Washington, D.C., Then and Now : 69 Sites Photographed in the Past and Present

Rating:
Summary: Just for Fun.
Review: Compare street scenes in photos taken decades ago with comparable shots taken today. You are either fascinated by this concept or simply couldn't care less. I happen to enjoy it. This is not a history, an atlas, or a summary of classic "postcard" views of Washington as the nation's capital. This is instead a curiosity for anyone who has lived in Washington DC long enough to have some sense of the city's layout and neighborhoods. And therein is this book's value-- these photos concentrate foremost on everyday residences, commerce, and transportation in neighborhoods within a city. The photos ARE the story. Captions are minimal; these provide anecdotal background to establish the episodic human significance of a given site. The streetscape changes captured in then-and-now images suggest how techological and cultural evolution conspire to alter the character of place.

Rating:
Summary: Just for Fun.
Review: Compare street scenes in photos taken decades ago with comparable shots taken today. You are either fascinated by this concept or simply couldn't care less. I happen to enjoy it. This is not a history, an atlas, or a summary of classic "postcard" views of Washington as the nation's capital. This is instead a curiosity for anyone who has lived in Washington DC long enough to have some sense of the city's layout and neighborhoods. And therein is this book's value-- these photos concentrate foremost on everyday residences, commerce, and transportation in neighborhoods within a city. The photos ARE the story. Captions are minimal; these provide anecdotal background to establish the episodic human significance of a given site. The streetscape changes captured in then-and-now images suggest how techological and cultural evolution conspire to alter the character of place.