[Leica] Book

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

Anyone even vaguely interested in photography, photojournalism, or the
development of modern photojournalism, will plan on running - not walking -
to the nearest bookstore or web book site for a copy of a new book called
"Century," a massive - over 1100 pages - offering from Phaidon (sp?) for
$49.95. This unabridged dictionary-sized tomb (it's sold in a cardboard box
with a plastic carrying handle!)  is a history of the 20th century as
captured on film. It's divided into sections - turn of the century, wwI and
immediate post war era, 20s, 33-45, atomic stand-off, Vietnam-era, 70s 80s,
and present time. Each section begins with contemporary quotes from and
about the era from writers, politicians, etc., and then has an enormous
offering of captioned photos. At the back of the book there is a detailed
paragraph on every photo in the book. Not all identify the photographer,
some do. There are images you will instantly recognize, and many you will
not.

The reproduction quality is certainly not the best - the book would probably
cost $500 if it was - but it's good enough to appreciate what is really
important about all photography - the mind, heart, and eye of the
photographer, as opposed to the resolving power of his or her lens.

Don't miss this one.

B. D.