Thought provoking list including many photographers I have not heard of.
I will be looking out for The Heart is a Sandwich for sure (and others by Fulford?). I would have to include Shashin Yo Sayonara by Daido Moriyama for its sheer deconstruction of and experimentalism with photography. Also any tome of Ralph Eugene Meatyard born in Normal Illinois and whose enigmatic images were anything but…
Alas, I don’t own a copy of ‘Farewell Photography’. I wish I did. I do have a fantastic catalogue of Meatyard’s pictures which I love and the Lucybelle Crater album. They would both have reminded me that looking and photographing are creative processes. I recommend Fulford’s work wholeheartedly. ‘Picture Summer on Kodak Film’ is wonderfully rich but all of his books are witty and delightful.
The anthropologist, Marcel Mauss, (The Gift (1925)) argued that in archaic and non-market societies, exchange of gifts is never truly “free” — it’s governed by the obligation to reciprocate. I think that’s partly true of market societies too. Giving artists some web-time is a good way of paying them back.
The Internet, at its best, is certainly great for circulation. Not sure about payment, which seems antithetical to gift-giving. Thanks for reading and commenting - the best kind of reciprocity.
There's a divide between those who study photography (and other forms of artistic expression) at an academic level and the rest of us who see / are fed a visual diet of much more mainstream photographic portfolios. The books we see are the ones we see promoted by the likes of Waterstones and Amazon. These, presumably, are the ones that sell in volume.
As a non-academic, I can say that the only photographer I've heard of in your list is Jem Southam. I've seen some of his work online but I have never seen any of his books for sale at any bookstore I've frequented. I'm glad I've seen some names which are new to me as I enjoy doing a bit of research to see if I like the work. Understanding it might be a stretch too far, though.
Consequently, my 10 desert island photo books are, as things stand, much more mainstream and accessible to most:
1. The End Sends Advance Warning - Todd Hido. (A book I've seen and is on my Xmas list)
2. Faces of the North - Ragnar Axelsson (a book I've owned for years)
3. Here, Far Away - Pentti Sammallahti (a book I've owned for years)
4. Ansel Adams at 100 (a book I've owned for years)
5. The Suffering of Light - Alex Webb (a recent present from my wife)
6. Northern England - Michael Kenna (I could choose any of his books but this one is a current fave. I have 12 of his books)
7. Early Color - Saul Leiter (my copy is in Spanish but it's the photos I'm interested in)
8. On Reading - Andre Kertesz (a book I've owned for years)
9. Centennial - Irving Penn (a book I've owned for years)
10. Sleeping by the Mississippi - Alec Soth (a recent present from my wife)
I have a French copy of the Saul Leiter. I think I prefer the black and white books though (a retirement gift from my department). I think publishers’ websites or the TPG online bookshop are the best places to source new (and older) photobooks. You’ve got a lovely collection there.
I have the Saul Leiter B&W book set, too. Remarkable (to me at least) how different his style in in colour compared to his B&W work. I always visit the Photographers' Gallery bookshop when I can but , for some reason, I don't use it online. Note to self.....
A great read as always Jon. And is making me think of visiting my own photo bookshelf as the basis for an article. I love the idea of the difference between commodity and gift. And great to be reminded on two blue buckets, and the raft of carrots. I was fortunate enough to be an undergrad taught by Jem around the Raft of Carrots era, and even had a couple of 121 tutorials with Peter Fraser.
Lucky you indeed. Both fine gents. I had a lovely chat with Jem at Peckham 24 this year. "Red River' almost made it to the desert island. Apparently, 'Raft of Carrots' will be re-published next year. Can't wait. Would love to know what you'd take to your desert island.
I had to go and stare at the bookshelf to answer this lol. And it would be a very different selection. Joel Peter Witkin Gods of Heaven and Earth. My first "important" monograph, [ suggested by Jem ] which I have carried through life for 30 years. Sally Mann's Immediate Family. Yorgos Lanthimos Dear God the Parthenon is Still Broken, Bill Henson Mnemosyne [ I accidentally wandered into his major retrospective in the Sydney National Gallery and had my mind blown], and at the moment I am rather taken with Jack Davisons recent book of portraits.
Fascinating. I find Joel Peter Witkin’s work really hard to look at but I suppose that’s the point. I saw the Jack Davidson portrait prints at Paris Photo - they’re exquisite. My son’s partner is one of the subjects.
Thought provoking list including many photographers I have not heard of.
