The Women Who Changed Photography: Book Review

The book contains both background information on each featured photographer and practical application tips from these photographers’ techniques. Thus, it offers both learning experiences about the artists and from the artists’ expertise. The range of photographers discussed by Padley is impressive in its variety and scope, and the format of the book makes it an accessible read of value to anyone with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

The Author

Gemma Padley is a UK-based writer who has focused her efforts on writing about photography since 2007. During this time, she established herself as an authority on the subject with publications including a number of books and essays, as well as introductions and captions where she collaborated with artists and galleries.

The Scope

The Women Who Changed Photography is an overview of women photographers that includes 50 artists. This ensures diversity within the range of artists discussed while also preventing the book from becoming overwhelmingly long or dense.

If you are hoping to find new photographers while also learning more about some of your favorite, perhaps better-known photographers, this book will provide you with an overview of boundary-pushing artists in both categories. Additionally, it is accessible to those who are professional photographers and those who are new to the artistic medium of photography.

While this book is an overview, there is a wealth of information to absorb about each photographer. Padley skillfully shares a great deal about each artist’s background and approaches in just a few words.

The Reading Experience

The format of this book is designed in a reader-friendly manner with excellent use of space for the images and text. While nonfiction books can be intimidating with the breadth of information that must be contained within the book, this publication manages to communicate a great deal of information without overtaxing the reader’s attention span and capacity to retain information. The accompanying images help to break up the text and ensure that the reader has a visual example of what the author is describing about a given photographer and their style.

While the techniques that are included and described within the book do, of course, involve the action of taking a photograph and the process(es) entailed, it is not by any means limited to this aspect of photography. Both preparation for the photograph and post-photographic processes are discussed at length by Padley. It is, perhaps, this area where Padley’s background as a photography expert most shines through.

Celebrating Diversity

One of the greatest strengths of this publication is its heterogeneity. Within the 50 artists who are showcased, Padley provides an exceptional array of photographers from diverse times and places. This variety is further supported by the expansiveness of the styles of photography displayed in addition to the theoretical explorations of the artists’ motives and perspectives.

Extending beyond the conceptional, Padley explores photographical techniques that may be useful as suggestions for practical use. No matter the subject you wish to photograph, you will find an array of photography techniques to consider with the potential to enrich your technical arsenal. Such ideas exist within the realms of the physical and digital worlds, providing a wealth of inspiration to photographers of either inclination.

Why It’s Worth a Read

The photographers featured in this article represent a small sample of the artists about whom I learned through this publication. Not only do I thank Padley for the introduction to numerous photographers of exceptional caliber in this book, but I can also consider this an addition to the list of qualities that lead me to strongly recommend this compendium of women photographers to anyone who is interested. I am left with inspiring ideas, motivated to use my photography to change the world, and empowered by the women photographers who have blazed the trail before me.

What is perhaps most valuable about this book is its capacity to spark interest in learning more about the development and continuous evolution of photography, specifically within the realm of women photographers. We, as readers, are given a taste of the glorious photographs produced by women of creative genius, and it leaves us wanting more.