Life Library of Photography

Toffle · Mar 23, 2009

This afternoon during an outing at Point Pelee National Park (one mile from my front door) on a table of withdrawn books, I found an almost complete set of the Life Library of Photography. Apparently they used to have a full time photographer on staff, but the books have hardly been opened. Of the 17 books in the series, only one is missing. (#13, Photographing Children) I have been looking for this set for the longest time. These books are an absolutely wonderful resource. I don't know how the photos are reproduced, but they have a luminous silver quality. I know I can look forward to months of good reading on these pages... (now I have to find the elusive #13 )

Cheers,

mike c · Mar 23, 2009

Iv'e still got 5 or 6 of them form when I was a teenager,ya they did a good job printing them,a lot of good photographers also.

Anscojohn · Mar 23, 2009

Yes, they were a wonderful set. I bought them all, one a month, I think it was, when first they were issued. I think I still have them, buried in the basement someplace. Does anyone know if there was more than one addition?

Ken22485 · Mar 23, 2009

Fantastic books! I got a few volumes for Christmas in the 70s, and have since added to them through thrift store acquisitions.

There were two editions put out. The first edition is the one with the wonderful silvery quality to the reproductions; the second edition had smaller size books, and the quality of the reproductions wasn't nearly as good.

Mike Kennedy · Mar 23, 2009

I have Vol. #13.
Drop me an email.

Mike

Konical · Mar 23, 2009

"Does anyone know if there was more than one addition?"

Good Morning,

Yes, there were. The first is Photography Year, 1974. That was followed by similarly titled volumes until 1981.

Konical

Joe Lipka · Mar 23, 2009

That was a great series of books, one of the best instructional series about making photographs using examples of great photographs from the pages of Time and Life magazines. This series was influential to my photographic vision.

Yeah, I know, I don't have mine anymore either.

resummerfield · Mar 23, 2009

Konical said:
"Does anyone know if there was more than one addition?"

Good Morning,

Yes, there were. The first is Photography Year, 1974. That was followed by similarly titled volumes until 1981.

Konical

Actually, the "Photography Year" yearbook editions were a supplement to the Life Library of Photography, and started in year 1973. I have the series, too, subscribed for and received one month at a time in the early 1970's.

Jeff Kubach · Mar 23, 2009

I have a complete set which I bought from a friend for $25. There were in excellant shape.

Jeff

Krockmitaine · Mar 23, 2009

I have the complete first edition set in excellent shape, plus the yearbooks (1974-1981), the Index and the Buyer's guide (camera and BG to camera accessories). I guessed that I had the complete run of yearbooks but never had any confirmation until now.
That set was a donation to the library where I used to work and the CEO decided that nobody in the area (except me) would use it. He didn't want to spend time and money cataloging the books so he gave it to me.

Great series indeed.

Marc

pauliej · Mar 23, 2009

The local libraries used to have this, but the volumes have disappeared over the years. I wonder why Time/Life doesnt reprint them. They pop up on ebay every now and then.

paulie

PHOTOTONE · Mar 23, 2009

pauliej said:
The local libraries used to have this, but the volumes have disappeared over the years. I wonder why Time/Life doesnt reprint them. They pop up on ebay every now and then.

paulie

I think there are several reasons why Time-Life wouldn't reprint them. Firstly, almost 90% of the camera gear depicted in the books is discontinued. Secondly, the wide public interest in film and darkroom developing is practically nil. This interest would be needed to have a large press run on the books.

The books would have to be extensively reworked to incorporate modern equipment and techniques.

Remember, these books were written to appeal to the wide audience, the general public, not just the photo enthusiast.

Life Library of Photography

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