Group f.64 image source Amazon.com

I just finished reading this book. There’s something about the tone of it that didn’t appeal to me: “Edward said this…”; “Ansel did that…” etc. and it’s a bit rambling – could use more structure. However, I really enjoyed it: as the New York Times said “…the first comprehensive history of the movement”, a movement about which I’d heard but knew little other than the bios and works of some of the individual members. I wasn’t even that familiar with a number of the members/associates e.g. Willard Van Dyke; Alma Lavenson, Sonya Noskowiak, Consuelo Kanaga. I also enjoyed learning more about the role and personality (apparently not very pleasant) of Alfred Stieglitz; the battles between the pictorialists and Group f.64 (proponents of ‘straight’ photography). One photographer that I didn’t know all that well and who caught my attention was Imogen Cunningham whose work I really like and will explore further.

Jonathan Blaustein reviewed the book in An In-Depth History of Group f.64 on the NY Times Lens blog (December 11, 2014)