The Photobook Thread

Pieter12 · Jul 15, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
Blurb pulishes books by people who are amateurs and make their own books through them. Here's Fine Art Photography. You can check out other categories as well. If you want to see what photogrpahers beside the famous are doing today. You may be surprised how good some of them are.

Buy Fine Art Photography Books Online | Blurb Books

Shop fine art photography books online at Blurb. Find a wide selection of fine art photography books and buy the one that speaks to you.

www.blurb.com

Unless things have changed, Blurb books in black and white can be disappointing, there is no option for pure black and white, duotone or tri-tone--everything is CMYK. Their color work is better but it can be hit-and-miss, too, depending on how the book was prepared. Unlike conventional printers, their books are printed on digital presses and they don't do any of the pre-press work. It is up to the individual to make sure everything is to Blurb's specs and willing to pay for a one-off proof of the book for evaluation. I believe they have several facilities, and the output may vary from shop to shop. I speak from experience, although I have not used them or their subsidiary MagCloud for several years now.

logan2z · Jul 15, 2023

MTGseattle said:
I just wanted to point out another strategy for throwing money around.
If you have a local book-store in your area that you wish to support, simply get the isbn of the title and see if your local shop can order it for you.

That's a great way to support local bookstores. The other thing I try to do is buy from specialty photobook retailers or direct from publishers wherever possible.

I've completely sworn off of Amazon for buying photobooks. I'd estimate that more than half of the books I bought from them in the past were damaged during shipping due to poor or non-existent protection. Most times the book is just tossed into an oversized box with absolutely no other packing materials to prevent the book from sliding around and being damaged in transit. Their prices are attractive but one gets what one pays for.

Sirius Glass · Jul 15, 2023

logan2z said:
That's a great way to support local bookstores. The other thing I try to do is buy from specialty photobook retailers or direct from publishers wherever possible.

I've completely sworn off of Amazon for buying photobooks. I'd estimate that more than half of the books I bought from them in the past were damaged during shipping due to poor or non-existent protection. Most times the book is just tossed into an oversized box with absolutely no other packing materials to prevent the book from sliding around and being damaged in transit. Their prices are attractive but one gets what one pays for.

When that happens contact Amazon and complain. They will do something about that. The same for any other vendor. Sellers, maybe.

Pieter12 · Jul 15, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
When that happens contact Amazon and complain. They will do something about that. The same for any other vendor. Sellers, maybe.

I bought a book as a gift a few years ago. It arrived in an envelope and was damaged. I requested a replacement, stating the reason. They shipped another. Same story. I bought yet a third that also arrived the same way. I had not returned any of the books at that point so I compared and gifted the least damaged one, with apologies for the condition. It was minor damage, but I had paid full price and written about the poor packaging and expected better, You cannot talk to a human at Amazon unless you go to one of their stores. And I doubt you would get any better response than, "we can replace it or refund your money"--no assurance the replacement will arrive any better than the others.

I have purchased books from Abe Books--basically an agent for a lot if independents and thrift stores, and sometimes the books arrive very well protected, sometimes nothing more than an unpadded tight-fitting plastic envelope. Luckily, in the Los Angeles area there is Arcana Books, specializing in art, design and photography books with a comprehensive inventory and knowledgeable staff. Book signings, too! Hennessey + Ingalls is similar, but I haven't been to there since they moved to the arts district downtown.

logan2z · Jul 15, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
When that happens contact Amazon and complain. They will do something about that. The same for any other vendor. Sellers, maybe.

Done it many times. Got tired of having to drive to UPS to return damaged books. I'd rather support a small, independent bookshop that cares enough to properly pack and ship books.

logan2z · Jul 15, 2023

Pieter12 said:
You cannot talk to a human at Amazon unless you go to one of their stores.

I've had some luck using their nearly impossible-to-find chatbot which will connect you to a live person. I've had to do that when their online system refused to let me replace a damaged item but insisted on an outright return instead. But the repeated need for returns/exchanges soured me on Amazon for photobooks and, in the end, the cost savings wasn't worth it to me.

Don_ih · Jul 15, 2023

Pieter12 said:
I believe they have several facilities, and the output may vary from shop to shop.

That's true. If you order a Blurb or other p.o.d. book from Amazon, for example, Amazon's p.o.d. service prints it.

MTGseattle · Jul 15, 2023

I recently splurged on a couple of Nazraeli titles. John Schott- Route 66 1973-1974 and a Todd Hido house hunting. The packaging from Nazraeli was damn near bullet-proof.

logan2z · Jul 15, 2023

MTGseattle said:
I recently splurged on a couple of Nazraeli titles. John Schott- Route 66 1973-1974 and a Todd Hido house hunting. The packaging from Nazraeli was damn near bullet-proof.

