The Contemporary Photobook Magazine
Copyright James Clancy 2011 Kehrer Verlag Heidelberg Berlin My first impression is that Clancy’s narrative is a darker version of John Gossage’s early photobook The Pond. Similar to Gossage, Clancy is taking us on an imaginary journey, although somewhat grounded in the (non) reality of the photographs, using found landscapes rendered in black and white... Continue Reading →
Mitch Epstein 2009 copyright courtesy Steidl I think one of the better photographed and designed photobooks to shed light on the complexities and the enormity of the environmental, economic, political and social issues of the production and consumption of energy is Mitch Epstein’s American Power, published in 2009 by Steidl. In reading Edward Burtynsky’s Oil,... Continue Reading →
First, if you by chance you happen across this post looking for another list of "Best PhotoBooks of 2011," you might not recall reading my "Best of 2010" photobook post, which can be found here. Essentially after compiling a "Best of" list in 2009, as expected of someone who reviews photobooks, I was less than satisfied with my own... Continue Reading →
Copyright Eva Koleva Timothy 2010 courtesy of the photographer What I often find when a book combines a large amount of text in conjunction with photographs, it seems that either the text or the photographs seems to dominate. In some cases there is delicate balance between the two, which I now have come to understand... Continue Reading →
Copyright Bertil Nilsson 2011 published by Canalside Books When I attend a circus performance with my family, I find that I rapidly become very overwhelmed by the brilliant and dazzling colors of the performers clothes, sets and background, the high energy of the performances and the very intense lighting that commands my attention. The performances... Continue Reading →
Libros de Fotografia - photobook commentary copyright Tomás de Teresa I recent added Tomás de Teresa's photobook commentary blog to my sidebar for future reference. This is the first photobook commentary blog that I have become aware of that the text is in Spanish. Tomás de Teresa resides in Spain and is one of those hardworking guys... Continue Reading →
Copyright of the photographers 2010 & courtesy of Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA), published by Modernbook Editions The museum of Photographic Arts had a thematic exhibition in 2010, which resulted in the catalog book published by Modernbook Editions, Streetwise, Masters of 60s Photography. The curators have selected eight photographers whose photographic intent might have been influenced by Robert Frank... Continue Reading →
Kathleen Laraia McLaughlin & H. Woods McLaughlin copyright 2010 self-published The Color of Hay; The Peasants of Maramures is a self-published book and a collaborative project between a photographer and writer, who are also a wife and husband team. The resulting thick book is a blending of photographs and words to narrate their story about a... Continue Reading →
Alec Soth 2011 copyright - published by Edizioni Punctum What do you have when you mix a Midwestern American Photographer, a Nineteenth Century English Poet, a prominent Italian city and a French titled poem = Alec Soth’s La Belle Dame Sans Merci (a.k.a. LBDSM) Earlier this year Soth resided in Rome to complete a commission for the tenth... Continue Reading →
copyright Chris Crites 2011 courtesy Ampersand Gallery and Fine Books I have noted recently that of the many types of ephemera that seem to be cherished are the police mug shots, which either intentionality or intentionality, capture the subjects at their worst. Chris Crites has accumulated a wonderful collection of vintage mug shots, transferred the image... Continue Reading →
PhotoBook Journal 