Life Library of Photography: Photography as a Tool

Photography as a Tool is part of the Time-Life Books series Life Library of Photography; which has 16 other volumes to check out!

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This volume delves into how photography can and has been transformed into a valuable tool for studying science, medicine, nature, space, and more. It includes the specific aspects and techniques a photographer can use to manipulate the medium to seize any phenomenon. Accompanying this book are stunning photographs capturing the natural world. 

As mentioned above, this book was published by Time-Life Books and owned by the Time-Life company. The materials of their books were derived from the large archives of images and illustrations the company had access to. These were then cultivated into books that revolved around the arts, societies, history, and more. The company mainly relied on mailed advertisements to gain consumer engagement and profit. The books would be paid for (with shipping and handling, of course) by the customer and mailed to them. As a result of their subjects and marketing, they were a booming business. However, Time-Life Books only lasted from 1959-2001. Its popularity would die off during the early 1990s, this was due to pricing, dwindling staff, and easier access to information via the Internet. 

Time-Life Books were also created during an eventual and turbulent time in world history; the period after World War II and during the Cold War. During that time, the world of photography was also shifting, which could have influenced the contents of Photography as a Tool. More technological advancements occurred or were occurring, such as the advancement of color photography, lighting, speed, and the use of special effects and equipment. After such events, there were also new movements that emerged as a response, such as ones that reflected the ideas of Abstract Expressionism. Street photography and social landscape photography also gained popularity during this time. 

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Mariah Martinez

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ed. Robert G. Mason and ed. Jerry Korn. Photography As a Tool. Life Library of Photography. Time-Life Books, New York: Joan D. Manley, 1970.

Gernsheim, H. Erich Robert , Newhall, . Beaumont , Rosenblum, . Naomi and Grundberg, . Andy. "history of photography." Encyclopedia Britannica, April 22, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/technology/photography.

Denny Hatch. “The Rise and Fall of Time-Life Books.” Archive. The Free Library By Farlex (blog), June 1, 2001. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Rise+and+Fall+of+Time-Life+Books.-a075579377