When Photography Really Works

Known as the father of photojournalism, Henri Cartier-Bresson discovered the magic of capturing the decisive moment on film: “I suddenly understood that a photograph could fix eternity in an instant.” Whether spontaneous or not, photographs intrigue and give pleasure to their viewers, but why are some photographs so much more effective, impactful, and dynamic than others? Exceptional photographs somehow satisfy us at a much deeper level than the rest.

When Photography Really Works showcases 80 outstanding photographs from around the world and throughout time—from the first daguerrotypes to today’s digital masterpieces, encompassing the power of portraiture (Diane Arbus’s Identical Twins), the beauty of landscape (Ansel Adams’s Sand Dunes, Sunrise), and the complexity of still life (Edward Weston’s Shell)—explaining just what it is that makes them so memorable. Some photographs offer amusing, voyeuristic insight (Weegee’s The Critic); others serve as hard-hitting social documents (Bruce Davidson’s Gang Members) or are pure masterpieces of creativity (Helmut Newton’s Twiggy and a Cat).

Divided into ten themes including Movement, Beauty, The Everyday, and Conflict, and referring to photographers as varied as Diane Arbus, Cecil Beaton, Sebastio Salgado, Nan Goldin, and William Eggleston, Val Williams draws our attention to the elements of each photograph—such as composition, color, texture, and fidelity to subject—that distinguish it from its peers. Her insightful text will open your eyes to the defining qualities of the masterpieces of every period and genre, while quotes by photographers and critics of the day highlight the impact of each piece at the time of its creation, casting more light on its place in the history of photography as a whole. When Photography Really Works is a must-have book for all those who love photography as an art form and who want to find out what it is that makes certain photographs truly great.

An enlightening, analytical approach to photography that can be applied to all photographs, with close appraisal of 80 carefully selected and sharply reproduced photographs from all over the world.