Brief history of photography

Original title: The Short Story of Photography

Translation: Carolina Bastida Serra

Year of publication: 2018

Valuation: Alright

With some frequency it is advisable not to pay much attention to the titles of the books. It happens to all of us, or to me at least, that it is the first thing that awakens our attention, and especially when it is not a fiction book we give it a descriptive nature. I mean, the content is supposed to respond to what the title says. Then it happens that sometimes it is not like that and, depending on what we have gone looking for, disappointment can come. But not always.

So at first the choice seemed wrong to me, because it is enough to open the book to the first page to see that the history of photography, understood as a description of techniques, materials and innovations, presented in a certain chronological order, is practically nothing. But what there is can be funny if we change the focus: less conventional history in the manner of art manuals, in exchange for a quite interesting sample of good photos that have left their mark on the not so long history of this activity, manifestation artistic or mode of expression, however we want to see it.

Although of a somewhat modest format, this would be a book to live on the living room shelf, along with volumes on animals (let’s say dogs or horses, to taste), some classical painting, perhaps some visually attractive sport (tennis, motor racing). , spectacular landscapes or richly illustrated books on mythology. Things we can teach visitors when the conversation suddenly arises and we have the material at hand with which to impress. It is also true that in this case it is not very impressive, but it does offer good examples of photos that for some reason made history, represented a break with the previous or provided innovations in technique, theme or perspective.

There are surprising images, from those that required almost eternal exposure times, to those same effects sought on purpose many decades later to create an atmosphere of mystery, unexpected perspectives to photograph a pepper or a fork (two of my favorites in the book). , hallucinatory approaches to the big city at night or an Amazon warehouse, portraits of rulers treated with different techniques, or dreamlike images that delighted surrealists and dadaists. A complete collection that starts from some pioneers of the 19th century to the present day, each photo with a few brief comments to put it in context and highlight a couple of touches about its author.

I understand that the objective is precisely to bring together a series of interesting images, which I believe it achieves, rather than presenting an orderly story about the evolution of photography, as the misleading title suggests. But, always from my layman’s position, perhaps I would dare to deduce that the history of this art, or this technique, may not admit that exhibition similar to those that we are used to seeing in relation to the plastic arts or literature, organized in around isms and trends that, at least in general terms, mark a more or less explainable and coherent evolution. In the case of photography the technical aspect is fundamental, but at a creative level it is not so clear that there are movements that occur over time, perhaps they are specific initiatives or discoveries that coexist with others in a rather random way until form a very broad panorama that has a lot to do with individual talent or creativity.

It is a first impression like that, very much from the outside, but if it is enough for us to get a quick idea of ​​what has been done in photography for almost two centuries, the book offers a sample that has its interest, something that can serve as an aperitif, perhaps to induce us to explore a little more in that area.