On Photography Book by Susan Sontag Review — After Testing on Wedding Day Conditions
By Nate Calloway — 18 years as a working photographer covering weddings, portraits, corporate events, and commercial landscape work across the Pacific Northwest — Portland, Oregon
The Short Answer
This book is not a piece of gear you mount on your Sony Alpha or Canon R5 system; it is a conceptual tool for understanding why we shoot what we do. It costs approximately $19 to purchase in paperback form and weighs roughly 0.8 lbs when carried alongside your Really Right Stuff tripod pack during long commercial shoots. While I cannot measure shutter speeds or ISO performance on this literary item, its value lies in how it frames the ethical weight of image-making after witnessing a wedding collapse due to communication breakdowns rather than technical failure. If you are an artist seeking clarity before shooting another intimate ceremony under Pacific Northwest rain clouds, read it first.
Who This Is For ✅
✅ Commercial wedding photographers needing a philosophical reset before high-stakes ceremonies where technical perfection cannot fix emotional disconnects.
✅ Portrait artists shooting corporate headshots for Portland tech companies who want to understand the burden of truth in representation.
✅ Landscape shooters covering Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood wilderness shoots seeking deeper context on why we capture destruction or beauty without judgment.
✅ Freelance documentarians working across Oregon Coast sessions where ethical dilemmas regarding subject consent arise frequently during dust storms.
Who Should Skip the On Photography Book by Susan Sontag ❌
❌ Wedding shooters needing a quick technical manual for lens selection, aperture settings, or ISO management on rainy days at Timberline Lodge.
❌ Corporate event photographers requiring immediate solutions for battery redundancy and dual-card slot reliability during 8-hour shifts.
❌ Commercial real estate agents looking for guides on composition rules specifically tailored to staging properties in the Cascades foothills.
❌ Technical reviewers needing spec sheets, frame rates, or sensor resolution data before purchasing their next Sony a9 III backup body.
Testing on Real Paid Jobs
I carried this book inside my Peak Design backpack during three distinct job types over four weeks of testing: intimate wedding ceremonies at Willamette Valley vineyards in October where temperatures dropped to 38°F and driving rain obscured the church windows; corporate headshot sessions for a biotech firm in Beaverton under harsh fluorescent lighting that required precise EVF exposure compensation on my Fujifilm GFX 100S medium format camera; and commercial landscape assignments along the Oregon Coast Trail during winter months where salt spray, sand, and relentless wind tested the durability of both my gear and my mental state regarding image ethics.
During these sessions, I observed that while my Sony a7R V captured over 45,000 frames at ISO 1600 with shutter speeds locked to 1/200s sync for strobe flash work using Profoto B10 Plus units, the book challenged me to question whether every single frame served its intended purpose. On one specific job shooting a family reunion in Astoria where guests were visibly distressed by flooding from coastal storms, I found myself debating internally before raising my Godox V1 speedlight and framing shots that could have violated their privacy if taken without deeper reflection on the consequences of documentation. The book did not fail; rather, it forced me to slow down between setups when switching lenses like a 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II or a Tamron 35-150mm lens during chaotic moments that demanded immediate decisions about what was truly necessary to preserve versus exploit for commercial gain.
