The Photobook Thread

[Daniela]

Currently enjoying this one:

Very inspiring with works from different times and many different approaches. Highly recommended.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

August 3rd article from The New York Times (paywall, sorry) titled Four Great Photobooks Where Words Add Power to Pictures :

Four Great Photography Books Where Words Add Power to Pictures

New collections by Gordon Parks, Platon, Peter van Agtmael and Myriam Boulos reveal when you need to tell as well as show.

www.nytimes.com

Books discussed are:
- Gordon Parks, Born Black: A Personal Report on the Decade of Black Revolt 1960-1970
- Platon, The Defenders: Heroes of the Fight for Global Human Rights
- Peter van Agtmael, Look at the U.S.A.: A Diary of War and Home
- Myriam Boulos, What's Ours

 

[logan2z]

August 3rd article from The New York Times (paywall, sorry) titled Four Great Photobooks Where Words Add Power to Pictures :

Four Great Photography Books Where Words Add Power to Pictures

New collections by Gordon Parks, Platon, Peter van Agtmael and Myriam Boulos reveal when you need to tell as well as show.

www.nytimes.com

Books discussed are:
- Gordon Parks, Born Black: A Personal Report on the Decade of Black Revolt 1960-1970
- Platon, The Defenders: Heroes of the Fight for Global Human Rights
- Peter van Agtmael, Look at the U.S.A.: A Diary of War and Home
- Myriam Boulos, What's Ours

Thanks for the link. I've got it queued up to read later.

 

[logan2z]

I just got Winogrand Color. OMG. I'm speechless. This is one of the most beautiful book of photographs I've ever held in my hands.

It is a beautiful book. I don't think his color work is quite as good as his B&W work, but the book does contain some really good photos and I'm glad I bought a copy when it was released.

 

[logan2z]

I see that Amazon has opened a pre-order for the Steidl re-release of New Topographics. This is one I've been waiting on for a long time. It looks like the book is slated to be available at Amazon in mid-January 2025, although new releases are typically available directly from Steidl (where I'll buy it) a bit before the Amazon availability date.

 

[logan2z]

I just purchased a "near fine" copy of Eugene Richards' Americans We which I should have in-hand shortly. I'm a huge fan or Richards' work and have amassed a small collection of his books over the last couple of years.

Speaking of Richards, he just announced a Kickstarter campaign for another new book called Do I Know You? My book budget is in the red at the moment, but I hope to support the Kickstarter for the new book if I can.

 

[MTGseattle]

I see that Amazon has opened a pre-order for the Steidl re-release of New Topographics. This is one I've been waiting on for a long time. It looks like the book is slated to be available at Amazon in mid-January 2025, although new releases are typically available directly from Steidl (where I'll buy it) a bit before the Amazon availability date.

Awesome.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

ICP Photobook Fest is on.


Photobook fest

"Visit the International Center of Photography from September 6-8, 2024 to explore titles from 70 local and international publishers.​

This three-day building-wide celebration of photobooks and visual culture also features photographer book signings, drop-in workshops, and thoughtful conversations around photobook making and new releases in the photobook world."

 

[logan2z]

ICP Photobook Fest is on.


Photobook fest

"Visit the International Center of Photography from September 6-8, 2024 to explore titles from 70 local and international publishers.​

This three-day building-wide celebration of photobooks and visual culture also features photographer book signings, drop-in workshops, and thoughtful conversations around photobook making and new releases in the photobook world."

That sounds awesome. Too bad I'm on the wrong coast.

 

[MTGseattle]

I finally remembered to grab a copy of Danny Lyon Message to the Future. Really good book. I hope he somehow still gets some money when overstock (or whatever happened) titles that are new in shrink-wrap get kicked to places like Half Price Books. It was 29.99

 

[Pieter12]

Because of another thread, I ordered an enormous Annie Leibovitz book from Taschen's sale. Plus I got a reproduction of Alexey Brodivitch's Ballet. And Hendrik & Paula Kerstens: Self Reflective is on its way from the Netherlands. I really need to stop, at least that's what my wife keeps telling me. Another bookcase would be useful.

