The Changing Face of Portrait Photography: From Daguerreotype to Digital
By Shannon Thomas Perich

The author of this book, Shannon Perich, is a Smithsonian curator who has chosen ten photographers to feature in this book about the history of portrait photography. She used images from the Photographic History Collection  of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The select list of artists includes: George K. Warren, Julia Margaret Cameron, Barr & Wright Studio, Gerturde Käsebier, Dorothea Lange, Nickolas Muray, Richard Avedon, Henry Horenstein, Lauren Greenfield, and Robert Weingarten. The introduction also features images by and of many other significant photographers including William Henry Fox Talbot, Evelyn Nesbit, and Jerry Uelsmann. This book is an important artifact in the documentation of human history. Art is often used to illustrate or clarify our understanding of previous eras, but photography has a unique ability to not only show an artist’s interpretation, but document an aspect of reality at the time. The National Museum of American History’s director, Brent D. Glass says it best in the book’s foreword, “this rich and rewarding publication derives its greatest significance by reminding us that history is about people.” For each of the featured photographers, Perich introduces the photographer with an image and a biography of their life, accomplishments, and significance. Then around a dozen full-page images are displayed captioned with the title, year, and process. Perich uses facts and historical evidence to discuss the understanding of the person, and then uses that to walk the reader through the evolution of this field: portrait photography. She discusses the relationships between photographer and subject, changes in technology, and the varying theories of the time. This book is intriguing to both the reader who wants more details about history and photographers, and the viewer who likes to stare at the beautiful reproductions of inspirational images from historical photographers.

George Platt Lynes: The Male Nudes
Edited by Steven Haas

So often, males are overlooked as possible subjects for nude photography. Our society is obsessed with the style, shape, and size of our female citizens. We love to admire the beauty of the curvy, sensual, and reproductively amazing bodies of our women, forgetting that men can also be appreciated for the exact same qualities. Photographer George Platt Lynes had a talent for using light to accentuate the fabulous forms and textures on a male body. All of the images featured in this book are black and white and full page. Books that feature black and white images are often not up to standard in replicating the texture and quality of an original silver gelatin. However, the publishers of this book, Rizzoli International, have done an outstanding job. This book is an inspiration to all figure photographers, including those committed to the female form. I highly recommend every photographer, and photography lover, spend a few hours examining the artistic quality of the images in this book.

Tibet: Culture on the Edge
By Phil Borges

One of my most favorite photographers is Phil Borges. I am permanently inspired by the black and white, hand toned images of the people he has documented in Tibet.  It is with pleasure that I introduce you to a collection of his new work, featured in another outstanding book by Rizzoli International. The original collection of images by Borges that are featured in Tibetan Portrait: The Power of Compassion were from his first visit to Tibet in 1994. Borges returned to Tibet in 2009 and spent a year and a half traveling across the Tibetan Plateau. He spent time talking to Tibetan nomads, farmers, monks, and nuns about climate change, development, and devotion. Borges states in his introduction, “At no time did they offer any comments on topics that were politically sensitive.” The images he took of these people are featured in this book. Although these images differ from his previous Tibetan portraits because these are in full color, the same intimate and culturally appreciative style is apparent. I recognize the images of up-close faces with blurring landscapes in the background as uniquely Borges, but there is also a new exploration of documenting people: landscapes of their terrain, documentations of their living and devotional spaces, and non-posed action shots of individuals living and interacting. The images are large, often full-page spreads with captions that include the title, location, and interesting description of the scene. This book is a must-have for any fan of Phil Borges, portrait photography, or the concerns of the people of Tibet.

In  Focus on Lighting Photos, the authors cover Tools, The Color of Light, Light and Shadow, Sunlight, Portraits, Metal, Glass,  Motion, and the Future. This book focuses on techniques used in the studio, making it a valuable resource for the photographer who already has an understanding of exposure. An excellent resource for a studio lighting class, either student or instructor.