Photos Framed: A Fresh Look at the World's Most Memorable Photographs

by Ruth Thomson, Various (Illustrations)

Portrait. Nature. Art. Documentary. A look at some of the world’s most iconic photographs invites viewers to focus on the medium’s place in art and history.

Photographs can be beautiful or harrowing, honest or manipulative, dramatic or comforting. Photos Framed explores twenty-seven of the most important and vivid photos taken over the medium’s history, from a formal portrait of Louis Daguerre taken in 1844 to a candid shot of a Cuban girl and her doll in 2011. Readers are invited to use their powers of observation to zoom in on photographic elements, blow up details of the subject matter, think about the big picture, and pan out on the photographer. Photos Framed will open viewers’ eyes to the art of photography and its power to tell a story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Photography, Art, History, Picture Books, Middle Grade

64 pages, Hardcover

First published August 22, 2013

About the author

Ruth Thomson is an author and editor of many children's books. She has an MA in museum and gallery education and lives in London.

Reviews

[Nichola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in our library for a younger member of the household but ended reading the entire thing cover to cover. The format is great- some really famous photos shared with details of the photographer, situation, sharing, and impact. Covers categories of photography such as portrait, documentary, art, etc. Clear and thoughtfully assembled, I think any age group thinking about what photography can do would benefit from spending time reading and discussing this.

[Julie Grace Immink · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your interested in photography, start here and see where it leads you.

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of potential for teaching with this book in grades 6-8. It's well written and formatted in a way that makes it reader-friendly for this audience. I'd use in small groups to foster collaborative conversations and I'd use as part of a social studies unit at the beginning of the year that launches the concept of primary sources. As part of collaborative conversations, student pairs or trios could engage in the following:
1) Looking closely at the photo on each two-page spread and answering the prompt, "What do you notice?" and "Keep looking. What else do you notice?"
2) Then they could read the text on the opposite page and discuss how the text helped them understand the photo better.
3) They could talk collaboratively (building on each others' ideas) to answer the questions under "photo thoughts" on each page.
4) They could extend the conversation by looking up additional photos by each photographer and writing about what they notice across the photos.

It would be cool if a teacher had 10-15 copies of this (one for each pair or trio) - maybe they could share across classrooms. The author categorizes photos into portrait, nature, art, and documentary and distinguishes the groups. This could be a starting conversation for looking at photos the rest of the school year. For those teachers who run a reading workshop or that have a classroom where students work independently on multiple projects, that would work too (you'd need fewer copies). It might also just be a good book to "book talk" and then have available in the classroom library. Savvy fifth grade readers with strong background knowledge in history, could grapple with this text - during a reading workshop or collaborative discussion.

Some background knowledge building about cameras would be good. Bringing in pictures of cameras over time--or having the students do the research and putting up a timeline would be helpful, too.

No doubt - these photos require some content knowledge. I think students can be encouraged to find more information to help them understand the context of the photos - if needed.

I was tempted to give it four stars instead of five. I was disappointed that the photographers didn't include names from the eastern and southern hemisphere. The photos and photographers are primarily from the northern and western hemisphere. It's not a deal breaker, though - I'd have students (maybe throughout the school year as you study periods of time related to these regions or as you study these regions), create similar two-page spreads.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unique and refreshing. I think anyone would enjoy this book from little children to adults as it presents photographs with explanations of the photos on the opposite page and questions to consider as you stare over the picture. There are familiar pictures that I believe most everyone would know, like Buzz Aldrin’s Walk on the Moon or the Afghan Girl which was on the cover of National Geographic. There are a total of 27 photographs sectioned off into 4 categories: portrait, nature, photography and documentary. The author goes into detail about where the picture was taken and other background knowledge regarding the photographs in the book, I found this information quite informative and I learned quite a bit even about the pictures I thought I knew. The author also blows up a small piece of the photo and asks the reader a specific question about the section, just to probe you deeper into the picture. Zooming into each picture, the author makes you become aware of certain details of the photo with written facts. Glossy pages with black and white photo mingled with color photos make this a book a conversation piece. Each photo also has a quote which I loved as I love quotes when they go with amazing photos. My favorite picture was Lunchtime atop a Skyscraper from 1932. Every time I see this photo, I cringe. The photo is black and white, the men’s faces are happy and they seem on top of the world. It’s seeing these contractors sit, all crunched together, relaxing and eat their lunches on a crossbeam on the unfinished sixty-ninth floor, their legs dangling, just hanging there….I just feel all tingly inside. They look so vulnerable with the hazy landscape down below them as they smoke their cigarettes, eat their lunches and there is even one guy who has a bottle in his hand. Ahhh! I have always wondered who took this picture and now, I know. I hope the author makes more of these books, as they made me think about the photograph that were inside and appreciate them more.

