PHOTOANALYSIS: How to interpret the hidden psychological meaning of personal photos.

by Robert U. Akeret

Book by Akeret, Robert U

Genres: Psychology, Photography, Art

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Robert U. Akeret received his doctorate in psychology from Columbia University and his certificate in psychoanalysis from the William Alanson White Institute where he trained with Rollo May and Erich Fromm. He has worked in the counseling services at Columbia University, the City College of New York, and is a past President of the Association of Psychoanalytic Psychologists.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

1st Read: November 7, 1992 - December 4, 1992 (**** Rating)
I grew up in a family of photo enthusiasts and picture maker's and taker's. This was more than likely my Dad's book, as he was the one with the manual Nikon SLR and assorted lenses.
This particular book has been a great add to my collection. It is not just because it was a part of my family, but more for what I have learned from its pages. It is a great book for education and personal use, whether you are a a seasoned photographer or a new one. Not only that, the same rules apply regardless if you shoot digital or film. I do use digital, however, when I am out in the the wild areas of Alberta's mountains, my SLR, assortment of lenses and slide film are still my choice.

2nd Final/Read: February 27, 2017 - March 4, 2017 (** Rating)
Still a great visual aid when dealing with the psychology behind a photo with people in it. I don't know many people who critique photo's in the manner as this book lays out, but I see the validity of it. It is still body language in just another aspect.
The only thing which I didn't like about the book were some of the photo's with nude or semi-nude children. When the book was originally published, such things were not frowned upon
as much as they are now. An infant could still account as acceptable, though a child over the age of six years old is something else altogether. One picture had me uncomfortable just seeing it.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book when it came out in 1973, when I was 19. I ave just read it completely now. It is still fascinating and timely. Some of the author’s insights could certainly help decipher Trump’s photos, no doubt.

[Chloe A-L · Rating 3 out of 5]

The psychology and social assumptions in this are very much outdated, but it’s a fun little book if you don’t try to apply it.

[Maynard James Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very influential on me as a photographer - and in looking at photographs in general for clues I'd missed in the past, e.g., what can be gleaned about the relationships between people in photographs by how they're oriented and other cues.

If you can find it, well worthwhile.

One section of particular interest was on the inherent asymmetry between the left and right sides of people's faces - not only in how they make them more interesting and actually complete, but how the differences can show inner conflicts.

The author cut and flipped a number of faces, making "new faces" out of people's two left sides and two right sides. These composites a) both showed how "unnatural" faces look when NOT assymmetric and b) the ones of Richard Nixon totally showed both his "I AM a dangerous crook" and his more human impulses.

Good companion reading: John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" (both the book and BBC Miniseries - with the latter available on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnfB-p... )

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting subject, lots of pictures, general overview of how and what to look for.