Why Art Photography?

Contemporary art photography offers a paradox. Anyone can look at it and form an opinion about what they see, yet it represents a set of aesthetic and critical positions that only a small minority of well-informed viewers can access. Aimed at mid-level students, this book of essays will describe and analyse trends in contemporary art photography in a lively and accessible way. Each chapter will provide a fresh twist on an existing debate. While the main focus will be on the present moment, the book will trace ideas and visual styles to their origins, drawing on examples from an array of international photographers. Relevant images, theories and histories will be described in a clear concise manner and key terms will be defined along the way.