Photography in America: The Formative Years, 1839-1900

Rating:
Summary: Solid history of photography in the USA
Review: This book covers the history of photography in the USA in a year-by-year format from 1839 to 1900, presenting over 400 images, which include examples of photographic processes and works of individual photographers. Each chapter offers the reader an historical overview of one year in photographic history along with an excerpt from the journal of a photographer practicing in that year. These views in to the past provide an interesting look back into life of a practicing photographer of the past. I was particularly moved by an excerpt from a journal relating to the life of a traveling photographer who was asked to make an image of a drown child for the town blacksmith. The only thing about this book that I did not like was that it ended its coverage in the year 1900.