One photobook festival that I recently missed, and would have enjoyed attending, was the 3rd International FotoBuch (Photobook) Festival in Kassel, Germany, that ran from May 13-16. I was in Euope on assignment outside Rome that week, but this is not like a game of horseshoes, I was not close enough! I am trying to obtain a list of the 2009-10 recommended books... Continue Reading →
Seth Fluker – Before Things Change
Copyright Seth Fluker, 2010 self-published/ Schnauzer Publications The actual subject for Seth Fluker’s photobook, Before Things Change, his inaugural book with his new publication house, Schnauzer Books, is a very close look at the cleanup process following commercial food preparation. He benefited by this interesting perspective as a result of his position as a kitchen... Continue Reading →
The Aftermath Project – Volume 2: War is Only Half the Story
Copyright the artists, 2009, courtesy The Aftermath Project Volume two (II) of the Aftermath Project: War is Only Half the Story is a compilation of five photographic projects that deal with the consequences of violence and war. The five photographers are Kathryn Cook, Natela Grigalashvili, Tinka Dietz, Pep Bonet and Christine Fenzl. These five are... Continue Reading →
Marco Delogu – Noir et Blanc
Copyright Marco Delogu 2008, Contrasto Books, courtesy Marco Delogu A photobook is usually considered as a whole and greater than any of its individual parts, so it is unusually for me to find a pivotal photography in the middle of a book and decide that this is where I want to start my review. But first to establish... Continue Reading →
Kevin McCollister – East of West LA
Copyright Kevin McCollister, an ifpub book, courtesy the artist Kevin McCollister is a poetic flaneur wandering the dimly lit streets of Los Angeles, with these visual poems assembled in his recent book East of West LA. In his Los Angeles walk-abouts, he subjects range from the many bridges, taco stands, hotels, buildings and details of architectural... Continue Reading →
Edward Burtynsky – Oil
Copyright of Edward Burtynsky, 2009 courtesy of Steidl and photo-eye Edward Burtynsky’s impressive book Oil is exquisite with an environmentally difficult narrative, portrayed with mesmerizing details in sublimely beautiful photographs. Oil begins beautifully framing the oil production technology and immense supporting infrastructure with large, detailed and sweeping landscape photographs. Burtynsky utilizes his saturated color landscape... Continue Reading →
Lay Flat 02 – Meta
Copyright the artists, 2010, courtesy Shane Lavalette and Lay Flat The second edition of Lay Flat, edited and published by Shane Lavalette, is titled Meta, with Guest Editor Michael Buhler-Rose. The intent, as stated by Shane, brings together a selection of contemporary artists whose photographs are conceptually engaged with the history, conventions and materiality of... Continue Reading →
New Topographics
Copyright of the artists, George Eastman House and Center for Creative Photograph 2009 courtesy Steidl In 1975 at the George Eastman House an exhibition was curated by William Jenkins, assisted by Joe Deal, on what was then evolving as the new (urban) landscape photograph, titled New Topographics; Photographs of a Man-Altered Landscape. You could argue that what now... Continue Reading →
Pierre Bessard – Wuhan Boiler Company Workers
Copyright Pierre Bessard 2009 courtesy of the artist When I received the note from Pierre Bessard regarding his "Corporate" photobook, I was intrigued that his subject was an industrial landscape of a specific facility in China. I was even more impressed with this photobook after I unwrapped it. This was not only a very handsome linen wrapped hardcover book, but... Continue Reading →
Ed Ruscha – Photographer
Copyright Ed Ruscha 2008 published by Steidl I have been aware of Ed Rucha’s self-published photographic books for many, many years, but due to very small production runs and subsequent rarity, these books have been very elusive. It was a pleasure to find this retrospective catalog providing a broad selection of the interior images from... Continue Reading →
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