Book Review: Portraits From the Park by Thomas W. Harney

Book Review

I really never thought that I would have a section on the blog for a book review. I have always read, but I started this blog as a way to share my experiences while learning photography. It really only makes sense though that I include a section talking about some of the photography books that have inspired me. I picked up this book while in Chicago this past spring. I was in the DePaul Barnes and Noble with the idea of picking up a photography book by a local Chicago author. I saw the title for this book on the spine, and I thought that it would be in Grant Park or one of the many other great Chicago Parks. Imagine my surprise when I saw the cover to see that the photos were from old Comiskey Park. Comiskey was the first park that I ever visited, and will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a great park that should have been kept around as Wrigley Field and Fenway Park have. At the time that they replaced the park everyone was building the newer looking parks. Of course then Camden Yards was built next, and the trend was to build a retro themed park. The first photo that I hang whenever I move somewhere new is always a panoramic from behind the plate of old Comiskey park. I have had the photo since 1986, and it is an image that has always captivated me. Some of the photos in this book do the same thing.

As the cover says the book has images from a long span of time. Your impression reading it though is that most of them are from the late 80’s. That is great for me as that was when I was at the park. All of the images are in black and white, and they really capture the spirit of the old park. The book is titled Portraits From the Park so you would expect some posed and candid portraits. You get both. One of my favorites is of legendary ballplayer and storyteller Buck O’Neil in the left field stands. Fan favorites from the 80’s Ron Kittle and Carlton Fisk are also included. Some of the portraits are very simple like the one below. They also show great care in the way that Thomas placed himself in a situation, and waited for just the right moment to make the photo.

I found this book very much by accident, but it is one of my favorites from this year. The book was signed just a couple of weeks before I was in Chicago by the author himself. I don’t know if it was a planned signing, or just the author finding his book and adding his signature. This is a great book that has inspired me to try some of this type of photography when I am not on assignment.

If you would like to purchase this book you can follow this link here to Amazon.com to do so.