I will be looking out for The Heart is a Sandwich for sure (and others by Fulford?). I would have to include Shashin Yo Sayonara by Daido Moriyama for its sheer deconstruction of and experimentalism with photography. Also any tome of Ralph Eugene Meatyard born in Normal Illinois and whose enigmatic images were anything but…
Alas, I don’t own a copy of ‘Farewell Photography’. I wish I did. I do have a fantastic catalogue of Meatyard’s pictures which I love and the Lucybelle Crater album. They would both have reminded me that looking and photographing are creative processes. I recommend Fulford’s work wholeheartedly. ‘Picture Summer on Kodak Film’ is wonderfully rich but all of his books are witty and delightful.
I enjoyed this photobook breakdown. 👌📷
Thanks. I’m already thinking about all the great books I didn’t include. But rules is rules.
Interesting collection and food for thought.
The anthropologist, Marcel Mauss, (The Gift (1925)) argued that in archaic and non-market societies, exchange of gifts is never truly “free” — it’s governed by the obligation to reciprocate. I think that’s partly true of market societies too. Giving artists some web-time is a good way of paying them back.
The Internet, at its best, is certainly great for circulation. Not sure about payment, which seems antithetical to gift-giving. Thanks for reading and commenting - the best kind of reciprocity.
There's a divide between those who study photography (and other forms of artistic expression) at an academic level and the rest of us who see / are fed a visual diet of much more mainstream photographic portfolios. The books we see are the ones we see promoted by the likes of Waterstones and Amazon. These, presumably, are the ones that sell in volume.
As a non-academic, I can say that the only photographer I've heard of in your list is Jem Southam. I've seen some of his work online but I have never seen any of his books for sale at any bookstore I've frequented. I'm glad I've seen some names which are new to me as I enjoy doing a bit of research to see if I like the work. Understanding it might be a stretch too far, though.
Consequently, my 10 desert island photo books are, as things stand, much more mainstream and accessible to most:
1. The End Sends Advance Warning - Todd Hido. (A book I've seen and is on my Xmas list)
2. Faces of the North - Ragnar Axelsson (a book I've owned for years)
3. Here, Far Away - Pentti Sammallahti (a book I've owned for years)
4. Ansel Adams at 100 (a book I've owned for years)
5. The Suffering of Light - Alex Webb (a recent present from my wife)
6. Northern England - Michael Kenna (I could choose any of his books but this one is a current fave. I have 12 of his books)
7. Early Color - Saul Leiter (my copy is in Spanish but it's the photos I'm interested in)
8. On Reading - Andre Kertesz (a book I've owned for years)
9. Centennial - Irving Penn (a book I've owned for years)
10. Sleeping by the Mississippi - Alec Soth (a recent present from my wife)
I have a French copy of the Saul Leiter. I think I prefer the black and white books though (a retirement gift from my department). I think publishers’ websites or the TPG online bookshop are the best places to source new (and older) photobooks. You’ve got a lovely collection there.
I have the Saul Leiter B&W book set, too. Remarkable (to me at least) how different his style in in colour compared to his B&W work. I always visit the Photographers' Gallery bookshop when I can but , for some reason, I don't use it online. Note to self.....
Yes. The difference between painting and drawing maybe?
A great read as always Jon. And is making me think of visiting my own photo bookshelf as the basis for an article. I love the idea of the difference between commodity and gift. And great to be reminded on two blue buckets, and the raft of carrots. I was fortunate enough to be an undergrad taught by Jem around the Raft of Carrots era, and even had a couple of 121 tutorials with Peter Fraser.
Lucky you indeed. Both fine gents. I had a lovely chat with Jem at Peckham 24 this year. "Red River' almost made it to the desert island. Apparently, 'Raft of Carrots' will be re-published next year. Can't wait. Would love to know what you'd take to your desert island.
I had to go and stare at the bookshelf to answer this lol. And it would be a very different selection. Joel Peter Witkin Gods of Heaven and Earth. My first "important" monograph, [ suggested by Jem ] which I have carried through life for 30 years. Sally Mann's Immediate Family. Yorgos Lanthimos Dear God the Parthenon is Still Broken, Bill Henson Mnemosyne [ I accidentally wandered into his major retrospective in the Sydney National Gallery and had my mind blown], and at the moment I am rather taken with Jack Davisons recent book of portraits.
Fascinating. I find Joel Peter Witkin’s work really hard to look at but I suppose that’s the point. I saw the Jack Davidson portrait prints at Paris Photo - they’re exquisite. My son’s partner is one of the subjects.