Title: Contact: theory
Author: Lustrum Press
Published by: Lustrum Press 1980
Today’s review in my Photographer’s library series will be a slightly different. Different because I am not entirely sure if this book is an art book or just a photography technique book. In any case, it’s both. The book is called Contact: Theory. It was released by Lustrum Press in 1980. This book is a fascinating exploration of photographic practice through one of the medium’s most revealing tools—the contact sheet.
The book
The volume contains around 175 pages of black-and-white contact sheets accompanied by photographers’ comments and image selections, making it both an educational resource and an inspiring visual archive.Unlike conventional photography books that present only finished masterpieces, Contact: Theory celebrates experimentation, mistakes, and the gradual refinement of an image. As a reader, you can follow an entire roll of film and understand how photographers evaluated composition, timing, gesture, and light before choosing a single frame for publication. This approach demystifies photography by revealing that exceptional images often emerge through careful editing rather than chance alone.
The selection of contributors is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Contact sheets from photographers such as Elliott Erwitt, Robert Mapplethorpe, Horst P. Horst, Jean-Loup Sieff, and Ralph Gibson demonstrate a remarkable variety of photographic styles and working methods. Although each artist approaches photography differently, the book highlights a common thread: successful photographs result from observation, patience, and thoughtful selection rather than simply pressing the shutter at the perfect moment.
So, as a conclusion, what’s my verdict?
Contact: Theory is an outstanding publication for anyone interested in photographic history, editing, or visual storytelling. It is interesting how, more than 40 years after its publication, it remains a timeless reminder that great photography is as much about selecting the right image as it is about capturing it in the first place. If you do not own this book, buy it. If you look online, I am sure you will find a copy. It’s a book which should sit in each photographer’s library.