The Photobook Thread

[Alex Benjamin]

Well, considering how much we've all contributed to Robert Adams' financial well-being, he pretty much owes us a private video chat in which he could answer all our questions regarding paper choices (and a few of mine about film development).

 

[Pieter12]

Finally got around to watching the Steidl video. It seems like the paper does have a coating, but it is unconventional. I have not seen or handled Eden, but the from the description it sounds like a rougher surface than what is usually used for photo books. I'll have to see if my local art book store has it in stock and available to inspect.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

it sounds like a rougher surface than what is usually used for photo books

I've been going back and forth between Eden and American Silence, and Eden's paper is indeed slightly rougher. It's almost as if it adds grain to the photographs, which becomes mostly distracting in the sky, when open and pure, adding an unnecessary texture and graininess to it. I see a little bit of that in American Silence, but not as much. They skies in American Silence have tone, depth, and a touch of texture, but all these are even, which is not the case with Eden, which almost looks as if there has been a touch mottling on the film itself (see plates III and IX, for those who have it).

I remember reading an interview in which Adams stated that his personal film-developing technique was devised in order to get the most even sky as possible, so I'm surprised Eden's printing works for him.

 

[logan2z]

I've been going back and forth between Eden and American Silence, and Eden's paper is indeed slightly rougher. It's almost as if it adds grain to the photographs, which becomes mostly distracting in the sky, when open and pure, adding an unnecessary texture and graininess to it. I see a little bit of that in American Silence, but not as much. They skies in American Silence have tone, depth, and a touch of texture, but all these are even, which is not the case with Eden, which almost looks as if there has been a touch mottling on the film itself (see plates III and IX, for those who have it).

I remember reading an interview in which Adams stated that his personal film-developing technique was devised in order to get the most even sky as possible, so I'm surprised Eden's printing works for him.

I went through the same exercise and came to the same conclusion. There's definitely more grain visible in the skies in Eden. I don't find it too distracting but it's definitely there.

There's an article in American Suburban X that talks about the recent Steidl re-releases of Adams' books and the author briefly talks about the paper used in Eden:

"Though I do not have the earlier printing of this book to compare with Steidl’s, this edition is printed on a paper with a texture that can feel close to smoothed sandpaper. This stock effectively softens the tonality from the bottom through the middle of the range, such that the blacks remain just shy of being absolute, and the grays read thin where we might otherwise expect them denser – they seem fully permeated by the high-altitude light".

He doesn't mention the visible grain, but I agree with his other comments.

 

[albireo]

Eden, which almost looks as if there has been a touch mottling on the film itself (see plates III and IX, for those who have it).

Exactly! Nice way to put it.

 

[albireo]

I went through the same exercise and came to the same conclusion. There's definitely more grain visible in the skies in Eden. I don't find it too distracting but it's definitely there.

There's an article in American Suburban X that talks about the recent Steidl re-releases of Adams' books and the author briefly talks about the paper used in Eden:

Nice writeup, thanks for sharing.

 

[MTGseattle]

My copy of Eden was still in the shrink-wrap. Upon opening and viewing, I too think the paper choice may be a bit of a disservice. In plate V, I think we would get more shadow detail with a different paper (possibly only perceived detail, but still). In plate XI I think we would see clearer detail in the brick facade with a different paper. And so on. I like the books design and formatting, but I too feel like it could be better.

 

[logan2z]

Well, considering how much we've all contributed to Robert Adams' financial well-being, he pretty much owes us a private video chat in which he could answer all our questions regarding paper choices (and a few of mine about film development).

I completely agree Unfortunately, he is apparently not tech savvy at all and isn't able to do online video chats. He called in by phone when Sarah Greenough and Sarah Meister spoke to him about American Silence for the Aperture Photobook Club on YouTube a couple of years ago. That was very disappointing.

 

[logan2z]

Does anyone happen to have a copy of Danny Lyon's Memories of Myself published by Phaidon and care to comment on whether or not it's worth buying? I love Lyon's work and have a few of his books, but this one has piqued my interest and I can't seem to find a flip-through or review of it online. It's a bit expensive on the used market so I'd prefer to see it or at least hear a bit about it before I purchase it.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Does anyone happen to have a copy of Danny Lyon's Memories of Myself published by Phaidon and care to comment on whether or not it's worth buying? I love Lyon's work and have a few of his books, but this one has piqued my interest and I can't seem to find a flip-through or review of it online. It's a bit expensive on the used market so I'd prefer to see it or at least hear a bit about it before I purchase it.

Extraordinary book. It's a collection of short photographic essays. Goes from Columbian prostitutes to demolition derbys to Haiti in the mid-80s to people in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Galveston, Texas, in the late 60s. In terms of mastering the genre of the photographic essay, Lyon is the true heir of W. Eugene Smith. And few people have a way of photographing people as he does.

I really like this book. A good complement to Message to the Future, which, as catalog, is more an overview of his whole career.

 

[logan2z]

Extraordinary book. It's a collection of short photographic essays. Goes from Columbian prostitutes to demolition derbys to Haiti in the mid-80s to people in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Galveston, Texas, in the late 60s. In terms of mastering the genre of the photographic essay, Lyon is the true heir of W. Eugene Smith. And few people have a way of photographing people as he does.

I really like this book. A good complement to Message to the Future, which, as catalog, is more an overview of his whole career.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on Memories of Myself. I have Message to the Future and figured it would pair nicely with it.

Thanks again!

 

[MTGseattle]

On the Danny Lyon topic; which version of Bikeriders should I source? (I know, why the heck do I not already have one?) There's also 2 versions of The Destruction of Lower Manhattan. If anyone has an opinion regarding those.

