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A little gem
This is a charming book from a photographer whose work has appeared in Ag on more than one occasion, Andrew Sanderson. Over an introduction, 15 chapters and 128 pages, Sanderson takes the seemingly mundane subject matter we are all surrounded by and shows through his own pictures what the photographer’s eye is capable of finding there. The images are mostly monochrome, but printed in four-colour to make the most of the toning and processes Sanderson uses. But this is a book about inspiration, as the subtitle makes plain, and process and technique intrude only occasionally. As the author says in his introduction: ‘[This book is] an antidote to all those publications that imply that great pictures can only be taken with the most expensive equipment, and in the most exotic and far flung places’. The images that illustrate the book are little gems, in many cases created from frankly unpromising raw material. As Sanderson says in the chapter on Found Objects: ‘Perhaps it’s just that a photograph makes us look again at things we thought were familiar’. And his own photographs prove that. Although, arguably, he has written this book to inspire photographers in the earlier stages of their practice, no matter how experienced you are you will be sure to find food for thought in it. It is a refreshing read and I was amused to note the advice about not taking too much notice of what one reads in photography magazines. Minor quibbles? The picture captions do not illuminate beyond the obvious and the text for the chapter openings is set over the full type area width and is therefore difficult to read; the text for the chapter sub-sections is over two columns, which is much more comfortable. I notice the design is by Eddie Ephraums, sounds familiar… Books about a practical approach to photography can be very samey – this one is refreshingly different and very accessible. Indeed, inspirational.
Home Photography: Inspiration on your doorstep, by Andrew Sanderson, published by Argentum, £20, ISBN 1 902538 29 3.
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