READING RESPONSE 1

The first group of readings was really interesting. Personally, the reading I enjoyed most was, “The Photobook: Between the Novel and Film.” I like how they differentiated photography and other fine arts, because only photography is a mass medium in this digital age. To me this reading seemed a lot more relevant than the other ones. I also appreciate how the reading illuminates the photobook, and how it is a permanent object. Photobooks are the history of photography.

For me, it becomes clear through out the reading that what matters most about the photobook is sequencing. The reading mentions that the sum of the photobook is greater than its parts and a book made up of really shitty photos can be good if someone sequences them really well. I really like how the author describes how the way a photo book is made can compliment the photos. In my mind that’s like talking about how the production of an album can either compliment or take away from the songs.

Some of the most interesting photobooks are those where the photographs aren’t taken by any recognizable ‘photographer’ instead these books are compilations. The ‘photographer’ in this case is a curator of amateur photographs. To me this really shows what the photobook is all about. Sequencing clearly becomes the most important part of these books.