Suggest one photo book

[radiant]

If you could choose only one photo book, what would that be?

So let's give each other hints on books worth finding!

 

[radiant]

My suggestion is Elliot Erwitt's "Personal best" - I really enjoy B&W and the humorous / smart style of Erwitt.

 

[mrosenlof]

Bruce Davidson, "East 100th Street"

 

[logan2z]

I have a bad photo book habit and I fear this thread is going to cost me dearly. Thanks a lot!

Very tough to choose just one book, but if forced to I'd probably choose the Lee Friedlander MoMA retrospective book by Peter Galassi.

 

[markbau]

My favourite "how-to" book would have to be David Vestal's "Art of B&W enlarging" My old copy looks like it's been in a war zone but it got me from a barely OK printer to a half-decent one. Solid, time tested advice. AA's series, Camera/negative/print are indispensable. Eddie Ephrams and Tim Rudman's books have also been wonderful for toning inspiration.
My favourite picture book is probably Kenna's 20-year retrospective. Any David Plowden book is also worth owning.

 

[silveror0]

Way Beyond Monochrome, 2nd Ed., by Ralph Lambrecht and Chris Woodhouse. It covers a multitude of photographic topics and very well illustrated.

 

[cdowell]

Atget
John Szarkowski
The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Photos paired with essays about all things photographic. Perfect.

 

[logan2z]

Atget
John Szarkowski
The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Photos paired with essays about all things photographic. Perfect.

That's been on my list for a while.

 

[Dali]

Diane Arbus' Revelations.

 

[mshchem]

Kodak Reference Handbook, 1941 edition.

 

[Vaughn]

Since a bunch of AA and EW books have already found me, I'll pick another...Searching for True North by Geir Jordahl.

 

[Hilo]

Dave Heath: A Dialogue with Solitude

 

[RauschenOderKorn]

There are many good books, each with a different focus. Tim Rudman is definitely very important, I like the books on emulsion making written by photrio-members, and there is Dr. Edwin Mutter with his "Kompendium der Photographie" (time to learn German).

If I´d have to choose one, I think I´d take "American Grotesque: The Life and Art of William Mortensen" - That guy had a quite different view of the world.

 

[tezzasmall]

If I´d have to choose one, I think I´d take "American Grotesque: The Life and Art of William Mortensen" - That guy had a quite different view of the world.

Thanks! You have just reminded me that I have the book, awaiting to be looked at properly, in my 'pile' of books and magazines to be looked at!

Terry S

 

[KenS]

"Quiet Light" by John Sexton

Ken

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I have it my library.

https://www.amazon.com/Fan-Ho-Hong-Kong-Yesterday/dp/0977882837

 

[Patrick Robert James]

One book would be Deus Ex Machina by Ralph Gibson. The dude can make a photograph...

The Daybooks by Weston are a great read if you like that part of history.

 

[removed account4]

i thnk its called camera portraits, portraits from the london portrait gallery ... also the monograph for NADAR
and if you want a fun read with recipes of fun stuff to do
the book of alternative photographic processes by christopher james brilliant photographer teacher and author

 

[jtk]

Edward Weston Daybook 2 ... important in my world since 1970...something like Joyce's Ulysses or the Bible (I'm almost religious). In 2000 an excellent girlfriend didn't realize I had it so gave me another copy. Women understand me pretty well. I prefer the older copy : has benefited by its age. I like EW's photos, his ruminations, and his women.

 

[GLS]

Atget
John Szarkowski
The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Photos paired with essays about all things photographic. Perfect.

This would probably be my pick too.