Part A+C Ian Jeffrey 'Photography A Concise History'

Another reading i have set myself is Ian Jeffreys " Photography a concise history". In particularly i find chapter two Instantaneous Pictures most relevant for current projects i have approaching. The chapter is quite dated but its very interesting to read it speaks of the problems and advantages of instantaneity with reference to art, portraiture and topography, after the 1850s. he writes about how " in part the instant was perused because it was attainable, photography’s desire ". but what i found really interesting was how the insanity in photography was slated by high art and almost dismissed from the art word. I feel this is how modern day photographers feel about the mobile phone photographer or could use it in the debate has digital devalued photography. The first instantaneous medium for photography was the stereograph and the British press wrote about it being "stereoscopic trash" and "Proof of vitiated art taste" also an anonymous reviewer for the 5th annual photographic exhibition in London 1858 regretted the recent decline 'To see that noble instrument prostituted as it is by those sentimental "weddings" "christenings", "crinoline" and "ghosts", Is enough to disgust anyone of refined taste".

Although at the moment iv only attempted the second chapter of this book ,i fully intend to read more of it starting next with chapter 5 "Truths beyond Appearances".