Why People Photograph: Selected Essays and Reviews

I enjoyed reading about what other photographers think about their work and ethos. Very interesting.book.

This is a marvelous, thoughtful, sensitive, wise book, like so much of Robert Adams's writing on photography - and indeed much of it applies to art more generally. Roughly a third is made up of essays on particular topics (e.g. writing, teaching, humor in relation to photography), a third of essays on nine different photographers, and a third on the nature of, and photography in, the West. His intuitions enhance our understanding of what photographs, and art more generally, do, and why we photograph. His perceptions benefit from his wide reading - before quitting to photograph, Adams taught English.As in other of Adams's writings, there is an undercurrent that the real use of art is to affirm meaning, and thus "to keep intact an affection for life". It is possible that those whose approach to photography is very largely conceptual will find this book less stimulating than I did.

A thoughtful and thought provoking little book with not very well printed illustrations. I found the first section engrossing. The second, which is made up of reviews by the author and previously published, interesting and informative and the last section on the changes in the American West frankly irrelevant unless you live in the US. Worth a read and a place on the shelf.

As a professional photographer I have asked myself the question many times, why do I do this? This book was recommended by a fellow pro and after the first chapter I was hooked. The paragraphs about money made me laugh and the comments about trying to justify ones existence through taking photographs struck home deeply. Even if you don't agree with everything Robert Adams says it is still worth every penny of the asking price.

A remarkable set of essays. Short of time for a longer review, I can't but leave here my full five stars shared by the amateur photographer and the teacher of essay writing (in Portugal) that I am. Robert Adams is precious for both of me - if I'm allowed the bad grammar.

It was OK Not the most inspiring.

Great meditation on photography that is accessible.

a very useful book