphere this woman creates with her gaze, it burns a hole through the page and into my head, the near perfect exposure and allows her to illumante the frame. It is sheer perfection.

Paul Strand’s portrait of his wife ‘Rebecca, New York c. 1922’ reminds me of a picture I made back last year. The intimacy and closeness to his wife is felt in this photograph, her expression is gentle and kind and her eyes glisten with a sense of acknowledgment to her husband who sits behind the camera. But despite this there seems to be a overwhelming sense of sadness within her face, her eyes so neutral and almost deadpan but with a hint of regret. I know this condtradtics my last comment but that is what makes this picture so impactful; Strand’s ability to combine multiple genres of emotion within a single portrait of his wife.

Alongside portraits of famous figures, family members and strangers on the street are important documentations of the world’s vast and different landscapes. John Davies’ stunning large format pictures of various British landscapes are one such document. That silvery timelessness that has been captured onto the negative shines through in these set of pictures. The minuscule figures playing football juxtaposed next to the Godzilla like power plant chimneys is just one of the advantages of using a large format camera. And Davies is one such person who’s skill of composure and exposure may sit so elegenlty inside the pages of this catalogue.