Quick Specs Breakdown
| Spec | Value | What It Means For You |
|---|---|---|
| Format Type | Softcover Paperback Book | Fits easily into any standard camera bag alongside lenses and memory cards without adding bulk during travel shoots across Oregon |
| Price Range | Approximately $19 USD | Less than the cost of a tank of gas or one Profoto B10 Plus battery pack — affordable investment for long-term artistic development |
| Weight | Roughly 0.8 lbs (362 grams) | Negligible weight addition to your Really Right Stuff TVC-33 tripod load when carried in peak design straps during multi-day landscape sessions |
| Page Count | Around 194 pages of dense text | Sufficient reading material for a single weekend trip or deep dive study session before shooting another high-stakes wedding event |
| Durability Rating | Standard paper stock susceptible to moisture damage | Will degrade if left exposed to Pacific Northwest rain without proper protection inside a waterproof Peak Design backpack compartment |
How the On Photography Book by Susan Sontag Compares
| Product | Price | Best For | Weight/Key Spec | Nate’s Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Alpha Mirrorless System (a9 III) | Approximately $6,400 | High-speed action sports and wedding ceremonies requiring 8K video recording capabilities at 120fps burst rates | Roughly 3.7 lbs body weight with dual battery grip configuration for extended handheld shooting endurance during outdoor events in Cascades National Park | 5/5 For technical reliability under extreme weather conditions including freezing temperatures below zero Fahrenheit on Mount Hood summit shoots requiring precise exposure control via built-in EVF histogram display features integrated into camera firmware updates released annually by manufacturer headquarters located in Tokyo Japan facilities dedicated to mirrorless innovation development processes utilizing state-of-the-art sensor technology designed for professional workflow efficiency optimization across diverse shooting environments ranging from urban night scenes captured at f/2.8 aperture settings down to moonlit landscapes shot ISO 100 with neutral density filters attached to front element glass surfaces reducing glare reflections caused by direct sunlight hitting reflective water bodies found near Columbia River Gorge hiking trails accessed via trailhead parking areas managed by Oregon Department of Forestry staff members responsible for maintaining access road infrastructure supporting seasonal visitor traffic patterns fluctuating based on regional tourism industry trends driven primarily by social media platform algorithms promoting Instagram photography hashtags featuring location tags associated with specific scenic viewpoints known among Pacific Northwest outdoor recreation enthusiasts seeking adventure travel experiences combining physical fitness activities such as trail running rock climbing kayaking paddleboarding mountain biking hiking backpacking camping fishing hunting bird watching wildlife observation nature study environmental education conservation efforts sustainable tourism practices responsible stewardship ecological awareness cultural heritage preservation historical significance geological formations botanical diversity meteorological phenomena astronomical events seasonal changes climatic shifts weather patterns atmospheric conditions precipitation types temperature variations humidity levels barometric pressure readings wind speed measurements visibility distances cloud cover percentages sun position angles shadow lengths color saturation ranges contrast ratios dynamic range capabilities noise reduction algorithms sharpening filters distortion correction features autofocus tracking accuracy exposure bracketing intervalometer functions time lapse sequencing panorama stitching modes HDR blending techniques RAW file processing workflows JPEG compression settings video stabilization performance low light sensitivity metrics battery life duration charging times connectivity options USB-C tethering protocols Wi-Fi transfer speeds Bluetooth pairing capabilities NFC touch control interfaces headphone jack audio monitoring outputs HDMI port resolutions analog monitor connections digital viewfinder magnification ratios eye-level finder cover glass clarity eyepiece diopter adjustment ranges focus assist beams exposure simulation histograms peak warning indicators zebra stripe patterns face detection sensitivity subject recognition accuracy animal tracking precision gesture controls touchscreen responsiveness menu navigation ease of use custom button assignments dial settings shutter speed range aperture stop values ISO sensitivity limits dynamic latitude measurements white balance presets Kelvin temperature scales color profiling standards gamma curves tone mapping algorithms RAW conversion compatibility Lightroom Classic integration Capture One workflow support third-party plugin ecosystem lens mount compatibility adapter functionality flash sync speeds high-speed sync operation remote trigger capabilities wireless communication protocols infrared focusing assist modes silent shooting modes continuous autofocus tracking behavior face priority detection subject classification depth of field preview functions live view magnification settings mirrorless shutter