Your most thumbed photo-book?

[snusmumriken]

Many of us have quite a collection of photo-books. Some of them get quite dog-eared with use. In part, that must reflect how easy they are to handle and carry around, and how expensive they were. But still, wear-and-tear must also reflect interest.

I find that my most scruffy photo book, bought new, is the 1984 Photo Poche paperback on Josef Koudelka. What's yours?

 

[Elmarc]

Paco Gomez, little known outside (or even inside) of Spain

 

[Tel]

Robert Frank's The Americans. Had it since 1972.

 

[Kino]

Robert Frank's The Americans. Had it since 1972.

Haven't had my copy as long, but I agree on the choice...

 

[Paul Howell]

Master of the Photographic Essay W. Eugene Smith

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Probably AA's The Negative and The Print. Every page is dog earred, with covers barely hanging on...

 

[Alex Benjamin]

John Szarkowski's Atget is the book I go back to most often. It's as perfect a photography book as one can think of, a meeting—almost a conversation—between a man who made photographs and another who looked at photographs.

And the quality of the reproductions is absolutely stunning.

That said, no wear-and-tear whatsoever. I treat it as if it were a Fabergé egg . I bought it used, but considerieng the condition it's in, I know that the previous owner(s) treated it as preciously as I do.

 

[Mike Lopez]

John Szarkowski's Atget is the book I go back to most often. It's as perfect a photography book as one can think of, a meeting—almost a conversation—between a man who made photographs and another who looked at photographs.

And the quality of the reproductions is absolutely stunning.

That said, no wear-and-tear whatsoever. I treat it as if it were a Fabergé egg . I bought it used, but considerieng the condition it's in, I know that the previous owner(s) treated it as preciously as I do.

Great choice!

Similarly, I pamper my books to an extreme degree. My preferences and interests vary over time, and there are some books that might see years pass between handlings. But I would say that Michael A. Smith’s A Visual Journey is likely the book that I’ve studied the most. I bought it from MAS 23 years ago and I still find surprises in there. A wonderful visual investment.