Description
Surviving The Lens is a significant Africana photography reference work documenting South and East African people between 1870 and 1920, a formative and contested period in African history.
This scholarly volume presents rare historical photographs, many previously unpublished, drawn from the authors’ private collection. The images capture early photographic encounters between European photographers and African subjects, revealing both the racial ideologies of the era and moments where individual humanity breaks through the lens.
Each photograph is reproduced on a double-page spread and accompanied by detailed captions identifying photographers, subjects, and historical context. An illustrated introductory essay situates the material within the development of photography in colonial South and East Africa, making this an essential resource for collectors, researchers, and institutions.
Highly sought after in Africana collections, this book is valued for its academic credibility, visual impact, and contribution to African visual and social history.
