The Online Photographer

there's a local independent library that have camera lucida copy i,ve been wanting to borroww, but it's been over a month missing (borrowed but not returned). currently borrowing and reading photographers on photography (1966) a compilation of writings by reknowned artist edited by Nathan Lyons. nice reading so far

yeah, I can recommend Barthes as well, and now I really have to read 'La chambre claire,' thanks, Mike!

I read it when I was studying photography some 6 years ago and it was indeed the book that made me question the importance of theory on photography.

I enjoyed it and found it interesting at the time but I don't know if it's a book that may change one's way of taking photographs. I guess that people who intend to read books like this have already a deeper interest on photography and don't get satisfied with the "make technically-perfect snapshots" approach of the majority of publications.

I feel that I learn way more appreciating the work of photographers I admire and to read or hear their toughts on it: theory + pragmatism = authenticity.

But you did make me think about read it again, if only to see if my mind changed that much over the years :)

"It would certainly help me if you or someone else can distill, in one or two paragraphs (in Plain English, please), what Barthes was trying to say in the book."

I know you're in earnest and not trying to be funny, but that made me laugh.

Maybe it's a job for the Lance brothers....

Art History Summary

Mike

I must publicly admit that Camera Lucida did not make a positive impression on me, Mike, even after two readings. (@ Ricardo: To be fair, I don't think it ever had intentions to change one's photography. Barthes was no photographer, merely a French philosopher.)

But that's just me. The older I get the less tolerant and patient I'm becoming of pure visual studies navel gazing. Meanwhile, many people my age are heading in the opposite direction and finding "new meaning" in works such as Barthes's.

If you're in this latter group may I make an additional recommendation that you might find entertaining? A few years ago I was involved in providing photography for a project associated with W.J.T. Mitchell, a professor at the University of Chicago's art history department. Rather humorously, there were a few project participants (mainly academics) who seemed incredulous that the name was unfamiliar to me. So I dived into one of his works, titled "What Do Pictures Want: The Lives and Loves of Images". Although not specific to photography, I think that folks who enjoy "Camera Lucida" will certainly enjoy at least some of the essays in this collection.

"...it's not something you'll get much out of with the TV on and a reactionary chip on your shoulder".

Hmmm, I don't completely agree. The reactionary chip on my shoulder is precisely what got me through Camera Lucida years ago. Being able to parse the shit from the sugar is what kept it interesting, and made it useful as I developed as a photographer.

Long live the punctum — may it rule over the studium forever.

A wonderful gem of a book which, like all good discourse, holds few answers but is a treasure trove of better and better questions.

Cheers,

I only read this book for the first time last fall, as part of a history of photography course. As a series of meditations, and as a glimpse into a real thinker's mind, it comes off very well. I don't understand all of it, nor do I ever expect to. But it's thought-provoking on many levels, and is valuable for that alone.

@Walter,

A true philosopher never provides answers, a philosopher "merely" excels at asking the right questions. At least that was what my philosophy teacher explained the first day we were attending his lectures.......now personally I derive the importance and the quality of a picture from it's powers to state a question.

Greetings, Ed