[Elaine Bearden]

probably grade 4 /5 and up
looks cool

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book piqued my curiosity as soon as I saw its cover. Immediately, I was reminded of my days of high school journalism classes. As I read the book and viewed the photos, I found myself extremely engaged with all of the text's features. With each photograph, the authors included background information about the photograph and photographer, along with possible topics of discussion. They even pointed out key features of each photograph, which helped me to discover aspects of the photos that I might have otherwise missed. While reading, I thought of all of the great ways I could use this text with high school journalism students. Each week, I would feature a different photo from the text by projecting the page onto a projector screen with a document camera. We would spend time discussing the features of the photographs and holding discussions using the questions suggested by the text. Independently, the students could then research the photographers and their other photographs. They could look for similarities and differences in the photos and write down their reactions to the photographers' collections. Additionally, they could look into the historical climates in which the photographs were taken and how those photographs would have been significant at those particular times. As the students did their research, they could then share their findings with the class and engage in further conversations. Some students might even be motivated to take their own photographs in the style of some of the different photographers. Those photographs could then be compiled to create a class book. All in all, this was a great text and would have many beneficial uses in a high school journalism or language arts program.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved this book. This book does more than just show off famous photographs, it encourages the reader to examine them closely and ask themselves questions about the photographer's intent, the subject of the photos, the technique, etc. Each page has a photograph along with a description of the context, questions for the reader to ask, and in some cases a "zoomed in" aspect of one element of the photo to examine more closely. There are photos here from the late 1800s all the way to 2011--a family portrait from Prince William's wedding is here to examine. The book allows people who aren't art historians or photographers to access this world, including a glossary of photography terms at the end.

What makes this great for teaching social studies is that the questions provided with each image forces one to consider historical context and perspective, as well as what the perspective or message the photographer had in mind when manipulating the images (cropping, posing, etc.) Teachers can show these images to students, and with the book's guiding questions, start some very complex discussions from them.

3/3
*
annotate

[Kellee Moye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=6180

This book is phenomenal. It takes art and history and combines them into an epic look at the history of photography and the world. I am definitely going to use this book in my classroom next year. Each photograph includes information about the photo, information about the photographer, three photo thoughts questions, a “blow up” section that looks at a certain part of the photograph, a “zoom in” which looks at elements of the photograph, and a quote from the photographer. This information is fascinating, but it is just an introduction to the time period of the photo, what makes the photo a true piece of art and who the photographer is. I would love to see students delve deeper into each of these photos using this book as an amazing jumping off point. The book also gives a nice lesson at the beginning about the different types of photographs. I can definitely see myself using that in my journalism class when we look at photography.

[Mrs. Melaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely smorgasbord of twenty-seven noteworthy photographs pulled from the early days of photography up to the present. Each photo appears as a full color reproduction in one of four categories: portraits, art, nature, and photojournalism. Many famous photos are included, such as Afghan Girl, Ansel Adams’ The Tetson and the Snake River, Earthrise, Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych, Lange’s Migrant Mother, and Tank Man. On each page facing the photo, the author provides background about the photo and photographer and engaging questions for the reader tailored to each photo. I only have one criticism. According to the subtitle, these are “a fresh look at the world’s most memorable photographs.” A few the photos, such as the Royal Wedding, Muhammad Ali versus Sonny Liston, and Serra Pelada Gold Mine might be a hard sell to fit the criteria. Other than that, this is an outstanding non-fiction book which should be especially appreciated by young photography enthusiasts.

[Matthew Hundley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a Dorothea Lange quote featured in this book (p. 41) "The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." In a world where we witness a barrage of images each day it is good to gain some understanding how to process what you're looking at. What is ordinary? What is extraordinary? What is documentary? What is staged? What is true? What is modified? Extraordinary photographers teach us to "find something interesting in an ordinary place" (Elliot Erwitt, p. 51). This book is a good primer for kids and adults as to different types of photography; how to examine photos; and a bit of history thrown in for good measure. We live in an age where everyone has a camera in their pocket; but not everyone has a photographic eye. And yet when all of these images come together in a collective vision we tell a story. Great photography reveals new details to the ever-unfolding story of life on this earth.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy: provided by publisher

Many of the photos in this book will be familiar to readers and so will catch their attention. It's great to have some back story to the photos and to learn a bit about the photographers that took them. In addition to providing information, the book also asks the reader to think about many questions as they look at the photos. The questions don't necessarily have a right or wrong answer and no answer is provided. The questions may lead to some fantastic thinking or discussion in a classroom. When I read the book I immediately thought about our 5th grade unit on photo essays. The book would help in their discussion of photography used for storytelling and persuasion. There are sections breaking the photos into portraits, nature, art, and documentary. I found the photographs and text to be fascinating and am eager to share it with our art teacher and the fifth grade unit also.

