The Four Corners books 'irregulars' series reaches number 10, and what a perfect addition it is. 'More Than a snapshot' gathers together a selection of photo wallets (you know, those flimsy envelopes that your processed films use to come back in*) that span a period of 90 years and come from the collection of author Annabella Pollen. The book takes us from the birth of photography as a new mass leisure pastime, to the growth of camera ownership after the Second World War to, finally, the move from lab coats to laptops and the eventual disappearance of this humble, but beautiful (and useful) piece of ephemera.
Some great writing accompanies the illustrations, documenting subjects as diverse as commercial darkroom labour, gender stereotyping, and advances in photo-processing.
A wonderful addition to the series.
*of course, with the advent of new film processing companies, such as the lovely Take it Easy Lab, these wallets might yet have a second wind.
Size: 220 x 160mm
Pages: 112
Publisher: Four Corners
