The Photographers Eye by John Szarkowski

This book was quite a surprise initially due to the short text introduction, and then photographs with no further comment. The analysis in the introduction however conveys some key points in a very economic way on the distinctions between photography and painted images. These ideas are illustrated graphically by the selection of photographs.

The book was published before the era of digital photography. The ability to easily manipulate photographs for anyone with suitable software will potentially weaken the perception that a photograph portrays reality. My feeling is that for the moment, most photographs are accepted as reality despite the fact that almost all commercial and magazine images will have been manipulated quite significantly. Currently, I prefer pictures which are substantially as seen through the lens. Some of the more dramatic images produced using HDR and similar techniques seem unworldly and unreal.