Annuals. British Journal of Photography 1973 Annual edited by Geoffrey Crawley, Ainslee Ellis, et al.

Henry Greenwood & Co., 1972. English edition with ads at beginning and back.  Protected dust jacket has edge wear at top of back cover.  Fine in hardcover with VG dust jacket. Includes biography of Tony Ray Jones by Ainslee Ellis and chapters on photography in the 1920s by Stanley W. Bowler and Mutual Influences Between Photography and Painting by Petr Tausk. Photographers include: Tony Ray Jones; Edouard Boubat; Giles Peress; David Hamilton; Sam Haskins; Gerry Cranham; Iam Berry; Georg Gerster; Barry Lategan; Michael Legge; Graham McCarter; Sanders; Diane Tammes; Simon Trevor; Penny Tweedie; John Walmsley; David Bailey; Erich Auerbach; Brian Alexander; Godfrey Argent; Brian Alexander; Erich Auerbach; Ludwig Dieter; Michael Legge; Stephen Coe; Clive Arrowsmith; Clive Limpkin; Jean Ph Charbonnier; Diane Tammes; John Carnemolla; John Stonex; Ken Gavin; Chris Wahlberg, et al. Summary:

The British Journal of Photography (BJP) 1973 Annual, edited by Geoffrey Crawley and Ainslee Ellis, is a pivotal edition that reflects a deepening of photographic criticism and a renewed interest in the medium's relationship with other fine arts. Published shortly after the untimely death of one of Britain's most influential photographers, it serves as both a manual and a manifesto for the early 1970s aesthetic.

Key Illustrated Chapters and Historical Essays

• Tony Ray-Jones by Ainslee Ellis: This poignant biographical feature is one of the book's centerpieces. Ellis reflects on the life and legacy of Ray-Jones, who died in 1972 at age 30. The chapter highlights his unique ability to capture the "English at leisure" with a mix of melancholy, humor, and surrealism, a style that fundamentally redirected British documentary photography toward a more personal, idiosyncratic path.

• Photography in the 1920s by Stanley W. Bowler: This retrospective examines the radical "New Vision" of the 1920s. Bowler discusses the decade’s experimental spirit, from the Bauhaus influence and the rise of the Leica to the shift toward sharper, more geometric compositions that broke away from the soft-focus Pictorialism of the previous century.

• Mutual Influences Between Photography and Painting by Petr Tausk: A sophisticated analytical piece by the renowned Czech historian and critic. Tausk explores the "dialogue" between the two mediums—how photography freed painting from the burden of literal representation (leading to Impressionism and Abstraction) and how, in turn, painters influenced the compositional and lighting techniques of photographers.

Technical and Practical Sections

• The Technical Year: True to the BJP’s rigorous standards, this section reviews the hardware landscape of 1972-73. It covers the increasing sophistication of multi-coating on lenses and the early integration of electronics in medium-format and 35mm systems.

• Laboratory Practice: Detailed updates on chemical formulas and darkroom procedures, providing professionals with the latest data for achieving archival quality in both monochrome and color printing.

Visual and Artistic Impact

The 1973 Annual is noted for its high-standard printing, which was essential for a volume so heavily focused on the visual nuances of the print. The picture section juxtaposes the "social honesty" of the new British school with the more abstract and formalist experiments occurring in mainland Europe and America.

Significance

This edition is highly valued by collectors and historians for its definitive early treatment of Tony Ray-Jones. By placing his work alongside scholarly articles on art history and technical advancements, the 1973 Annual successfully argues for photography as a multifaceted discipline—equal parts science, social record, and high art.