Annuals. Photography Annual 1979. A Selection of Fine Photographs Compiled by the Editors of Popular Photography.

The Photography Annual 1979, curated by the editors of Popular Photography, serves as a vital barometer for the eclectic and often experimental state of photography at the end of the 1970s. The volume captures a transitionary period where the "New Topographics" aesthetic, conceptual portraiture, and high-contrast street work coexisted in a rapidly expanding art market.

Thematic Framework: Art & Ambiguity

The annual is anchored by Carol DeGrapa’s influential essay, "The New Photography: Art & Ambiguity." * The Shift in Perception: DeGrapa analyzes the move away from the "literal" documentary tradition toward images that embrace mystery, abstraction, and psychological depth.

• The Viewer’s Role: She argues that the strength of contemporary photography lies in its refusal to provide easy answers, forcing the viewer to participate in the construction of the image's meaning.

Key Portfolios and Diverse Visions

The selection of portfolios showcases a broad spectrum of photographic styles, from historical rediscoveries to cutting-edge contemporary techniques:

• Social and Cultural Documentary: * Burk Uzzle: Known for his work with Magnum, Uzzle’s contribution highlights his ability to find surreal, often humorous juxtapositions in American life.

  • Randal Levenson: Features his powerful, unflinching documentation of traveling carnivals and sideshow performers.

  • Jurgen Schadeberg: Documents social realities with a focus on human interaction and urban rhythm.

  • Lala Deen Dayal: A historical inclusion of the 19th-century Indian master, providing a classical counterpoint to the modern portfolios.

• Formalism and Architecture: * Philip Melnick: Showcases his rigorous, geometric approach to urban landscapes and architectural details.

  • Craig Law: Explores the nuances of light and space within specific environments.

• Experimental and Conceptual: * Ellen Carey: Represents the avant-garde "self-portrait" movement, utilizing distorted perspectives and manipulated surfaces to explore identity.

  • Ann Brandeis & Ann Mandelbaum: Both artists lean into the "ambiguity" mentioned by DeGrapa, using texture, close-crop compositions, and unusual lighting to create evocative, non-linear narratives.

• The Intimate and the Lyrical: * Harold Feinstein: Renowned for his poetic and joyful vision of life, particularly on Coney Island.

  • Mary Lloyd Estrin: Features her elegant, psychologically charged portraits of the wealthy and their private environments.

  • Dorothea Kehaya: Known for her mastery of color and delicate, painterly compositions.

Technical and Aesthetic Trends

The 1979 Annual documents the increased professionalization of the "fine-art" photographer. It reflects the era's fascination with:

• Large Format Precision: A return to the clarity and detail of the view camera.

• The Manipulation of Reality: A move toward "constructed" or highly subjective imagery rather than purely candid observation.

• Tonal Mastery: A high standard of black-and-white printmaking that emphasizes the "objecthood" of the photograph.

Significance

Photography Annual 1979 is significant because it gave a major platform to younger photographers who would become the "New Masters" of the 1980s. By balancing the social documentary tradition with the "ambiguity" of conceptual art, the volume reflects a medium that was finally comfortable being seen as a complex, self-reflexive art form.