The Adventure of a Photographer by Italo Calvino

The March/April 2008 Edition of Art on Paper is chalked full of discussions on photography. Included is a short story by Italo Calvino, entitled "The Adventure of a Photographer, " originally from 1958.

A few quotes that resonated with me in reading the story included:

"The line between the reality that is photographed because it seems beautiful to us and the reality that seems beautiful because it has been photographed is very narrow."

"Photographed reality immediately takes on a nostalgic character, of joy fled on the wings of time, a commemorative quality, even if the picture was taken the day before yesterday."

"The mask, being first of all a social, historical product, contains more truth than any image claiming to be "true"; it bears quantity of meanings that will gradually be revealed."

-From "The Adventure of a Photographer", by Italo Calvino.