 

[logan2z]

On the Danny Lyon topic; which version of Bikeriders should I source? (I know, why the heck do I not already have one?) There's also 2 versions of The Destruction of Lower Manhattan. If anyone has an opinion regarding those.

I have the Aperture version and think it's great. I've never seen the Twin Palms reissue (which appears to replicate the original more closely) but it's OOP and seems to be going for around $300 now.

 

[Pieter12]

I have the Twin Palms book, signed. Very nice. I think I paid $100.

On another note, I just learned from Amazon that Steidl's New Topographics reissue has been pushed back again, this time to late June.

 

[albireo]

On another note, I just learned from Amazon that Steidl's New Topographics reissue has been pushed back again, this time to late June.

Wait a minute....Is it being reprinted!? I knew nothing!

 

[logan2z]

On another note, I just learned from Amazon that Steidl's New Topographics reissue has been pushed back again, this time to late June.

I was afraid that was going to happen. It's literally been 'coming soon' for years.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Wait a minute....Is it being reprinted!? I knew nothing!

New Topographics (2024) - Britt Salvesen

This book is dedicated to the exhibition “New Topographics: Photographs of a Man-Altered Landscape,” held in 1975 at the International Museum of...

steidl.de

 

[logan2z]

I attended the opening of the new Bob Kolbrener exhibition, Sky Country, at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, CA yesterday. It was a great opportunity to hear Bob talk about his work and provide backstories for some of his photographs. The exhibition is beautiful, if you're in the area be sure and check it out.

There's an accompanying book printed by Nazraeli Press that I couldn't help but buy, despite my book budget being in the red this month . Beautifully packaged and printed as to be expected by NZ. I picked up a signed copy (why not?) but there are unsigned copies available in the gallery and via Nazraeli's web site.

The exhibition is on through March 23, 2025.

 

[MTGseattle]

I was doing some more "new topographics" research and I found this.

 

[logan2z]

I was doing some more "new topographics" research and I found this.

I ran across that flip-through a couple of months ago. At the time, I was only familiar with Nixon's more famous The Brown Sisters, but I was equally impressed with Pictures of People.

There's a good interview with Nicholas Nixon on YouTube, if you're interested in finding out more about him and his work:

 

[MTGseattle]

I had heard his name before but was unfamiliar with any of his work. To say I was shocked by his portraiture after only seeing his cityscapes in the New Topographics is a large understatement. I was also flabbergasted by the Brown Sisters project until I learned that one of the sisters is his wife. I was then only gasted.

 

[Mike Lopez]

This one is well worth seeking out, and is one I’ve been coming back to for about 20 years now. Imagine doing this kind of stuff with toddlers/preschoolers and an 8x10…

 

[Mike Lopez]

Incidentally, when I bought my Deardorff, I was told that the bellows came from one of his former cameras. I have no way of verifying that, but it’s an interesting idea.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Got hold of a fantastic book today. Titled American Images, it was edited by Renato Danese and published in 1979 by McGraw-Hill. It features works by then young photographers Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Harry Callahan, William Clift, Linda Connor, Bevan Davies, Roy DeCarava, William Eggleston, Larry Fink, Elliott Erwitt, Frank Gohlke, John Gossage, Jonathan Green, Jan Groover, Mary Ellen Mark, Joel Meyerowitz, Richard Misrach, Nicholas Nixon, Tod Papageorge and Stephen Shore.

Idea behing the book (and the exhibition that accompanied it) is interesting. From Danese's preface:

In early 1977, I was invited by representatives of the Bell System to assist them in designing and implementing a project in photography. After several months of discussion about the exact form such a project might take, we settled upon a program consisting of three major components—commissions to twenty contemporary American photographers to produce new work; an exhibition of those photographs, which will be presented in museums throughout the country; and the publication of this book, which reproduces 160 of the 300 photographs created under the program.

One of the most exciting aspects of the undertaking was the commissioning of new photographs not predetermined or restricted in theme or content. The photographers themselves selected their subject matter, adhering only to the provision that all photographs were to be taken in the United States.

Interesting to note that there are five photographers that were also featured in the "New Topographics" exhibition of 1975. All of Nixon's photographs, however, are portraits. Interestingly enough, all of Eggleston's photos are landscape.

 

[logan2z]

Got hold of a fantastic book today. Titled American Images, it was edited by Renato Danese and published in 1979 by McGraw-Hill. It features works by then young photographers Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Harry Callahan, William Clift, Linda Connor, Bevan Davies, Roy DeCarava, William Eggleston, Larry Fink, Elliott Erwitt, Frank Gohlke, John Gossage, Jonathan Green, Jan Groover, Mary Ellen Mark, Joel Meyerowitz, Richard Misrach, Nicholas Nixon, Tod Papageorge and Stephen Shore.

Idea behing the book (and the exhibition that accompanied it) is interesting. From Danese's preface:

In early 1977, I was invited by representatives of the Bell System to assist them in designing and implementing a project in photography. After several months of discussion about the exact form such a project might take, we settled upon a program consisting of three major components—commissions to twenty contemporary American photographers to produce new work; an exhibition of those photographs, which will be presented in museums throughout the country; and the publication of this book, which reproduces 160 of the 300 photographs created under the program.

One of the most exciting aspects of the undertaking was the commissioning of new photographs not predetermined or restricted in theme or content. The photographers themselves selected their subject matter, adhering only to the provision that all photographs were to be taken in the United States.

Interesting to note that there are five photographers that were also featured in the "New Topographics" exhibition of 1975. All of Nixon's photographs, however, are portraits. Interestingly enough, all of Eggleston's photos are landscape.

That sounds like a great find, I've never heard of it. How is the print quality?

I'm curious if any of the photographs appeared in any of the photographer's later monographs or if they are exclusive to this publication/exhibition.