Life Platinum Anniversary Collection: 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography

by LIFE

Book Overview

Featuring a collection of images, this work represents a spectrum of society. It also contains photos from Hollywood's greatest stars, from the wonders of small-town America, from the terrible wars, as well as from the zestful years of childhood.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933405171
• ISBN13: 9781933405179
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Life Publications
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 4.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 11.0" x 13.4"
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

A reminder of how great the original Life Magazine was and what photojournalism should be

Before television - an era that well over half the population never experienced - there was Life Magazine, which brought the world into people's homes. The magazine's editors hired the world's best photographers who in turn became some of the world's greatest photojournalists. Life also never said no to great photography from any source. Life was, indeed, a window into life for many millions. Alas, society moved on and rising costs and television ultimately killed off Life, Saturday Evening Post, Look and many other wonderful magazines. This book is actually a little bit disappointing in that it is only 304 pages, 251 of them being given to pictures from Life Magazine. The book could have - and, in my opinion, should have - been two, three or even four times the size. Life Magazine represented the epitome of photojournalism for much of its history and I think people would pay handsomely to have the "complete" Life photo collection. Perhaps someday, like the New Yorker did with its cartoons and articles, all of Life's photos will be available for browsing on DVD. In the meantime, for any student of popular culture, 20th Century History, photojournalism or photography, this book is essential. It does contain a wonderful treasure of Life photography, which in turn gives a mirror into the world as it was. Perhaps the best part of the book are the tiny reproductions of every Life cover. These provide a true summary of the fleeting nature of fame (many Life cover subjects are entirely forgotten today), the restless world with its wars, famines and other upheavals - and reaffirmation that nothing ever changes. For the money, this is a wonderful value - a great browsing and viewing experience. Jerry

Life: The Platinum Anniversary Collection: 70 Years of Extraordinary Photography

I ordered six copies of this book and gave 5 copies to my children for Christmas and one copy for my husband and myself. Everyone loved the books and it brought back many memories for all of us, no matter what age. My grandchildren have also enjoyed looking at the book and have found it very interesting. The book is educational and entertaining. I would recomend the book to others.

Extraordinary

Many of the photos in this collection are so striking and remarkable. What I find is that many of the portrait photos catch their subjects at their best, seem to reveal their essential 'selves' in the truest possible way. The images in these photographs make the images I have in my mind, my memory- images of these subjects seem dull and faded. A great treat.

Should be a part of the Photography and History collections of every academic and community library

Featuring an informative introduction by Robert Sullivan, "Life: 70 Years Of Extaordinary Photography - Platinum Anniversary Collection" showcases a comprehensive and representative series of photo essays and prized historical images, including a section presented every Life magazine cover published over seven decades. This 304-page, full-illustrated history is enhanced for contemporary readers with more than 300 amazing photographs and provides us with a kind of guided tour through seventy years of history ranging from domestic issues to foreign affairs. Here are our cultural and political leaders, along with ordinary men and women caught up in extraordinary events. Imaged features of personalities drawn from sports, movies, and everyday life, this extraordinary book is a true memorial celebration and tribute to one of America's most popular and influential magazines of its day. Simply stated, "Life: 70 Years Of Extaordinary Photography - Platinum Anniversary Collection" should be a part of the Photography and History collections of every academic and community library in the country.

Lots of great pictures

Nearly every photograph in this book evoked a memory, whether good or bad. Some were disturbing, as they were meant to be, but many were uplifting. And it was neat to see how the cover art had changed over the years, and how Life's priorities have shifted.