This is the perfect book for those interested in the art and science of examining and interpreting the built landscape. Providing the same instruction as an intro-level Historic Preservation course, it teaches the reader the process for building documentation , as well as some of the other basics of the Historic Preservation profession. The beautiful photographs, drawings, and illustrations clarify the more-difficult ideas. Not for the casual building-enthusiast, but it will greatly add to the enjoyment of the more serious vernacular architecture fan.

Mr. Shore's book couldn't possibly be more pretensious, or more out of touch with the fundamental changes that are taking place in the world of photography. His writing is wordy, his perspective self-promotional, and his ideas are trapped in the critical perspective of a mid 1970's college professor. If you're interested in a book that explores photography in the pre-digital era, you'd be better off spending your money on John Berger's "Ways of Seeing", or Sontag's "On Photography".

I stumbled on this wonderful book whilst browsing for other photography books. This book while not breaking any new ground in Photography theory gives permission for the reader to reclaim and rexamine what a traditonal analog photograph can be. Admittedly it does not cover contemporary digital issues, it makes no claims to be this anyway, being more democratic in it's intention.

This book has allowed me to clarify in a succinct and simple manner a variety of issues that I have known intuitively since becoming serious about my imnage making, and now feel better equipped to share with my students.

This kind of writing is refreshing and uplifiting, something I feel is desirable in this hectic post modern world.

This book helped me understand photographs in a way I never did before. The writing is deceptively condensed. It is really full of ideas and meaning. Being aware of these ideas has hepled my own photography.