The book "Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography" was written by Roland Barthes and is 119 pages long. Camera Lucida was the final book written by Barthes and is actually part of a trilogy, including the books Roland Barthes and A Lovers Discourse. Camera Lucida discusses several aspects of the art of photography, according to Barthes. The topics discussed in the book include; Emotion as Departure, Photography as Adventure, and Photography as a casual Phenomenology. Barthes also explores the responsibility that photography has to inform, surprise, signify, paint, and awaken desire.
Barthes begins the book by explaining his amazement with photography
from an early age. The author describes a photograph of Napoleon's
youngest brother, saying that he was immediately intrigued by the eyes of
the young men. This particular photograph actually caused Barthes to
desire to know more about the art of photography. In the book, Barthes
mentions that he was "overcome by an ontological desire; I wanted to learn
at all costs to what Photography was in itself" (Barthes). Barthes spent the
rest of his life in pursuit of the definition of photography.
Barthes also explains that the motivation behind writing the book was
the death of his mother. Barthes asserts that he had difficulty
finding a photograph of his mother that really captured her personality.
After search through hundreds of pictures Barthes actually chooses a
photograph that was taken of his mother when she was five years old. The
author refers to the picture, which also features her seven year old
brother, as the Winter Garden Photograph.
Barthes explains that this picture helped him to uncover who his
mother truly was. He seemed to believe that this photo captured a time in
his mother life when she was being her authentic self. Barthes also
suggests that the picture is so pure because of the innocence of the
subject. The a...