The Contemporary Photobook Magazine
Review by Melanie Chapman • “Impressions of the Past, and what Remains.” At a certain time in the afternoon of late winter, the sun shines through my front window and fills the living room with long strands of a honey yellow glow. The sounds of children playing across the street subside as families reconvene to share... Continue Reading →
Article by Debe Arlook and Douglas Stockdale with photographs by Debe Arlook, Douglas Stockdale, Katie Rodriguez and Barry Schwartz • We were honored with the opportunity to participate in the University of California Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism's Third Biennial Reva & David Logan Photo Book Symposium on Saturday April 15th. The event was developed... Continue Reading →
Article and photographs by Douglas Stockdale, copyright 2023 2023 has started to see the re-emergence of in-person art & book fairs, one of which we participated at was hosted by Medium Photo as part of their Medium Festival of Photography, extended over multiple locations in San Diego during the first two weeks of April. Last... Continue Reading →
Review by Melanie Chapman · Ain’t I a Photographer? Let Us Now Praise Not-So-Famous Women. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge of photographic his/herstory, if terminology such as “oppositional gaze” “self-commodification” and “inclusivity” gets your attention, if you celebrate any gift giving rituals around this time of year, or if you just love spending... Continue Reading →
Review by Wayne Swanson • At a time when finding common ground seems increasingly difficult, there is still one place to go — underground. The subway is a great equalizer, bringing together people of all ages, social and economic classes, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions, and homelands. In METRO/ New York/ London/ Paris, renowned photographer Herb Robinson captures... Continue Reading →
Review by Melanie Chapman • Why would someone carry a 258-page hardcover photobook with them across an ocean and throughout four countries when much of the photographer’s work is accessible on-line? When the book is the new retrospective Vivian Maier published by Thames and Hudson, the only appropriate response is “Why Not?!” - As the “someone” who... Continue Reading →
Review by Micah McCoy • While Odette England’s Dairy Character may first seem a pointed feminist critique of dairy farm culture, a deeper investigation of the text reveals the nuance necessary to adequately address the author’s complex relationship with her past. Odette was raised a farmer’s daughter on her parents’ Australian dairy farm. Her upbringing came with expectations... Continue Reading →
Reviewed by Rudy Vega • The cover of Julie Blackmon’s Midwest Materials depicts the following: four children-all of which have their faces turned away from us, the viewers. They are caught in mid-stride–two girls skipping towards the wall of the building marked by the name of the book- Midwest Materials, while another has arms stretched skyward... Continue Reading →
Review by Kristin Dittrich • As a contributing Editor for Photobook Journal, I usually focus on reviewing contemporary photobooks published in Europe. In May 2022 I had the opportunity to be in New York City (this event was held May 21st and 22nd) concurrent with the first "Photobook Fest“, which is sponsored by the International Center for... Continue Reading →
Review by Wayne Swanson • Arab Spring. The Mexican-U.S. border crises. Ongoing strife in Africa. And now the exodus from Ukraine to escape the Russian assault. What to do with all these refugees? Germany, in the wake of the wave of emigration caused by Arab Spring uprisings in 2015, emerged as a beacon of hope by... Continue Reading →
PhotoBook Journal 