Light Years
The Friends of Photography 1967-1987
Edited by James G. Alinder
The Friends of Photography (Untitled 43), 1987, 96 pages
ISBN 0-933286-48-1

This 43rd volume in the Untitled series celebrates The Friends of Photography's 20th anniversary.

The book contains three essays. The first two, quite brief (two pages each), tell how the organization was founded and the organization's original goals. The third essay, much longer at eleven pages, discusses the achievements of the first twenty years.

The bulk of the book consists of photographs from some of the photographers whose work had been exhibited or published by the organization, with each photographer contributing one photo. The back of the book contains a detailed record of everyone who worked as staff, and all of the exhibitions and publications from the first two decades.

The book works fine as an anniversary publication, but it's somewhat depressing reading it today with the knowledge that The Friends of Photography would close their doors forever in 2001.

This is one of the weaker entries in the Untitled line. The essays are lightweight, and the photos, although individually quite good, constitute a random collection that is not organized in any obvious way, and that is not discussed in the book's text.

Recommended only for those who have a particular interest in the early history of The Friends of Photography.