Annuals. Photography Year Book 1980.

Fountain Press, 1979.  Edited by John Sanders. Hardcover, fine hard cover with very good or better protected dust jacket.  About half the photographers included were from the U.K., with others from Europe, U.S.S.R, India, and U.S.A. Photographers include David Bailey; Vladimir Filonov; Stephen Shakeshaft; Martin Wolin Jr.; Tobert Llewellyn; D.R. MacAlpine; Henry Michaels; Raghi Rai; Surendra Sahai; Asko Salmi; Joan Wakelin; Marilyn Hayhow; Geri Della Rocca de Candal; Kin-Pong Chan, Peter Purtz, Mervyn Rees, Donald A. Smith, Achim Sperber; Jiri Horak; Frank Peeters; John Davison; Hardman E. Chambré; Mike Hollist; Karin Szekessy; Michael Gnade; Akim Sperber; Rolf M. Aagard, Franktisek Dostal; Jean Berner; Roland Herpen; Laszlo Lajas; Josep Maria Ribas Prous; Jose Torregrossa; Andrej Krynicki; Signe Drevsjo; Geri Della Rocca de Candal; Ferdenando Quaranta; Virender Mahajan; Raghu Rai; Asko Salmi; Vera Weinerstrova; Woot Gilhuis; Tsang-Chi Yen; Karin Szekessy; Mervyn Rees; Cleland Rimmer; Jack  Rufus; Leo Mason; Patrick Earl of Lichfield; David Burrows; Akim Sperber; Howard Walker; Wang Yue Lung; P.G. Gale; Josef Tichy; Maurice Braun; Heather Angel; et al.  Summary:

Photography Year Book 1980, edited by John Sanders and published by Fountain Press in 1979, is an international anthology that serves as a high-fidelity snapshot of the diverse aesthetic and technical trends dominating the global photographic community at the turn of the decade.

Core Philosophy and Selection

Unlike publications focused on a single movement, this yearbook is characterized by its eclecticism. The 1980 edition aimed to represent the "world's best" photography, selected from thousands of submissions by both established masters and emerging amateurs. The editorial focus is on individual craft rather than a singular overarching theme.

Key Sections and Themes

1. The Global Perspective

The book is organized largely by photographer, featuring contributors from dozens of countries (including significant portfolios from the UK, USA, Germany, Japan, and the then-Eastern Bloc). This provides a unique cross-cultural look at:

• Photojournalism: Gritty, black-and-white documentation of social unrest and daily life.

• The Surreal and Conceptual: A growing trend in the late '70s toward manipulated imagery and dreamlike compositions.

2. Technical Mastery: Color vs. Monochrome

As 1980 approached, the "Color Revolution" was in full swing. The yearbook balances:

• Rich Color Plates: Showcasing the sophisticated use of Kodachrome and Cibachrome for fashion, advertising, and abstract nature studies.

• The Black-and-White Tradition: Maintaining a heavy emphasis on the "Zone System" style of high-contrast, tonal perfection in landscape and portraiture.

3. The Human Condition

A recurring motif throughout the 1980 edition is intimacy. From candid street photography to formal studio portraits, the selection emphasizes the "decisive moment" and the psychological depth of the human face.

Notable Features

• Technical Data Appendix: A hallmark of the Fountain Press yearbooks, the back of the book includes detailed technical notes for every photograph. This includes the camera used (frequently Leica, Nikon, or Hasselblad), lens focal lengths, aperture settings, and film types—making it an educational tool for practicing photographers.

• Star Portfolios: The issue often spotlights "star" contributors with multi-page layouts to allow for a deeper look at their specific visual language.

Summary Takeaway

The Photography Year Book 1980 is an essential time capsule of photographic transition. It captures the medium as it stood between the rigorous documentary traditions of the mid-20th century and the highly stylized, color-saturated aesthetic of the 1980s. It remains a primary reference for the technical standards and visual vocabulary of the era.