---
product_id: 1609539
title: "On Photography"
price: "$175085"
currency: COP
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.co/products/1609539-on-photography
store_origin: CO
region: Colombia
---

# National Book Critics' Circle Award Winner Top-ranked in Photography Criticism & Essays Deep dive into photography's cultural impact On Photography

**Price:** $175085
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📸 Elevate your vision — see photography like never before!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** On Photography
- **How much does it cost?** $175085 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co](https://www.desertcart.co/products/1609539-on-photography)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
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## Key Features

- • **Top-Ranked Authority:** Ranks #4 in Photography Criticism & Essays, trusted by serious photographers and critics alike.
- • **Award-Winning Insight:** Winner of the prestigious National Book Critics' Circle Award for Criticism, setting the gold standard in photography literature.
- • **Cultural Lens on Photography:** Explores photography beyond technique, challenging how we perceive images in the digital age of selfies and snapshots.
- • **Cult Classic for Professionals:** A must-have for photography professionals and managers who crave depth and critical thinking in their craft.
- • **Enduring Intellectual Challenge:** A dense, thought-provoking read that rewards repeated engagement with fresh perspectives every time.

## Overview

On Photography by Susan Sontag is a critically acclaimed, award-winning book that transcends technical photography to explore its cultural and philosophical impact. Celebrated for its intellectual rigor and ranked among the top photography criticism works, it challenges serious photographers to rethink the meaning behind every image in the digital era.

## Description

On Photography [Sontag, Susan] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. On Photography

Review: Dense Read - Seller was great - prompt shipping witb book well packed. As for the book, I'm only on page 9 and it's a exceptionally dense read. Not sure if the author is was suffering from angst while writing the book or having an existential crisis. It's photography; not trying to find a solution to world peace.
Review: A must for serious photographers - This should be a must read for any photographer whose mind seeks to go beyond the technical aspects of photography. When I read it, many of her comments were aimed at those "snapshot prints" that ended up in photo albums, thus lacked impact for me as digital photography was then my new medium. Now, with the the iPhone or equivalent running amuck, and the age of "selfies", which I would rename "narcisstics" for the "me, me, me" crowd, it regains impact. Yes, the medium is the message. I didn't like much of what she said as she was your typical leftist intellectual. The truth is she really had something to say about the meaning and content of photography. This alone puts her in a class probably by herself. I love photography and have been taking pictures since 1959. I don't know of one other book that even comes close to dealing with the real impact of photography. It is not a book for the "sheeple". If you are serious about photography - read it! It should make you angry, and challenge your beliefs. We all need more of that. I'm re-reading it now for about the tenth time. Every time I read it I get something new and challenging from it. You can't say that about many books today.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN  | 0312420099 |
| Best Sellers Rank | #154,938 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #3 in Photography Criticism & Essays (Books) #14 in Arts & Photography Criticism |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,390) |
| Dimensions  | 5.5 x 0.53 x 8.25 inches |
| Edition  | First Edition |
| ISBN-10  | 9780312420093 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0312420093 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 224 pages |
| Publication date  | August 25, 2001 |
| Publisher  | Picador |

## Images

![On Photography - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41banH64J9L.jpg)
![On Photography - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kDqcY7K+L.jpg)
![On Photography - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/813-d359LXL.jpg)
![On Photography - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81MXJYzWHQL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dense Read
*by K***R on December 14, 2025*

Seller was great - prompt shipping witb book well packed. As for the book, I'm only on page 9 and it's a exceptionally dense read. Not sure if the author is was suffering from angst while writing the book or having an existential crisis. It's photography; not trying to find a solution to world peace.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must for serious photographers
*by T***H on August 14, 2014*

This should be a must read for any photographer whose mind seeks to go beyond the technical aspects of photography. When I read it, many of her comments were aimed at those "snapshot prints" that ended up in photo albums, thus lacked impact for me as digital photography was then my new medium. Now, with the the iPhone or equivalent running amuck, and the age of "selfies", which I would rename "narcisstics" for the "me, me, me" crowd, it regains impact. Yes, the medium is the message. I didn't like much of what she said as she was your typical leftist intellectual. The truth is she really had something to say about the meaning and content of photography. This alone puts her in a class probably by herself. I love photography and have been taking pictures since 1959. I don't know of one other book that even comes close to dealing with the real impact of photography. It is not a book for the "sheeple". If you are serious about photography - read it! It should make you angry, and challenge your beliefs. We all need more of that. I'm re-reading it now for about the tenth time. Every time I read it I get something new and challenging from it. You can't say that about many books today.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chicken soup for photographer soul
*by W***Z on October 15, 2017*

To be fully honest I lost this book and didn't finish it completely But I do have it in mind to finish it. this book was very inspiring. It's one every photographer should own and since I'm a comic and concept art I say any type of artist should read it. In fact I think thats how I found this book a top ten book artist should read kinda thing. and I see why. It's not about technique it's more about inspirational quotes to keep you interested in inspired about going out and taking photos. theres books like this for painters and artist. Art and fear and the Art Spirt. but this one is more specific for photography. and I't really illustrated the commonalities we go through and its comforting to find some who thinks the way we do. in a way we can't even with or closest family and friends unless they are also very into this life of taking photos. It's an easy read. I kept in the car and reached for it on longer trips. which might be how I lost it. But it's broken up into chapters and essays in a way you can read it casually and keep in on a coffee table or something. it's like a chicken soup for photographer. If your looking for techniques and taking better photos this isn't a book for you. not yet. I really enjoyed and it was worth it for real. as a artist it's hard for me something to find the time and motivation to go out and take photos unless I'm traveling. but this has given me the kicking the back side I needed.

## Frequently Bought Together

- On Photography
- Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography
- Ways of Seeing: Based on the BBC Television Series (Penguin Books for Art)

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*Product available on Desertcart Colombia*
*Store origin: CO*
*Last updated: 2026-03-05*