面對這張相片,我們要不是不予理會,就是得靠我們自己去把它的意義填滿。這張影像就和所有無法用言語表達的影像一樣,召喚觀看者做出決定。──約翰.伯格
攝影並非約翰.伯格的專業。直到一九八二年出版《另一種影像敘事》之前,他從未針對「攝影」寫過專書。他並非帶著策展人或攝影史家的權威談論攝影,而是以藝術評論者、作家的身分趨近。
伯格的創作生涯以視覺藝術為根基。一九五○年代初,他開始撰寫藝術相關文章;一九六○年代中葉,他的視野跨越藝術和小說的領域,成為不受範疇與類型囿限的作家。他討論素描的文章帶有身為素描家的權威感;他的攝影書寫則往往集中在受攝者的體驗及相片為他們描畫出來的人生——在伯格的著作裡,相片從來不是文本的插圖,文本也非影像的延伸圖說。
本書《攝影的異義》為《持續進行的瞬間》作者傑夫.代爾(Geoff Dyer)從約翰.伯格近半世紀寫作歷程裡,精煉出二十四篇影像散文,按年代順序選編而成。在這些文章裡,伯格是個別照片的批評者和閱讀者,以其獨樹一格的關注強度與時常懷抱的溫柔,悉心檢視照片裡的故事,向每一張照片提問。
伯格書寫的不只是相片的意義,也說出了異義。
John Berger’s explorations of the relationships between the individual and society, culture and politics, and experience and expression through the written word, films, photographic collaborations and performances are unmatched in their diversity, ambition and reach. His television series and book Ways of Seeing revolutionized the way that art is understood. Now, Understanding a Photograph gathers the photography writings of one of the most internationally influential authors of the past 50 years. Understanding a Photograph is arranged chronologically, leading the reader on a thought-provoking journey through selected essays from hallmark works such as "About Looking" and "Another Way of Telling," as well as previously uncollected pieces written for exhibitions or catalogues that discuss a wide range of artists--from August Sander to Jitka Hanzlová. This collection of some 25 texts has been carefully selected by novelist and essayist Geoff Dyer, who has also written a critical study of Berger’s oeuvre.