The Contemporary Photobook Magazine
Photographs copyright of Steve Pyke and courtesy of Nazraeli Press Upon looking at Steve Pyke's recent published body of work Earthward published by Nazraeli Press I immediately thought of the earlier found still life photographs of Irving Penn. Both photographers have created a new context for their found subjects when isolating from their normal environmental states. I believe it was... Continue Reading →
Photographs copyright of Amy Stein A couple purchase a beautiful cactus in the desert at a roadside stand. The cactus is budding and about to bloom. They hurry home and perch it on a decorative counter in their living room. And they watch with anticipation but something wrong seems to be happening. The cactus is starting to... Continue Reading →
The Last Iceberg photographs copyright Camille Seaman One of the long recognized traits of documentary photographs is that they are accepted as truthful recordings of what was before the lens and that the resulting images take on a transparency of reality. Thus the code of ethic's of not altering photographs, e.g. PhotoShoping these images by the news... Continue Reading →
Photographs copyright of Jeremy Stigter, courtesy of Nazareli Books I have been enjoying Jeremy Stigter's first book The Jewish Bride, a photo play recently published by Nazareli Press at the end of 2008. Unlike my attendance at most theatrical plays there is no introduction or prologue provided. Nor is there any text within the book to help establish a contextual framework, just the serial black... Continue Reading →
One of potential opportunities of participating in Photolucida's Critical Mass juried event is becoming published, as the top three photographers will be rewarded with a book. For the person who scores the highest, their book will be in hardcover, not softcover. All of the books are the same size of 8 1/2 x 10", although... Continue Reading →
Photographer Ann Mitchell copyright 2007 I have known many of Ann Mitchell's photographs from her 2007 Balcony Press book Austin Val Verde, Impressions of a Montecito Masterpiece, as we have shared the January-February 2008 issue of LensWork magazine together. From the start Mitchell's photographs struck me with their introspective and quiet viewpoint about a specific place. The photographic investigation of this Southern... Continue Reading →
Photographs copyright of Nina Berman 2008 by Trolley books I am trying to figure out why Berman's book Homeland bothers me so. As a political and religious satire I think that it follows too close to a grueling two year presidential election here in the United States. A political book that attempts to ridicule her opposition is just not working... Continue Reading →
Photographs are copyright of the estate of Paul Outerbridge Jr This last month I have seen a small flurry of activity regarding the photographic body of work by Paul Outerbridge Jr. ( 1986 - 1958). Outerbridge was a eccentric contemporary and competitor of Edward Steichen, a friend of Marcel Ducamp, Man Ray and others while living... Continue Reading →
Photographs copyright of Anne Deniau (aka Ann Ray) Anne Deniau's book Nicholas Le Riche, which is being published this month by Editions Gourcuff Gradenigo, France, has an interesting solution to an old dilemma. When creating a photo-biographic body of work how do you separate the artist from their performance? The book provides an elegant answer by showcasing... Continue Reading →
Beth Dow "In the Garden" 2008 Photography.Book.Now Grand Prize Winner The 2009 Photography.Book.Now self-publishing book competition is now open, with more information here. The lead book juriest for this will Darius Himes, co-founder of Radius Books, who was a judge in the 2008 competition. The grand prize will be again, $25,000.00, which is probably why there... Continue Reading →
PhotoBook Journal 