On the Other Side of the Camera   by Arnold Crane

August 2006     Borrowed from my flatmate, Heidi.

I started reading this book simply with a general interest; It's full of portraits and descriptions of the most influential photographers of the last century. This is a rather interesting idea, because all the photographic enthusiasts would know the work of the photographers, and perhaps have heard a little about what they're like as people... but who's ever seen pictures of them? Real collections of portraits?

So that is what the author set out to present: a look at who these people are.

I know but little of photographic history, and could recognise only the names of two or three people in this book, (Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Siegel.) But it was still so interesting, to look at these photographs of the photographers, and have little vignettes painted about how they live, and work, and present them selves. The author himself is not a bad photographer, and I enjoyed looking at the black and white prints that fill this book. (I am interested in portraiture, quite interested, but I'm still too shy to... click pictures of people. Not just like that.) ...

And I know that many people who know me must be laughing at my self description, "shy." But it's TRUE! Just ignore the evidence of this website you're reading. Or... even better, don't ignore it, but take it as a proof of my claim; I'm so shy, that I can't go out and meet strangers. I only feel safe if I'm in my own room, and writing as if in a diary.

Back to the book... it was nice. I perhaps would have liked more descriptions about the people, (there were descriptions there, and good ones! So good, that I wanted more and more of them!) It was annoying though to have references to these artist's works, and their famous pictures... and not know what they're like!!! Such as "[He photographed] all of the life that gave Paris the excitement for which it was famous." I want to see! I want to see! Show me, show me, show me!!!

But if I want to see, then I'll have to find a good library, and go look at photographic books.

Wait a minute!!! "Family of Man." There was one reference to that photo exhibition in this book. And I might have seen it! When we were in Luxembourg last summer. (But, Curses!!!, I haven't written about it, because at the time I was too wrapped up in my Estonia Section of the website.) Anyhow, I think that it Was the Family of Man exhibition that we saw in Luxembourg. Don't I feel cultured now!