This book reframes photography from a mechanical process into something lyrical and philosophical. “Poetics” suggests:
- contemplation,
- artistry,
- emotional resonance,
- a language beyond words.
And pairing it with “Light” is perfect because photography literally means “writing with light.” So the phrase quietly implies:
photography as a poetic act.
It carries a kind of slow, meditative energy that matches pinhole photography itself — long exposures, imperfection, atmosphere, patience.
The art of capturing an image through an improvised pinhole device traces back to ancient China and Greece through the Renaissance, reaching its height of popularity in the 1880s.
The era of the modern sharp-focus lens camera marked the end of pinhole photography as a major art form. Three decades ago Eric Renner resuscitated the form with his publication Pinhole Journal that ushered in a resurgence of interest by artists seeking an alternative, often conceptual vision and alternative to sharp-focus photography.
Artists Paolo Gioli (Italy), Shi Guorui (China) and Bethany de Forest (Netherlands) join an exceptional roster from Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Poland, and the United States, accounting for the comprehensive nature of this monumental collection.
