What photo book should I buy?

[Darin Boville]

I just received a 40% coupon from Borders. I think I'll buy a photography book--but which one? Please help me!

Here are my guidelines:

1) I'm thinking along the lines of a monograph or exhibition catalog. No technical books unless they are really unusual and worthwhile.

2) Nothing that Amazon already discounts by 25% or more. Why waste the coupon on that!

Otherwise, wide open. What are the best photo books of 2010? 2009? Ever?

--Darin

[Heroique]

I’ll be watching for the “best-ever” recommendations.

(In the end, perhaps choose a book not at your library?)

One personal favorite is a “worthwhile” technical book – a clothbound Photographing Buildings Inside and Out (by Norman McGrath). Probably out of print, but if the 1980’s classic is available anywhere, Borders might still get it for you & honor your coupon. Yes, a beautiful book on many levels – hypnotizing photographs, stunning lithography, excellent formatting, and entertaining prose, too. Once you put it down, you think you’ve been under the spell of an exhibition catalog. It’s a proud decoration for my living room table, but also an important part of my “serious” library.

[Struan Gray]

Aaron Siskind 100. Best ever.

[jeroldharter]

Way Beyond Monochrome (new version) is a technical book, but the best one out there and I think a must-have book for advanced B&W photography.

[Doug Howk]

I'm about 1/4 way thru Way Beyond Monochrome, and if you're doing B&W this is THE book to get.
As to recent monographs, I like Elaine Ling's "Mongolia: land of the Deer Stone" and Linda Connor's "Odyssey"

[halberstadt]

A friend loaned me this one:

http://www.borders.com/online/store/...sku=0817440208
Hollywood Portraits: Classic Shots and How to Take Them (ca. $27 at Borders)

I really like it: it's half technical in so much as they try and show how the images were lit, but I like it mostly for the beautifully creamy dreamy old fashioned (obviously large format) black and white images.

[D. Bryant]

I just received a 40% coupon from Borders. I think I'll buy a photography book--but which one? Please help me!

Here are my guidelines:

1) I'm thinking along the lines of a monograph or exhibition catalog. No technical books unless they are really unusual and worthwhile.

2) Nothing that Amazon already discounts by 25% or more. Why waste the coupon on that!

Otherwise, wide open. What are the best photo books of 2010? 2009? Ever?

--Darin

How about this:

http://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Wall-Comp...8022680&sr=8-1

Don Bryant

[Darin Boville]

How about this:

http://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Wall-Comp...8022680&sr=8-1

Don Bryant

Hey, are you teasing me? Aren't you on the "Aperture just sent me an e-mail" thread of mine?

--Darin

[Ramiro Elena]

I don't buy books anymore. I never look at them anyway. That said:

http://www.amazon.com/Hiroshi-Sugimo...ref=pd_sim_b_7

Try to go see an exhibit by him. The oceans series is amazing.

[Darin Boville]

I don't buy books anymore. I never look at them anyway. That said:

http://www.amazon.com/Hiroshi-Sugimo...ref=pd_sim_b_7

Try to go see an exhibit by him. The oceans series is amazing.

Ahhh, great choice--but already 37% off. I've put it on my christmas wish list

Most distressing, I somehow missed the fact that a major exhibit of his work was just up the road in 2007. What the heck was I doing on 2007 that caused me to miss this? Sigh.

--Darin