Paul Caponigro books

[QT Luong]

If you had to have only one of Paul Caponigro books, which one would it be ?
Masterworks from Forty Years ?

[Alan L]

'The Wise Silence'

[David E. Rose]

I agree with Alan. "The Wise Silence" is a more beautifully designed book than "Masterworks". It is also hard to find and expensive.

[Bill_1856]

"The Wise Silence" is a terrible example of printing photographs. The images are printed on a very soft matt paper which completely destroys the beauty of the original prints.
"Masterworks from 40 years" is much better, printed on good glossy stock, but IMO the best Caponigro publication is a very early one, which I believe was actually a catalog from the Weston Gallery (my copy is still packed in a box somewhere after a major move, and I can't find it to give the title).
As much as I admire him and his work, I still think his best work was very early, in the woods and streams around Reading.

[Bill_1856]

Aha! Found it! There are actually two: 1) "Landscape," 1975 by McGraw-Hill, and "Paul Caponigro, Photography 25 years," 1981 by The Photography Gallery. Both nicely reproduced.
Of course they doen't show his later work, but IMO I'd rather have these two small volumes than either "The Wise Silence," or "40 years." I'm not really very entusiastic about that later work.

[Mark Sawyer]

I think I'd go with "The Wise Silence". "Masterworks" is printed differently, and I could see where some might prefer it, but both are nicely done in their own way.

The disappointing thing about Caponigro's books is that most are very repetitive in showing the same images.

[Tom Micklin]

"Landscape" is one of my favorite photo books, period.

[QT Luong]

Thanks, make it two books since I actually have "25 years", but I didn't think of it as a book, more like a catalog. I was also looking for more images, since most of those in "25 years" didn't impress me.

[Bill_1856]

Despite the poor choice of paper surface, "Wise Silence" is the better choice of images.

[Merg Ross]

My favorite is probably "Seasons", 61 images published in 1988. All but three of the images were made between 1960 and 1967, a period of some of his best work, in my opinion. They are reproduced actual size, like little jewels, from when he was working with Polaroid.

[Michael Alpert]

All methods of photographic reproduction are interpretations. The Wise Silence is a beautiful book on its own terms. And the really exquisite images are in a carefully thought-out sequence. The 40-year Masterworks book is a successful attempt to reproduce Paul's work in manner that imitates his original prints. Either book would serve as a representation of Paul's art. Given your interest in print-quality, you might prefer the 40-year Masterworks book.

[Doug Howk]

Is his Stone Churches of Ireland worth getting?

[Jerry Flynn]

I lean towards the Landscape book and Megaliths. The former because it really opened my eyes to a different approach to landscape from the Great American West of Adams and others. The latter because I have been intrigued by the topic since my teen years (45 years ago).

Another I would mention is Sunflowers.

As to the paper choice in the books, I think he is usually involved in the publication aspects of his work. (I'm not home now and can't check, but I believe Wise Silence was designed by his ex-wife Eleanor.) The matte suface may have been an attempt to covey the low-key, quiet nature of his work; I guess with mixed results based on the responses recorded here.

The Churches of Ireland is similar in some respects to the Megaliths work, taken in the same period. It is a thin, well reproduced book with a narrow focus. It is a good book, worth the relatively low price but is not my favorite.

I just picked up his latest book, Meditations in Silver (Nazraeli Press) a collection of his later still-lifes: well done (Nazraeli books usually are) catalog for a recent show in Santa Barbara. Some are familiar, some not. I generally like them, but find the titles really hokey. (I know what his reasons for the titles are, but that does not mean I like them.)

[wfwhitaker]

My books are still packed away in storage, but this thread prompted me to dig out Landscape and Sunflowers. Both are marvelous. Caponigro has been and still is definitely on my short list.

[Jerry Flynn]

When I went home last night, I took a look at The Wise Silence and Masterworks From 40 Years side by side. If you think of the medium as book rather than photographic fine print, The Wise Silence wins out. It is beautifully designed sequenced and produced. The paper chioce is perfect within the context of the book. And since these are photographic books and not fine prints.....