The Photobook Thread

Pieter12

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
7,472
Location
Magrathean's computer
Format
Super8
That's what they said about Thelonious Monk as well. But in Frank's case, it was largely because they felt he disparaged the United States. Ansel felt that way too.
Beyond seeing his work as critical of the United states, at the time they thought his technique was poor. “Flawed by meaningless blur grain, muddy exposure, drunken horizons, and general sloppiness"... “contempt for any standards of quality or discipline in technique.”
 
OP
OP

logan2z

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
3,593
Location
SF Bay Area, USA
Format
Multi Format

I just saw a Moriyama exhibit in Carmel, CA on the weekend. He takes all of these 'flaws' to another level.
 

Arthurwg

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 16, 2005
Messages
2,529
Location
Taos NM
Format
Medium Format

I guess they didn't like the Leica Look.
 
OP
OP

logan2z

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
3,593
Location
SF Bay Area, USA
Format
Multi Format
Just picked up two books by Daido Moriyama, Record and Record 2, published by Thames and Hudson. I've always enjoyed much of his work, but the current exhibition at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, CA (Daido Moriayama, Five Decades) made me appreciate it even more. Seeing the prints in person (all silver gelatin!) is a completely different experience than seeing them in books or online.

If you're in the SF Bay Area before 11/16 definitely stop by the CPA and see the show. I've got two prints hanging in the gallery this month as well (a perk for being a volunteer docent), so please check them out while you're there.
 

Pieter12

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
7,472
Location
Magrathean's computer
Format
Super8
My next trip to Carmel isn't until April 2025. Bummer. Meanwhile, I have pricked up Avedon/Capote's Obervations and John Sexton's Places of Power. Quite different books, but I have eclectic tastes. Agee/Evan's Now Let Us Praise Famous Men in the basket waiting to be checked out.
 
OP
OP

logan2z

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
3,593
Location
SF Bay Area, USA
Format
Multi Format

I'm not sure what will be on view in April, but I'm sure it'll be something worth seeing.

Nice selection of books!
 

MTGseattle

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
1,330
Location
Seattle
Format
Multi Format
This may have been covered in another thread regarding Edward Weston but since it's a book question; I have the chance to buy the older heavy gold slip-case expensive version of


Is it worth double the price vs. the "affordable" version Ammo put out later? Or would I simply have collector style bragging rights? It does look like the earlier one is 14x14 inches while the later is smaller.
Newer, smaller is duotone printed.
 
OP
OP

logan2z

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
3,593
Location
SF Bay Area, USA
Format
Multi Format
I see that David Zwirner Books has begun their site wide 25% off Holiday Sale which runs until Dec. 8. Some good photography books in their catalog by Diane Arbus, Roy DeCarava, William Eggleston, etc. I may go for a Joan Mitchell book that's been on my Want List for a while...
 

Alex Benjamin

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
2,241
Location
Montreal
Format
Multi Format

I have the Arbus and the DeCarava. Both fantastic. The Eggleston is tempting...
 

Pieter12

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
7,472
Location
Magrathean's computer
Format
Super8
There are at least 2 Arbus books listed. I have them both. But then I'm a big fan with at least 5 books plus I've read both biographies. Couldn't stand to watch more than the first 15 minutes of Fur, though.

Kinda bothers me that the gallery is selling "complete" art book libraries for thousands. I would rather pick my own than have someone decide what should be on my shelves. Who buys something like that?
 

Alex Benjamin

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
2,241
Location
Montreal
Format
Multi Format
Who buys something like that?

I guess people rich enough to come in the gallery and buy an actual photograph by Arbus or Eggleston .

i.e., not me.
 

Pieter12

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
7,472
Location
Magrathean's computer
Format
Super8
I guess people rich enough to come in the gallery and buy an actual photograph by Arbus or Eggleston .

i.e., not me.
I would hope that someone who can afford an original Arbus also has the money, taste and time to build their own collection of books. Library-in-a box sounds like something a decorator or maybe set stylist would go for.
 
OP
OP

logan2z

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
3,593
Location
SF Bay Area, USA
Format
Multi Format
Kinda bothers me that the gallery is selling "complete" art book libraries for thousands. I would rather pick my own than have someone decide what should be on my shelves. Who buys something like that?

The books are all available separately at 25% off as well. You can browse books by artist here:


I assume they create these gift bundles to make it easy for people who may not know much about art themselves to buy books for their art-loving friends/family. "Hey, Jim is into photography, let's buy him a bundle of photography books"

I've personally got all of the Arbus, Eggleston and DeCarava that I need, but I'm a big fan of Joan Mitchell's work and will probably pick up this.
 

Pieter12

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
7,472
Location
Magrathean's computer
Format
Super8
I was thinking of this one:

 

Alex Benjamin

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
2,241
Location
Montreal
Format
Multi Format
I was thinking of this one:

View attachment 383887

You wonder if the reason one would buy an "instant" library without knowing whether or not one likes the artists featured in the library is if one wants a library made to be looked at instead of a library made of books to be looked at...
 

Alex Benjamin

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
2,241
Location
Montreal
Format
Multi Format
And speaking of books, I've been immensely enjoying two about photography, Gerry Badger's The Pleasure of Good Photographs and David Campany's So Present, So Invisible: Conversations About Photography. The Badger, in particular, is very inspiring, and has some of the most insightful writing I've read about Atget, Walker Evans, John Gossage, Robert Adams and others.
 
OP
OP

logan2z

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
3,593
Location
SF Bay Area, USA
Format
Multi Format
You wonder if the reason one would buy an "instant" library without knowing whether or not one likes the artists featured in the library is if one wants a library made to be looked at instead of a library made of books to be looked at...

"The David Zwirner Instant Art Library, just add $$$"
 

Alex Benjamin

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
2,241
Location
Montreal
Format
Multi Format
OP
OP

logan2z

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
3,593
Location
SF Bay Area, USA
Format
Multi Format
Why are you making it so difficult for me to plan my retirement?...

It's all about self control - which I personally have very little of

There are at least fifteen books across those sellers that I would love to have. I'm trying to narrow it down to one or two. So far I've bought just one. We'll see how well I do over the next few days...
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…