Congratulations! I've had my eye on the John Schott title for a while.

I think Nazraeli is one of the best photobook publishers out there. Every title I have from them is exquisite.

Alex Benjamin · Jul 15, 2023

MTGseattle said:
I recently splurged on a couple of Nazraeli titles. John Schott- Route 66 1973-1974 and a Todd Hido house hunting.

I have both on my wish list, as well as some of the Mark Steinmetz titles.

Alex Benjamin · Jul 15, 2023

logan2z said:
I think Nazraeli is one of the best photobook publishers out there. Every title I have from them is exquisite.

Tried their olive oil?

MTGseattle · Jul 15, 2023

Nazraeli puts out a very nice product. I think the John Schott is my most expensive (purchase price) title to date. I have not tried the Olive oil. We have a semi-local market that may stock it though.

What happened to Bullfinch press?

logan2z · Jul 15, 2023

Alex Benjamin said:
Tried their olive oil?

No, I haven't. Is it good?

Alex Benjamin · Jul 15, 2023

logan2z said:
No, I haven't. Is it good?

No idea. I'm too far. I do love olive oil almost as much as photo books, so if their oil is as exquisite as their titles, I might have to make a trip to California just to get me some. The houses they rent in Paso Nobles are lovely—not cheap, but lovely.

logan2z · Jul 16, 2023

Alex Benjamin said:
if their oil is as exquisite as their titles, I might have to make a trip to California just to get me some.

You can buy their olive oil online at their website.

Alex Benjamin · Jul 16, 2023

logan2z said:
You can buy their olive oil online at their website.

Yes, but I've never been in California...

But back to books. I'm having a Bill Brandt moment. Enjoyed Shadow & Light so much this week, I just ordered a book of his portraits (U of Texas, 1982). Curious to know if anybody has Bill Brandt: Behind the Camera? Wondering if it will add to Shadow & Light or just be redundant, with much of the same photos.

Alex Benjamin · Jul 16, 2023

MTGseattle said:
I recently splurged on a couple of Nazraeli titles. John Schott- Route 66 1973-1974 and a Todd Hido house hunting. The packaging from Nazraeli was damn near bullet-proof.

Speaking of Hido, interesting 2014 chat with him in which he talks about his book Silver Meadows (Nasraeli, 2013) as well as his general process.

logan2z · Jul 16, 2023

Alex Benjamin said:
Yes, but I've never been in California...

But back to books. I'm having a Bill Brandt moment. Enjoyed Shadow & Light so much this week, I just ordered a book of his portraits (U of Texas, 1982). Curious to know if anybody has Bill Brandt: Behind the Camera? Wondering if it will add to Shadow & Light or just be redundant, with much of the same photos.

I have Shadow and Light but don't have Behind the Camera so can't comment on the overlap. I can recommend The Photography of Bill Brandt, though, Great book published by Thames and Hudson in 1999 by Bill Jay.

Alex Benjamin · Jul 16, 2023

logan2z said:
I have Shadow and Light but don't have Behind the Camera so can't comment on the overlap. I can recommend The Photography of Bill Brandt, though, Great book published by Thames and Hudson in 1999 by Bill Jay.

Thanks. I remember seeing it at a ridiculously low price at The Strand Bookstore in NYC a few years back, and have regretted not taking it ever since.

The Strand is a great place for used photo books, btw.

Alan Johnson · Jul 16, 2023

Some UK landscape photographers who used film, Fay Godwin, Don McCullin, Charlie Waite and Joe Cornish.

albireo · Jul 16, 2023

Alan Johnson said:
Some UK landscape photographers who used film, Fay Godwin, Don McCullin, Charlie Waite and Joe Cornish.

Incidentally, I have a copy of 'Land' by Fay Godwin on order!

logan2z · Jul 16, 2023

albireo said:
Incidentally, I have a copy of 'Land' by Fay Godwin on order!

I have a copy on my bookshelf. I think you'll enjoy it.

Pieter12 · Jul 16, 2023

I have a few of Ms Godwin's books, all excellent: Land, The Edge of the Land and The Remains of Elmet (with Ted Hughes).

But now you SOBs have made me go buy ‭The Pohotgraphs of Bill Brandt.
.

MTGseattle · Jul 16, 2023

@logan2z I meant to add that I too love it when I can buy direct from the publisher. I missed a couple of Stephen Gill titles when they were still available through Nobody. I'm going to have to pay extra now.

I got that same Brandt book up in Vancouver, BC for $10.

I was recently introduced to Fan Ho. It appears that any of those books are really going to cost me.

Alex Benjamin · Jul 16, 2023

MTGseattle said:
I was recently introduced to Fan Ho. It appears that any of those books are really going to cost me.

I've abandoned any hope of ever finding one at a price I can afford...

The Photobook Thread

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