The Ongoing Moment

The Ongoing Moment examines the history of photography by tracing recurring subjects, motifs and patterns across different photographers' work throughout the 20th century. Rather than following a chronological path, the book connects images through shared elements like hands, doors, benches, blind people, and barbershops. Dyer moves between major figures like Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Walker Evans, and Dorothea Lange, exploring how they approached similar subjects in distinct ways. He analyzes both iconic photographs and lesser-known images, revealing unexpected links between photographers who never met. The narrative integrates technical and biographical information while remaining focused on the photographs themselves and what they reveal. Dyer draws from photographers' own writings and statements about their work, placing the images in both historical and artistic contexts. The book suggests that photography contains an inherent tension between capturing fleeting moments and participating in an ongoing visual conversation across time. Through its unconventional structure, it presents photography as a medium defined by both individual vision and collective memory.

Readers describe this as an unconventional photography book that explores recurring themes and motifs rather than following a chronological history. Photography enthusiasts appreciate Dyer's connections between different photographers' approaches to common subjects like hands, benches, and blind people. What readers liked: - Fresh perspective on familiar photographs - Personal, conversational writing style - Discovery of lesser-known photographers - Novel thematic organization What readers disliked: - Meandering narrative structure - Limited photographs included in book - Assumes prior knowledge of many photos - Writing sometimes feels self-indulgent Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (90+ ratings) Sample review quotes: "Like having a fascinating conversation about photography with a very knowledgeable friend" - Goodreads reviewer "Needs more actual photos to illustrate his points" - Amazon reviewer "His tangential style won't appeal to everyone, but the insights are worth it" - LibraryThing reviewer

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The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Walter Benjamin A philosophical investigation connects the development of photography and film to fundamental changes in human perception and artistic expression.

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📚 Rather than following a chronological history of photography, Dyer organizes his book around recurring objects and themes - like hands, stairs, blind people, and benches - showing how different photographers approached the same subjects across time. 🎯 The book's title comes from photographer Alfred Stieglitz's concept of photography capturing "the ongoing moment" - the idea that photographs simultaneously freeze time and suggest continuity. 🔍 Dyer wrote the book despite claiming he knows little about photography's technical aspects, focusing instead on the stories and connections between images through history. 🖼️ The author explores works by photography giants like Paul Strand, Edward Weston, and Walker Evans while also highlighting lesser-known artists who photographed similar subjects. 📷 The book reveals how certain photographic subjects became traditions passed down through generations of photographers - for instance, the way empty chairs became symbolic portraits of absence after Vincent van Gogh's painting of his chair.