The Ongoing Moment

Here is a man who thinks about what he sees. Many interesting comments on well-known and not so well known photographer-artists. You'll be introduced to some you've never heard of and of course, you'll think of some he apparently doesn't know but that's the fun of it. A very intriguing mixture of insight and gossip. There aren't many books on photography that criticizes a Steiglitz photograph of Georgia O'Keefe's genitalia because it doesn't show enough detail! I strongly recommend this book for all photographers, particularly those many who look without seeing. Rating would have been 5 stars if it weren't for indifferent reproduction of photos plus omission of some images discussed in the text. Apparently some artists ( or their estates) are possessive to the point of paranoia.

I gave it three stars because the book is more or less what the description says it is. I didn't give it more stars because I didn't find it all that engaging or interesting to read. It's not horrible, mind you, just not all that entertaining/engaging/exciting either.

I have read it twice, and I believe this is the kind of book that I will enjoy re-reading every few years. Not the least, Geoff Dyer reconciles us with the idea that it does not matter how a subject, even a thing, has been photographed before, in and of itself no deterrent to shoot it again.On the contrary, one could feel invited to add one's photographic interpretation to those of the past, even relish in doing so, guiltlessly.Goeff doesn't claim that his book is about photography as a whole, it is just about photographs, a whole bunch of them, and the photographers who made them.So that in the end, we, as readers, might find that after all, this may be the best book we have read, about photography.The style is engaging, the ideas both original and entertaining, the author's wit and perspicacity matched by the depth of the insights, and a sure-footed intellectual engagement. It's fun to read, while we are given a lot to reflect upon.For someone who claims not to take pictures, Geoff Dyer knows a lot about photos. Highly recommended.

Dyer, a non-photographer has taken on the task of trying to catalog trends in photography. Its weaknesses are that it is limited as the author writes (he did have to get permission to use images) and is mainly American men and twentieth century. While it includes Diane Arbus, Dorothea Lange and Nan Goldin extensively and two brief mentions of Imogen Cunningham. The absence of Margaret Bourke-White, Lisette Model, Sally Mann, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Carrie Mae Weems, and Tina Barney when they would have fit into what was studied created the typical boys club attitude.That being said it is still a good introductory to thinking about what is going in your photographs. Without taking a photograph he illuminates the subject of subject matter.By having no chapters but rather by slipping in and out of subject matter he does a very good job of introducing photographic history and theory to the beginner. He allows people to think about how they have been influenced by the images and social meanings of subject matter that goes into a photographer's decision to trip the shutter.One of the greatest lessons for a photographer to learn is that you are not photographing a completely new idea. You as a photographer have been influenced by the society that you have grown up in and while you may not consciously recognize that an image is familiar to you that image has been seen before. Dyer indicates that quotation can sometimes create better images by the quoter than the quoted and allows the photographer to make a statement about the quoted.Dyer as an Englishman can take an outsider's view of American photography and recognize cultural differences and preferences that an American inherently overlooks as natural. I think that this helps him understand Robert Frank even more than Americans think they do, however it also ignored William Klein's work that was always overshadowed by Frank's coming out a year or two later and grabbing the attention.Overall he did a thorough examination within the limitations of the length of the book and images to use (images should be larger) and tied it altogether by the end. It is hard to write a cohesive book on such a wide subject so the author who hopes that his book can be read non-linearally did an excellent job of weaving an image into his tapestry.

This is an excellent book on the way some photographers connect with the work of others, but it is a book of writing. It is NOT a book of photographs. Ideally one would already know the work from other books or exhibitions. The pictures are there just for reference.

I’m generally a fan of Dyer though this volume is quirky to say the least. Less compelling than his other writings on photography. I am particularly annoyed that the color plates, which are integral to the book and are linked to in text, are completely absent. Wish I had read the negative reviews forth. The publisher needs to fix this.

The way this guy thinks and writes about photography and photographers is unlike anything else you will read on the subject

This book may be more meaningful for the reader with some knowlege in the field. It's coversational tone and references to photographersand their works already familiar to the reader promotes a feeling of intimacy.I found the author's views on photography interesting. His views on theworks of well-known photographers,their similar subjects and their personal approaches to these like subjects proved illuminating as well.

I made a deliberate decision to avoid Geoff Dyer's books after being given a copy of his Yoga........., it didn't do justice to the recycled newspapers used to produce it. However, I bought a copy of Vivian Maier - Street Photographer (wonderful) where Dyer has written a masterly introduction. So, long on my wish list, I purchased a copy of The Ongoing Moment - good call they say in the beer ads. It's gossipy about icons of photography (Stieglitz and Mrs Strand) and written with Dyer's trademark smart-a**** style. I have learnt a great deal about 'reading' an image now I understand Stieglitz's intention when producing his Equivalents.Much of what is good about this book has been covered elsewhere and there is no need for repetition. Thoroughly recommended, loses a star simply because the book itself is poorly produced with less than average print quality of both text and images, the latter are also too small to see some of the detail Dyer describes.The positives outweigh the small 'negatives' if you will excuse the pun.

I got to page 90 and could no longer bear the lack of chapter breaks and the ‘stream of consciousness’ style. So I’ve given up on it.

waffle.

Surely the most readable book on photography. A really good read.

Great book!