How many have photo library?

Sonatas XII-55 (Life)

A
Sonatas XII-55 (Life)

  • 0
  • 1
  • 47
Rain supreme

D
Rain supreme

  • 1
  • 0
  • 130
Coffee Shop

Coffee Shop

  • 2
  • 0
  • 623
Lots of Rope

H
Lots of Rope

  • 1
  • 0
  • 709

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
199,813
Messages
2,797,000
Members
100,043
Latest member
Julian T
Recent bookmarks
0

ROL

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2005
Messages
795
Location
California
Format
Multi Format
How many of you have a library of books by the legends of Photography? I myself have about 50, but that's only because I can't afford more.

I don't know if it could qualify as a library, but I have a number of books both technical and artist (Steiglitz, Weston, Adams, etc.), few of which of the nontechnical I bought for myself. My wife raids the used bookstore shelves and presents them to me as gifts.:smile:
 

PKM-25

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2004
Messages
1,980
Location
Enroute
Format
Multi Format
Somewhere North of 50, many signed and worth a fortune like Bresson's "The Decisive Moment"...
 

Jim Noel

Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
2,261
Format
Large Format
My library contains over 300 books and occupies an entire wall.
 

Black Dog

Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2003
Messages
4,291
Location
Running up that hill
Format
Multi Format
Likewise!-I've been accumulating it for 30 odd years.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,490
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
I have about 2,000 photographic books I've been buying them for about 60 years.my wife is an avid reader and has loads of books too our house is full.of them.

Thus we now know why you have told us that you are on a tight budget. Verily you are correct.
 

Black Dog

Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2003
Messages
4,291
Location
Running up that hill
Format
Multi Format
Joined
Jan 14, 2003
Messages
4,924
Location
San Francisco
Format
Multi Format
At least a hundred I'd say. Such a relaxing thrill to grab one on a Sunday and sit in my window seat as the afternoon sun pours in and be inspired.
 

Black Dog

Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2003
Messages
4,291
Location
Running up that hill
Format
Multi Format
Yes-and also when you've been out photographing all day as well.
 

John Koehrer

Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
8,277
Location
Aurora, Il
Format
Multi Format
About 8' of pitcher books, 3' of Bios and 6' of technical/historical stuff.
 
OP
OP

chip j

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2012
Messages
2,193
Location
NE Ohio
Format
35mm

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council
Advertiser
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
11,546
Location
Washington DC
Format
Multi Format
I've got the inventory of monographs posted to my blog - 67 so far. The catalog of periodicals is a work in progress (well over 200 volumes). I don't have the technical books listed, but that probably runs to 50 or so. This is out of 2000 or so total books in my library. God help me when it comes time to move house.
 

jp498

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
1,525
Location
Owls Head ME
Format
Multi Format
Probably around 40 photo books and photo history books. A dozen or less technical books that I don't read or need any more. I get a book once in a while when it's cheap and used on amazon or ebay. I'd get more, but it takes time to read and study them.

It's no substitute for visiting a museum or gallery; images are supposed to inspire and it's usually a whole level nicer to see the actual prints. It's very rare for books to do an awesome job showing photos. You can learn history and composition from books, but if you want to be humbled in your printmaking, visit a museum showing some of the dead masters of B&W photography.

Picture books usually have poor writing.
 

Dali

Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
1,866
Location
Philadelphia
Format
Multi Format
Less than 10 technical books for about 60 monographs, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Izis and Bernard Plossu being well represented.
 

Theo Sulphate

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
6,489
Location
Gig Harbor
Format
Multi Format
Photo related:

-- About 75 technical, 15 from various artists.

Other hobbies, total:

-- About 500.


I periodically photograph my bookshelves to ensure I don't buy a book I already have (that's happened twice previously).
 
Last edited:

mooseontheloose

Moderator
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
4,110
Location
Kyoto, Japan
Format
Multi Format
I'm just guessing here, as a lot of my books stayed behind in Canada when I moved to Japan a few years ago. That said, my collection here now probably rivals or is greater in number than what I left behind. It is certainly better in quality that what I left behind.

Technical - at least 50
Monographs or other collections: Somewhere between 50-75. I have many Kenna monographs, Maier, Izu, Leonard, Corbjin, Rudman, Schwab, W.E. Smith, and many others. I didn't start collecting until about 10 years ago.

Just because of my books alone, I'll probably never be able to leave Japan (!). I shipped one box of books when I moved here, I can't bear to think about what it would cost to ship what I have now back to Canada (and that's just the photo books!).
 

Tony Egan

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2005
Messages
1,295
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
Multi Format
A few hundred I would guess. A mix of monographs, technical, collections, videos. An original of Mortensen's Monsters and Madonnas in the original packaging is a favourite and probably the most valuable. His technical books are also great fun to read. I have picked up a few originals of these over the years.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4105.jpg
    IMG_4105.jpg
    286.9 KB · Views: 115

BradleyK

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2011
Messages
946
Location
Burnaby, BC
Format
Multi Format
How many of you have a library of books by the legends of Photography? I myself have about 50, but that's only because I can't afford more.

My count is similar; but my excuse for not having a larger library differs: I just have not had enough time to make a trip down to Powell's in Portland (THE West Coast's GREATEST bookstore).
 

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council
Advertiser
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
11,546
Location
Washington DC
Format
Multi Format
Exhibition catalogs: 14. Photographers' monographs: 80+/-. Technical books: a LOT. My total library (including non-photographic books) is over 2000 volumes. I'm going to have to find a high school student interested in photography and library science to come over and catalog the books and periodicals some day.
 

guangong

Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
3,589
Format
Medium Format
While I have quite a few shelves of books devoted to various technical aspects of photography and cinematography as well as artistic and documentary photography, being a hoarder of sorts I have shelves of old magazines such as Camera (from Switzerland ), Leica Phtografie, Camera 35, Viewcamera, etc that I enjoy looking through. Personally, with very few exceptions, I find more interesting photos from the world of amateurs than from professionals. (The most consistent producer of boring pictures are delivered by the Hasselblad advertising e mails)
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom