Depth of Field

Where did photography come from? What has it meant to us until now? How are we presently perceiving it? Where might we be heading with it at the end of this century? These are the recurring questions that Coleman addresses throughout this provocative collection of essays. Beginning with The Destruction Business, a meditation on the work of the critic, Coleman goes on to scrutinize a diverse yet connected set of issues, among them the perils and pitfalls of ideologically driven historianship (in case studies of William Mortensen and Edward S. Curtis); the effect of computerization on photography and art education; the transformative impact of the lens on Western culture; and the ethical issues raised by street photography.

A. D. Coleman has served as the photography critic for the New York Observer since 1988. He is the author of numerous books on photography, including Light Readings (UNM Press).