The documentary impulse

Award-winning Magnum photographer Stuart Franklin's exploration of how we are driven to visually document our experiences and the world around us.- Touching on both the psychology and philosophy of photography in a concise and fluid writing style, this book shows an approach similar to the way in which Alain de Botton tackles philosophy.- From photojournalism and war photography to work recording our culture, the book features a wide range of photographers: from the concerned lens of Don McCullin and Ian Berry, and the surreal street photography of Eugène Atget and Sibylle Bergmann, to the colour-saturated work of Martin Parr and staged scenes of Gregory Crewdson.Franklin offers a unique and authoritative perspective as both an acclaimed practitioner of photography and an eloquent writer.- This elegantly written book is an ideal gift for aspiring photographers.