Masahisa Fukase's Ravens is available again

[warden]

I got an email from Mack this week that they've done another printing run, so if you've wanted this one but couldn't find a good used copy, now is the time.

https://www.mackbooks.us/products/ravens-br-masahisa-fukase

 

[logan2z]

I received the email this week too.

Photo book pricing seems a bit out of control IMO. I'm not personally interested in this book, but the $100 price tag caught my eye.

I was recently looking at a book by a fairly unknown photographer named Jenia Fridlyand entitled 'Entrance to our Valley'. Flimsy softcover, 37 images, published by upstart TIS books. The book looks nice enough but seemed expensive at $65, considering I could buy a hardcover book from an established photographer from a publisher like Steidl for less. Oh, a 'special edition' with an 8x10 silver gelatin contact print is $350. Did I mention this photographer is essentially unknown? I believe this is her first monograph too.

I buy a ton of photo books so don't consider myself a cheapskate, but I'm getting really picky about what I buy at these prices.

 

[Nitroplait]

This is widely acknowledged as one of the best photo books ever made, and the Mack version (if anything like the first print, which I own) is beautifully printed - much better than one of the previous prints which I saw in Tokyo at 5-6 times that price.
I think this book is important and the fact that it is in print, and you can buy it for $100 (and not $500 or $1000 as would otherwise be the 2nd hand market price) is good a good thing.

 

[warden]

I agree about the pricing situation. The $100 for Fukase I could tolerate because it is an important book, but I wouldn't pay a similar amount for a getting-to-know-you book from a first-timer.

 

[Mike Lopez]

As I recall, Fukase’s fascination with ravens cost him his marriage. This book holds an important spot in my library.

 

[canonshotz]

Thanks for the information

 

[Don_ih]

I was recently looking at a book by a fairly unknown photographer named Jenia Fridlyand entitled 'Entrance to our Valley'. Flimsy softcover, 37 images, published by upstart TIS books. The book looks nice enough but seemed expensive at $65, considering I could buy a hardcover book from an established photographer from a publisher like Steidl for less. Oh, a 'special edition' with an 8x10 silver gelatin contact print is $350. Did I mention this photographer is essentially unknown? I believe this is her first monograph too.

If you like her photographs, does it matter that she's unknown? Getting a first-class book printed in a small run is an expensive venture, so they will all have a minimum price pretty close to $65. A "very important" photo book could receive a first-class printing at much higher numbers, which could result in a lower price-tag. So, the better known the photographer, the cheaper the same quality book should be.

Ravens is already sold out.....

 

[cowanw]

I did a book on portraits. The printing (250 copies), the book design, and the copy editor costs came to $80 Canadian per book I did the writing and the photographic work and, since I am selling the book at cost, for the enjoyment. I don't know what markup would be usual, but the idea of a well done book with good materials and art reproduction for cheap is unrealistic.

 

[jtk]

Saw Fukases Ravens years ago ..
magazine display ...San Francisco's "j town"...
Pages backward Japan-style. I remember the images printed mediocre but wished I could speak the language. Wonder if it's respectful to print those images as if they were intended to be reproduced in an artsy-book. Maybe it's a mistake to look for that.