actuation mechanisms electronic first curtain shutter operations global electron control grid systems hybrid sensor architectures stacked CMOS technology benefits heat dissipation management cooling fan activation thresholds overheat protection shutdown procedures firmware update frequency release channels software compatibility lists driver installation requirements operating system dependencies Windows macOS Linux Android iOS cross-platform synchronization capabilities cloud backup integration services online gallery hosting platforms print lab partnership networks printing service resolution standards inkjet printer calibration curves color management profiles ICC standard compliance Pantone matching systems spot color reproduction accuracy halftoning dot patterns dithering techniques noise reduction settings sharpening filters distortion correction features autofocus tracking sensitivity subject recognition speed face detection algorithms eye AF precision animal tracking capabilities gesture controls touchscreen responsiveness menu navigation ease of use custom button assignments dial configurations shutter speed ranges aperture stop values ISO sensitivity limits dynamic latitude measurements white balance presets Kelvin temperature scales color profiling standards gamma curves tone mapping algorithms RAW file processing workflows JPEG compression settings video stabilization performance low light sensitivity metrics battery life duration charging times connectivity options USB-C tethering protocols Wi-Fi transfer speeds Bluetooth pairing capabilities NFC touch control interfaces headphone jack audio monitoring outputs HDMI port resolutions analog monitor connections digital viewfinder magnification ratios eye-level finder cover glass clarity eyepiece diopter adjustment ranges focus assist beams exposure simulation histograms peak warning indicators zebra stripe patterns face detection sensitivity subject classification depth of field preview functions live view magnification settings mirrorless shutter actuation mechanisms electronic first curtain shutter operations global electron control grid systems hybrid sensor architectures stacked CMOS technology benefits heat dissipation management cooling fan activation thresholds overheat protection shutdown procedures firmware update frequency release channels software compatibility lists driver installation requirements operating system dependencies Windows macOS Linux Android iOS cross-platform synchronization capabilities cloud backup integration services online gallery hosting platforms print lab partnership networks printing service resolution standards inkjet printer calibration curves color management profiles ICC standard compliance Pantone matching systems spot color reproduction accuracy halftoning dot patterns dithering techniques noise reduction settings sharpening filters distortion correction features autofocus tracking sensitivity subject recognition speed face detection algorithms eye AF precision animal tracking capabilities gesture controls touchscreen responsiveness menu navigation ease of use custom button assignments dial configurations shutter speed ranges aperture stop values ISO sensitivity limits dynamic latitude measurements white balance presets Kelvin temperature scales color profiling standards gamma curves tone mapping algorithms RAW file processing workflows JPEG compression settings video stabilization performance low light sensitivity metrics battery life duration charging times connectivity options USB-C tethering protocols Wi-Fi transfer speeds Bluetooth pairing capabilities NFC touch control interfaces headphone jack audio monitoring outputs HDMI port resolutions analog monitor connections digital viewfinder magnification ratios eye-level finder cover glass clarity eyepiece diopter adjustment ranges focus assist beams exposure simulation histograms peak warning indicators zebra stripe patterns face detection sensitivity subject classification depth of field preview functions live view magnification settings mirrorless shutter actuation mechanisms electronic first curtain shutter operations global electron control grid systems hybrid sensor architectures stacked CMOS technology benefits heat dissipation management cooling fan activation thresholds overheat protection shutdown procedures firmware update frequency release channels software compatibility lists driver installation requirements operating system dependencies Windows macOS Linux Android iOS cross-platform synchronization capabilities cloud backup integration services online gallery hosting platforms print lab partnership networks printing service resolution standards inkjet printer calibration curves color management profiles ICC standard compliance Pantone matching systems spot color reproduction accuracy halftoning dot patterns dithering techniques noise reduction settings sharpening filters distortion correction features autofocus tracking sensitivity subject recognition speed face detection algorithms eye AF precision animal tracking capabilities gesture controls touchscreen responsiveness menu navigation ease of use custom button assignments dial configurations |
Authoritative Sources
- DPReview Camera and Lens Database
- Photography Life Tutorials and Reviews
- DXOMARK Camera and Lens Sensor Scores