Let Truth Be The Prejudice: W. Eugene Smith, His Life and Photographs

This biography chronicles the life and work of W. Eugene Smith, one of the most influential photojournalists of the 20th century. The book combines Smith's photographs with accounts of his personal journey and professional development from the 1930s through the 1970s. The narrative traces Smith's career from his early days as a photographer in Wichita, Kansas, through his work for Life magazine, and his independent projects in Pittsburgh and Minamata, Japan. The text incorporates Smith's own writings and correspondence, providing context for his major photo essays and artistic choices. Smith's black-and-white photographs are reproduced throughout the volume, showcasing both his renowned published works and lesser-known images. The book includes details about his technical process, darkroom techniques, and the development of his distinctive visual style. The work presents Smith as a complex figure whose dedication to truth in photography shaped both documentary photography and photojournalism. His unwavering commitment to social justice themes and ethical representation in photography emerges as a central thread throughout his life's work.

W. Eugene Smith's life and photography impacted readers and fellow photographers. Reviewers connect with Smith's intensity, perfectionism, and ethical approach to photojournalism. Readers highlighted: - Deep exploration of Smith's thought process and method - Quality of the photo reproductions - Balanced coverage of both artistic and biographical details - Insight into Smith's personal struggles Common criticisms: - High price point - Book size makes handling difficult - Some found the biographical sections overlong Ratings: Goodreads: 4.31/5 (13 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (6 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Shows how Smith's uncompromising nature led to both his greatest work and deepest personal difficulties" - Goodreads reviewer "The reproduction quality does justice to Smith's attention to detail in printing" - Amazon reviewer The book appears in many photographers' recommended reading lists but has limited review data due to its specialist nature and price point.

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🔸 W. Eugene Smith's photo essay "Country Doctor" (1948) revolutionized photojournalism, following Colorado doctor Ernest Ceriani for 23 days and creating an intimate portrait of rural medical practice that influenced generations of photographers. 🔸 After being critically wounded while photographing the Battle of Okinawa in WWII, Smith underwent two years of painful surgeries and had to completely relearn how to use a camera. 🔸 The book's title "Let Truth Be The Prejudice" comes from Smith's own philosophy—he believed photographers should approach their subjects with truth as their only bias, rather than preconceived notions. 🔸 Smith spent three years living in Japan documenting the devastating effects of mercury poisoning in the fishing village of Minamata, ultimately being severely beaten by company thugs for exposing the corporate negligence. 🔸 The photographer installed a darkroom in his Manhattan loft and spent countless hours making prints, sometimes working on a single image for days to achieve the exact emotional tone he wanted, burning and dodging until it matched his vision.