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book forces readers to zoom in on elements of photography and then zoom out on each photograph to provide context and history. I spent a long time on each page and appreciated the way the author took in the beauty and complexity of each photograph. Teachers often do a lot of close reading in the classroom. I'd love to use this text used as a parallel for close reading. The teacher and students would spend time zooming in and zooming out on the photograph. Then, we could look at a class text and do the same with the words on the page. It teaches students how important it is to look carefully at the minutia of the world but also consider the bigger picture. This book inspired me to want to pair up with the school's photography teacher to analyze the text in an interdisciplinary way. Perhaps, photography students would be inspired by the book and students could select a photograph for a creative writing assignment.

[Carol Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fabulous book provides an introduction to the world of photography for the young adult who is interested in the subject, or for anyone who browses through it. Twenty-seven iconic photographs are featured, some in black and white and others in color, along with text giving biographical details about each photographer, special aspects to be noted about each photo, and a quotation by the artist or another expert. Especially exciting : the photo of Picasso drawing with an electric light, the portrait of Che Guevara, the Steve McCurry picture of an Afghan girl, and Earthrise, taken by William Anders from a window of the Apollo 8 lunar module. The introduction discusses types of photography, and there is a glossary and an index. Recommended for all collections, especially those serving young adults.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and a great way to get young people to start thinking about what they see in photographs, the techniques behind them and the responses evoked. The text is clear and I liked the format and most of the questions posed to the reader in the Photo Thoughts sections. I also liked the organization of the book, dividing the pictures into categories: portrait, nature, photography as art, and documentary. I was bothered by the subtitle though. Indeed there ARE some very memorable photographs but there are some notable exceptions missing too. Perhaps had it been "Some of the World's Most Memorable Photographs," I would be less inclined to quibble.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic photography book that allows the reader to look at interesting photos and learn specific information about them. The photos, taken somewhere between 1844-2011, are page-sized, and include a small section on enlarging a certain part of the photo (“blow up”) and “zoom in.” Each photo has a small amount of text describing the photo, the photographer, photo thoughts.

The book groups these photos into one of four categories - portraits, nature, art photography and documentary-style. There is also a glossary of terms in back and index in this slim book (61 pages). This book is great for teens wanting to learn more about photography and the thought process that goes into each one.

[Erikka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great conversation starter. It introduces a few dozen very famous or thought-provoking pictures and then tells you about them and their photographers. It then asks you questions to guide your appreciation of each shot. What I really loved is that no correct answers are given (as none truly exist) to encourage debate and discussion. This would be fantastic in a history or art class and I'll make sure it's in my library!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories behind twenty-seven iconic photographs with brief discussions of their artistic and/or historic relevance. Thomson groups the photos into the four thematic sections of portraits, nature, documentary, and art. I particularly like the questions Thomson poses to readers challenging them to consider such concepts as aesthetics, composition, perspective, and intentions of the photographer.

[Regina Hoskins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting background information on each picture. This could be a great book to use for primary sources. However, I wish the author provided more information on why these pictures were chosen, because I found some of them to be much more memorable than others.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward and lovely representation of some of the most widely recognized examples of the art of photography. The brief history attached to each photograph is succinct while still being informative and brings great perspective to each piece.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cool book to use in any classroom. Use it to show how to closely look, just like we closely read. See the details. See the parts. See the whole. Using famous photographs and art, Thomson shows details of each still and invites you to look closely at the details.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains excellent pictures.. Goes into detail about the picture and the photographer. Really like how the book pick a spot on the photo that really enhance the photo and points it out to the reader.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book on photography and the how and why of some iconic images.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book about my favorite hobby. Great book to introduce children to photography.

[katsok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of 27 images and the stories behind them. I will be using the images for quick writes in language arts class.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. So many uses and conversations this book could start.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art. History. Nonfiction. Photography.

A fascinating book. Review to come.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal! Thomson makes the elements of photography accessible to upper elementary students and beyond. Factual information extends the photo.

[Debby Baumgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Examines different photographers work and prespective in famous photographs taken between 1844 and 2011.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a kids' textbook than a general interest book. But hopefully you can still learn a little about the photographs if you get it from the library.