Gerry Badger: The Pleasures of Good Photographs

If looking at photographs is a pleasurable activity, it is pleasurable in a complex, transformative, frequently unsettling sense. It is not pleasure unalloyed, for no profound pleasure is pure...Like many truly enriching pleasures...photography has its dark, troubling, even dangerous aspects. –Gerry Badger __The Pleasures of Good Photographs__ is an intellectual and aesthetic excursion led by Gerry Badger, one of the field's eminent critics and popular writers and the author of more than a dozen books including both volumes of __The Photobook: A History__. In this new volume of essays, Badger offers insight into some of his favorite images, artists and themes, drawing upon nearly three decades of experience writing and thinking about photography. With deep discernment and a readable blend of scholarly finesse and wit, Badger elucidates works by dozens of photographers, from Dorothea Lange and Eugène Atget to Martin Parr, Luc Delahaye, Susan Lipper and Paul Graham. Among the broader topics discussed are the photobook, where Badger believes photography sings its loudest and most complex song, and Photoshop's role in art-making. An interlude at the heart of the book pairs the author's evocative meditations with nearly a dozen particular images. Alongside some of Badger's classics, __The Pleasures of Good Photographs__ showcases primarily new essays, making it an important addition to the canon of photographic writing. The Pleasures Of Good Photographs Is An Intellectual And Aesthetic Excursion Led By One Of The Field's Eminent Critics And Popular Writers. In This New Volume Of Essays, Gerry Badger Offers Insight Into Some Of His Favorite Images, Artists, And Themes, Drawing Upon Nearly Three Decades Of Experience Writing And Thinking About Photography. With Deep Discernment And A Readable Mixture Of Scholarly Finesse And Wit, Badger Describes The Meaning Of Work By Dozens Of Photographers, From Eugene Atget And Dorothea Lange To Martin Parr, Luc Delahaye, Susan Lipper, And Paul Graham. Among The Broader Topics Discussed Are The Photobook, Where Badger Believes Photography Sings Its Loudest And Most Complex Song, And Photoshop's Impact On Art-making. An Interlude At The Heart Of The Book Pairs The Author's Evocative Meditations With More Than A Dozen Pathway Images. The Pleasures Of Good Photographs Showcases Primarily New Essays, With A Couple Of Classics Thrown In For Good Measure, Making It An Important Addition To The Canon Of Photographic Writing. A Photography Critic For Nearly Thirty Years, Gerry Badger Is Himself A Photographer, As Well As An Architect And Curator. He Has Written For Dozens Of Periodicals And His Previous Books Include The Photobook: A History, Volumes I And Ii, Coauthored With Martin Parr, And The Genius Of Photography: How Photography Has Changed Our Lives, A Companion Volume To The Bbc Television Series. Badger Lives In London. --book Jacket. The Pleasures Of Good Photographs -- Literate, Authoritative, Transcendent: Walker Evans's American Photographs -- Simply The Best: John Szarkowski And Eugène Atget -- A Tale Of Two Portraits: La Comtesse De Castiglione And Blind Woman -- The Other Americans: Richard Avedon's Nothing Personal -- Ruthless Courtesies: The Making Of Martin Parr -- A Certain Sensibility: John Gossage, The Photographer As Auteur -- Pleasant Sundays: Robert Adams's Listening To The River -- From Here To Eternity: The Expeditionary Artworks Of Thomas Joshua Cooper -- Invisible City: The L.a. Street Photographs Of Anthony Hernandez -- Far From New York City: The Grapevine Work Of Susan Lipper -- Country Matters: Anna Fox's Photographs 1983-2007 -- Odysseys: Patrick Zachmann And Contemporary Diaspora -- From Diane Arbus To Cindy Sherman: An Exhibition Proposal -- Without Author Or Art: The Quiet Photograph -- Elliptical Narratives: Some Thoughts On The Photobook -- It's Art, But Is It Photography? Some Thoughts On Photoshop. By Gerry Badger. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. If looking at photographs is a pleasurable activity, it is pleasurable in a complex, transformative, frequently unsettling sense. It is not pleasure unalloyed, for no profound pleasure is pure…Like many truly enriching pleasures…photography has its dark, troubling, even dangerous aspects. –Gerry Badger
The Pleasures of Good Photographs is an intellectual and aesthetic excursion led by Gerry Badger, one of the field's eminent critics and popular writers and the author of more than a dozen books including both volumes of The Photobook: A History. In this new volume of essays, Badger offers insight into some of his favorite images, artists and themes, drawing upon nearly three decades of experience writing and thinking about photography. With deep discernment and a readable blend of scholarly finesse and wit, Badger elucidates works by dozens of photographers, from Dorothea Lange and Eugène Atget to Martin Parr, Luc Delahaye, Susan Lipper and Paul Graham. Among the broader topics discussed are the photobook, where Badger believes photography sings its loudest and most complex song, and Photoshop's role in art-making. An interlude at the heart of the book pairs the author's evocative meditations with nearly a dozen particular images. Alongside some of Badger's classics, The Pleasures of Good Photographs showcases primarily new essays, making it an important addition to the canon of photographic writing. Offers insight into some of his favorite images, artists, and themes, drawing upon nearly three decades of experience writing and thinking about photography. This book describes the meanings of work by dozens of photographers, from Dorothea Lange and Eugene Atget to Martin Parr, Luc Delahaye, Susan Lipper, and Paul Graham. Gathers essays from nearly three decades of photography criticism, including evaluations of the works of photographers from Eugene Atget and Dorothea Lange to the present and consideration of photobooks and the influence of Photoshop.