In Real Life: Six Women Photographers

by Leslie Sills

Groundbreaking photographs in both color and black-and-white are reproduced alongside a lively and informative text that recounts the inspiring lives of six women who left indelible imprints on their craft. By the author of Stories about Women Artists. Reprint.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Biography

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Leslie Sills is a sculptor whose work has been shown at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and other museums and galleries throughout the country. She has lectured on art and writing at museums, art schools, universities, colleges, and public schools.

She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Posted on my book blog.

I bought this book while researching for an essay on women photographers, but after reading the parts about Dorothea Lange and Cindy Sherman (those included on my essay) I found this book to be too superficial for use in my work and didn't read it until now. Well, after giving it a go, I found that my opinion hasn't changed.

The photo reproductions aren't great, the tone of the book is rather patronizing (I mean, who was it written for if the author has to explain what she means every time she mentions 35 mm?), and the biographies are so superficial that a quick internet search about each of the photographers would be more useful than reading this book.

I guess I just don't understand the purpose of this book. If it was meant to educate people about women photographers, why choose only six? And why these six? The criteria for this choice is never explained. And why such a superficial look into their work?

Unfortunately I can't recommend this.

[Jacqueline Mcintyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Great leaders in the field of photographer! Reading the bio of these amazing woman was inspiring !

[Jennifer Sommer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six short biographies are included in this compilation of women photographers including Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, Lola Alvarez Bravo, Carrie Mae Weems, Elsa Dorfman, and Cindy Sherman. Each biography is limited to information about how each woman was led to the profession of photography and her eventual career as a photographer. Photos from each woman are also included. It is interesting to note how each woman used photography differently, either to bring an issue to the public's attention or to show human emotion, or to make a viewer think and come up with their own conclusion about a photo. A brief explanation of how a camera works appears at the end of the book along with additional resources for each photographer. Suitable for children in grades 4-8 and those interested in photography or career options.

[Evelyn Deutsch]

While I did not realize it at first, this book is available in the YA section of my library. It is simplistic, but parts of it are a decent introduction to photography for a young teen. However I had never heard of two of the women photographers before, and I wonder how the authors made her selections. It only took me about 1 1/2 hr to read through the book.

[Amaya Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very short. It wasnt one of my favorites. I loved looking at the photos though. Also seeing the pros and cons of being a women photographers. I recommend this to the people who love photograpry.

[Alisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually had not heard of some of these women, which is unacceptable to me since I AM a woman and AM a photographer. Not too in depth, but a nice overview.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read. The profiles were simply short introductions, but they made me want to learn more about each photographer.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess a good (short) intro to the work and lives of these 6 artists, but I found Sills' critiques to be over-simplified and her writting style almost condescending.