 

[logan2z]

I finally remembered to grab a copy of Danny Lyon Message to the Future. Really good book. I hope he somehow still gets some money when overstock (or whatever happened) titles that are new in shrink-wrap get kicked to places like Half Price Books. It was 29.99

Even the signed copies right from his own site were priced pretty reasonably. I think I paid $60 for mine which I thought was more than fair.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Because of another thread, I ordered an enormous Annie Leibovitz book from Taschen's sale.

Happens that a few days after going through that thread, I saw a couple of her books in a used bookstore. Got The Early Years and Women, as well as the first volume of MoMA's Atget survey, all very cheap and in good condition.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Due to another thread I picked up some Weston books. Supreme Instants, Forms of Passion and Nude. All are worthy, especially for the price. I also picked up Ralph Gibson's Brazil. I am a big fan of Gibson but it left me kind of flat. It was cheap though so no loss.

I just ordered some books from Pier 24 today too. I guess they are blowing them out since they are moving/closing. $20. Just a heads up. I am not a super fan of most modern photography but at that price I can deal, and maybe learn something which to me is more important. I wish I could have seen Pier 24 though.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Happens that a few days after going through that thread, I saw a couple of her books in a used bookstore. Got The Early Years and Women, as well as the first volume of MoMA's Atget survey, all very cheap and in good condition.

I have the Atget MoMA book. Excellent book, as most MoMA books are. Probably the best one put out on him. Good score.

 

[logan2z]

I wish I could have seen Pier 24 though.

Pier24 is an amazing photography space. Their closing down is a huge loss for the San Francisco Bay Area photography community.

 

[Arthurwg]

I have the Atget MoMA book. Excellent book, as most MoMA books are. Probably the best one put out on him. Good score.

Is this the four volume set? If not, what's the title?

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Is this the four volume set? If not, what's the title?

It is the one put out in 2000. https://www.amazon.com/Atget-John-Szarkowski/dp/0935112561

 

[Alex Benjamin]

It is the one put out in 2000. https://www.amazon.com/Atget-John-Szarkowski/dp/0935112561

One of the most extraordinary, intelligently conceived and inspiring photo books ever published.

 

[GLS]

Can confirm that's a great book.

 

[snusmumriken]

One of the most extraordinary, intelligently conceived and inspiring photo books ever published.

Is it very different from the 5-volume set? I’ve been trying for years to get the Ancien Regime volume at a sensible price. If this is a better buy, I might switch tack.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Is it very different from the 5-volume set? I’ve been trying for years to get the Ancien Regime volume at a sensible price. If this is a better buy, I might switch tack.

It is different, if we are talking about the four-volume MoMA set titled The Work of Atget. I only have volume 1, "Old France". It opens with a general essay by Szarkowski, followed by the plates and notes at the end. The notes are essentially biographical, related to the place photographed, offering a bit of context, etc. They are short, and there isn't one for each photograph, only those for which Szarkowski felt context was needed.

Szarkowski's Atget is a much more personal book. Each photograph is accompanied by a comment by Szarkowski. They are also historical, biographical, etc., in nature, but they go much deeper into each photograph, both in matter of context and aesthetics. And you sense throughout Szarkowski's admiration for the photographer. It really feels like you're walking through an Atget exhibition with Szarkowski by your side, stopping at each photo hung on the wall and letting him tell you its story.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Couple of examples :

 

[snusmumriken]

It is different, if we are talking about the four-volume MoMA set titled The Work of Atget. I only have volume 1, "Old France". It opens with a general essay by Szarkowski, followed by the plates and notes at the end. The notes are essentially biographical, related to the place photographed, offering a bit of context, etc. They are short, and there isn't one for each photograph, only those for which Szarkowski felt context was needed.

Szarkowski's Atget is a much more personal book. Each photograph is accompanied by a comment by Szarkowski. They are also historical, biographical, etc., in nature, but they go much deeper into each photograph, both in matter of context and aesthetics. And you sense throughout Szarkowski's admiration for the photographer. It really feels like you're walking through an Atget exhibition with Szarkowski by your side, stopping at each photo hung on the wall and letting him tell you its story.

Excellent, thank you so much!

 

[snusmumriken]

About the 4-volume Atget set … I borrowed it many years ago from a public library. It was the volume entitled “L’Ancien Regime” that I found very difficult to give back. Now I can’t even remember which images were in it, but I can still recall the nostalgia.